Pansio-class minelayer

The Pansio-class minelayers[1] are a three-strong class of mine warfare vessels used by the Finnish Navy, built between 1991 and 1992.[2] The vessels can also be used for transport or to supply the naval forts. The vessels can carry a 100-ton load.

Finnish minelayer Pyhäranta
Class overview
NamePansio class
Operators Finnish Navy
Completed3
Active3
General characteristics
TypeMinelayer
Displacement680 tons
Length43 m (141 ft 1 in)
Beam10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draught2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 1,100 kW (1,500 hp)
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement19
Armament

The ships are referred to as "mine ferries" in the Finnish Navy.

Mid-life upgrade

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The three vessels went through a mid-life upgrade between 2015 and 2017 and are now expected to serve until the 2030s. The upgrades included new main and auxiliary engines, as well as a new high-pressure fire extinguishing system.[3] The vessels were also equipped with a Saab Trackfire remote weapon station with a 7.62 mm PKM machine gun and a 40 mm Heckler & Koch GMG. The two Sako twin-barreled 23 mm/87 (modified ZU-23-2) were removed.

Service

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On 24 August 2022 Pyhäranta ran aground in the Archipelago Sea, off Turku, Finland. Her hull was holed.[4]

List of ships

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Pennant
number
Name Builder Built Commissioned Modernized Home base Status
90 (ex-876 and ex-576) Pansio Olkiluoto 1991 25 September 1991 Pansio In active service
92 (ex-875, ex-575 and ex-475) Pyhäranta Olkiluoto 26 May 1992 Upinniemi In active service
91 (ex-777) Porkkala Olkiluoto 29 October 1992 Upinniemi In active service

References

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  1. ^ "Marine units and Equipment". Finnish Defence Forces. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  2. ^ "Minelayer / Transport Ferry". ILS Ltd. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "Pansio-luokan miinalauttojen peruskorjaus valmistui".
  4. ^ "Finnish Navy minelayer ran aground, holed". Fleetmon. Retrieved 25 August 2022.