Order of Battle in Continuation War 1941

The Naval Forces included the navy, the inner lake navy and seven coastal brigades. The Finnish Navy was divided between two areas; east and west from Hanko peninsula lease area. The bulk of the Navy, including Coastal Fleet, was operating west from Hanko. The Coastal Fleet and other units were under command of Commander of the Navy, Commodore E. Rahola. The task of Coastal Fleet was to secure occupation of Ahvenanmaa, protect trade and close seaways by mine barrages. Thereafter it would be used against Hanko area.

Submarines and Separate Naval Detachment were stationed east from Hanko. Submarines and Separate Naval Detachment were under direct command of Commander of Naval Forces. The task of Submarines and Separate Naval Detachment was to conduct mining operations and attack enemy supply routes.

OOB in Continuation War 1941

The commanding officer of Coastal Fleet was of Commodore R. Hakola. He was replaced by Captain R. Göransson 6.July. The Coastal Fleet included:

Armoured Flotilla, commanding officer Captain R. Göransson.
Coast Defence ships Ilmarinen (Captain R. Göransson) and Väinämöinen (Cmd. O. Koivisto).
Securing Flotilla.
I Division: Gunboats Hämeenmaa (Lt.cmd. M. Auvinen), Uusimaa (Lt.cmd. M. Wikberg), Turunmaa (Lt. R. Sandholm), Karjala (Lt.cmd. A. Lamminen).
II Division: Patrol boats VMV 1, 2, 13, 14, 15, 16.
Minesweeper Flotilla, commanding officer Lt.cmd. P. Juntunen.
I Division: Sweepers Rautu (Lt. A. Ollikainen), Vilppula (Lt. T. Siivonen), Teikari (Able Seaman S. Lindström), Tuppura (Petty Officer 2nd Class L. Lauren).
II Division: Six Ahven-class boats, tugs Oulu I (Sub.Lt. A. Arho), Porin Karhu (Sub.Lt. A. Turkka).
Minelayer Flotilla, commanding officer Cmd. A. Huima.
Minelayer Louhi (Lt.cmd. T Asikainen), Poseidon (Lt. O. Etholen), mining tender Pommi (Sub.Lt. H. Haakana).
Escort Flotilla, commanding officer Lt.cmd. H.Sandelin.
Escort Uisko (Chief Warrant Officer E. Hellsten), Tursas Lt. A. Kuohuva), Aura (Lt. A. Lempiäinen), Herkules (Lt.cmd. K. Ek)
Icebreaker Flotilla, commanding officer Lt.cmd. S. Halla.
Icebreakers Jääkarhu (lt.cmd. V. Niemelä), Voima (sea captain A. Korström), Tarmo (Sub.Lt. Y. Malmi), Murtaja (sea captain V. Aalto), Apu (Sub.lt. T. Erama).

The Separate Naval Detachment was under direct command of the commander of Naval Forces. The commanding officer of the detachment was Commander S. Enkiö. The detachment included:

Submarine Flotilla, commanding officer Lt.cmd. A. Kivikuru.
Submarine Vetehinen (Lt.cmd. K. Pakkala), Vesihiisi (Lt.cmd. K. Kijanen), Iku-Turso (Lt.cmd. K. Pekkanen), Vesikko (Lt.cmd. O. Aittola), Saukko (Lt. A. Leino).
Depot ship Sisu (Lt. A. Aalto).
Minelayer Group, commanding officer Lt.cmd. O. Arho.
Minelayer Ruotsinsalmi (Lt.cmd. O. Arho), Riilahti (Lt.cmd. O. Kivilinna).
Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, commanding officer Lt.cmd. O. Peuranheimo.
I Division: MTB Syöksy, Vinha, Nuoli, Raju, Sisu, Isku.
II Division: Patrol boats VMV 9, 10, 11, 17.
Depot ship von Döbeln (Lt.cmd. V. Kamppi)
Patrol Boat Group, commanding officer Lt.cmd. K. Viinamäki.
Patrol boats VMV 5, 6, 8, 12.
Mineboat Group, commanding officer Sub.Lt. A. Eronen.
Mining tender Miina, Paukku, Lieska, Loimu.
Minesweeper Group, commanding officer Sub.Lt. O. Eerola.
Depot ship Helsinki (Sub.Lt. P. Honkavaara).
10 motor boats.
Liaison Vessel Group, commanding officer Lt. O. Laakso.
Liaison vessel Porkkala (Lt. E. Söderling), Pukkio (Sub.Lt. A. Seppä).

Five of the Coastal Brigades were under direct command of the Naval Forces. These were:

The 5. Coastal Brigade in Turku and 7. Coastal Brigade in Maarianhamina were under command of the commander of Navy.

The naval forces operating in inner lakes were stationed in Varkaus. They included four flotillas:

11. Flotilla
Gunboats (tugs) Haapaniemi, Kontturi, 4 motor boats.
12. Flotilla
Gunboats (tugs) Taipale, Mauri, 4 motor boats.
13. Flotilla
Gunboats (tugs) Mantsi, Oberon III, 4 motor boats.
14. Flotilla
Gunboats (tugs) Hugo, Hietanen, 4 motor boats.
In addition the training and reserve company had four motor boats and the unit had mobile repair ship Ilmarinen.

In fall 1941 some temporary units were fromed from Navy ships. After the loss of Ilmarinen, units from Coastal Fleet and Separate Naval Detachment was combined to form Detachment E and Detachment P. These were effective 17.9.-6.12.1941.

Detachment E, commanding officer commander S. Enkiö.
Gunboats Turunmaa, Karjala.
Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, I Division: MTB Syöksy, Vinha, Nuoli, Raju, Sisu, Isku.
Depot ship von Döbeln.
Flotilla V: Patrol Boat Group with patrol boats VMV 5, 6, 8, 12, VTV 1, Mineboat Group with mining tenders Miina, Paukku, Lieska, Loimu, Liaison Vessel Group with liaison vessels Porkkala and Pukkio.
Minesweeper Group with six sweepers.
Detachment P, commanding officer commander E. Pukkila.
Gunboats Hämeenmaa, Uusimaa.
Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, II Division: Patrol boats VMV 9, 10, 11, 17 and VMV 13.
Minelayer Group, with minelayer Ruotsinsalmi and Riilahti.
Three detachments were formed to sweep mines. For sweeping in the Koivisto area a Detachment consisting of sweepers Fersen, Carpelan, Kimmo and Ilomantsi with three motor boats was formed. Sweepers Salakka, SM 1, SM 2 and SP 3 from Detachment E were also transferred. The sweeping detachment operated only 10.11-18.11.1941. The mine sweeping detachment in Hanko area had two groups: the eastern and western ones. The western group had sweepers SM 3, SM 4, eight other sweepers, 10 motor boats and minelayer Louhi. The group operated 5.12-14.12.1941. The eastern group had sweepers Salakka, Siika and SP 3 from Detachment E, sweepers YM 11, K 5, 6, 9, 11, 15 and B 6 and depot ship von Döbeln. The group operated 5.12.-12.12.1941.


This page is maintained by Jari Aromaa.
Last modified 9.5.2006.