Finnish motor torpedo boats of World War II explained

The Finnish Navy used several different types of motor torpedo boats during World War II. Four Soviet motor torpedo boats were captured and commissioned by the Finnish Navy during the World War II. One of these was of larger D-3 class while three others belonged to G-5 class.

Sisu-class motor torpedo boats

See main article: Sisu-class motor torpedo boat.

NameBuiltFate
Sisu1916Converted to patrol boat 1941. Stricken from navy lists 1942–1945
Hurja1916Stricken from navy lists 1940 due wear and tear

Isku-class motor torpedo boat

See main article: Isku-class motor torpedo boat.

Syöksy-class motor torpedo boats

See main article: Syöksy-class motor torpedo boat.

NameTranslationBuiltFate
Syöksy1928Converted to patrol boat 1943. Stricken from navy lists 1944
Nuoli1928Converted to patrol boat 1943. Stricken from navy lists 1943–1945
Vinha1929Converted to patrol boat 1943. Stricken from navy lists 1945
Raju1929Lost on 16 May 1943 due collision with underwater boom obstacle

Hurja-class motor torpedo boats

See main article: Hurja-class motor torpedo boat.

NameBuiltIn Finnish useFate
H 1Hyöky19411943-1963Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.
H 2Hirmu19411943-1963Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.
H 3Hurja19411943-1963Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.
H 4Hyrsky19411943-1963Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.
H 5Häijy19411943-1963Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.

Jymy-class motor torpedo boats

See main article: Jymy-class motor torpedo boat.

[1] NameBuiltIn Finnish NavyFate
J 1Jylhä19391943-1961Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1961.
J 2Jyry19391943-1961Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1961.
J 3Jyske19391943-1961Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1961.
J 4Jymy19391943-1961Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1961.

Taisto-class motor torpedo boats

See main article: Taisto-class motor torpedo boat.

NameBuiltIn Finnish NavyFate
T 1Tarmo19431943-1944Lost 21 June 1944 in air attack.
T 2Taisto19431943-1962Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1962.
T 3Tyrsky19431943-1964Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Preserved at the Turku Maritime Museum .
T 4Tuima19431943-1964Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1964.
T 5Tuisku19431943-1964Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1964.
T 6Tuuli19431943-1977Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Rebuilt for water jets 1977. Stricken from the lists 1979.
T 7Taisto 719461946-1965Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1965.
T 8Taisto 819461946-1965Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1965.

Captured D3-class motor torpedo boat

See main article: D3-class motor torpedo boat.

Finnish ship of the class

Vasama: Ex-TK 52 in Soviet service. She was a Soviet D 3 type motor torpedo boat. She was found sunk at Borstö in October 1941, having run aground in a storm. She probably had tried to escape the German attack on Hiiumaa and Saaremaa. She was used as a torpedo boat in 1943, and changed into a patrol boat in 1943. Returned to Soviet Union after the Continuation War.

Captured G-5-class motor torpedo boats

See main article: G-5-class motor torpedo boat.

Finnish ships of the class

All G-5 class motor torpedo boats were returned to Soviet Union after the Continuation War.

Vihuri: Also known as V 1 in Finnish service and ex-TK 141 in Soviet service. She was found abandoned at Koivisto in 1941, but she wasn't taken into use until 1943. The Soviet G-5 class motor torpedo boat released its torpedoes by dropping them from rails in the aft. The ship then had to steer away from the torpedoes path, a maneuver that could be quite tricky in the close waters of the Gulf of Finland. Vihuri participated in the attack on the harbour of Lavansaari on November 18, 1942, where Syöksy managed to torpedo the Soviet gunboat Krasnoye Znamya (1,760 tons), which sunk.
  • Viima: Also known as V 2 in Finnish service, ex-TK 64 in Soviet service. The Viima was a Soviet G 5 type motor torpedo boat, built in aluminum. She was found abandoned at Koivisto in 1941, but she wasn't taken into use until 1943.
  • V 3: Ex-TK 51 in Soviet service. She was captured at the Bay of Vyborg in June 1944.
  • Bibliography

    Forum Marinum

    Notes and References

    1. Westerlund & Chumbley, p. 91