Helsinki class missile boat

The "Helsinki" class missile boats ( _fi. Helsinki-luokan ohjusvene) are a type of vessel which were in use by the Finnish Navy. They were the predecessors of the "Rauma" class missile boats. All the ships were constructed at the Wärtsilä yards in Helsinki, Finland.

The vessels were designed as fast attack crafts, but designated "missile boats" in the Finnish Navy, as to tone down their offensive capabilities. They were armed with up to eight RBS-15 SSMs, one dual-purpose Bofors 57 mm gun, 2 × 23 mm double-barreled anti-aircraft guns and two depth charge racks.

As planned during the late 1990s, the class was due to undergo a mid-life upgrade through 2006-2008 but this was rejected because of budget restrains, The ships have now been decommissioned and two of the vessels have been sold to the Croatian Navy for a symbolic price of €9 million (65 million kuna) due to the previous Croatian purchase of Patria AMV vehicles. The deal was signed on 17 July 2008 and the ships are to enter service in late 2008 after a basic refit.

All the ships of the "Helsinki" class had Pansio as their home port while serving in the Finnish Navy.

Vessels

;FNS "Helsinki":Pennant number: 60.:Builder: Wärtsilä.:Ordered: November 5, 1980.:Commissioned: September 1, 1981.:Current state: Decommissioned in 2002.;FNS "Turku":Pennant number: 61.:Builder: Wärtsilä.:Ordered: January 13, 1983.:Commissioned: June 3, 1985.:Current state: Decommissioned in 2002.;FNS "Oulu":Pennant number: 62.:Builder: Wärtsilä.:Ordered: January 13, 1983.:Commissioned: October 1, 1985.:Home base: Pansio.:Current state: Decomissioned in 2007. Awaiting delivery to Croatia.;FNS "Kotka":Pennant number: 63.:Builder: Wärtsilä.:Ordered: January 13, 1983.:Commissioned: June 16, 1986.:Home base: Pansio.:Current state: Decomissioned in 2005. Awaiting delivery to Croatia.

References

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