Coast defence ships were particularly popular in the Nordic countries. These vessels had typically heavy armament, rather good armor protection, but generally slow speed. The story of this type of ships began in Denmark, Sweden and Norway at the beginning of 20th century. Their size was around 4000 tons, main armament 210 or 240 mm, armor corresponding to that of armoured cruisers and speed about 15 to 18 knots. A coast defence ship was something between a cruiser and a monitor: slower than a cruiser but better armed, faster than a monitor, but with smaller guns. The coast defence ships had different types, some of them were close to cruisers and others, such as the Finnish ones, were closer to monitors.
The Navy Act of 1927 allowed construction of two vessels. They were 3900 ton ships with maximum length of 93 metres and draught of 4.50 metres. The main armament was four 254 mm guns and secondary armament eight 105 mm guns. Their maximum speed was only 14.5 knots. The vessels looked clumsy, a high mast and large turrets for main and secondary artillery. It is claimed that in Spithead 1937 someone said: "A bold little navy indeed. Even the lightships are carrying big guns". The sea-keeping qualities of coast defence ships were not too good, and they rolled too much. The rolling was slow and wide. Because of the large beam and shallow draft the ships were unpleasant, but not unsafe.
The purpose of coast defence ships was to prevent landing operations. Finland had a rather good chain of coastal artillery batteries along its southern coast and mine fields would be laid when necessary. The purpose of Navy was to buy time for ground forces to deploy. In the confined archipelago coast defence ships with 254 mm main artillery would have been a tough opponent for any ship excluding battleships.
After the outbreak of World War II Finland had stepped up its neutrality monitoring in the beginning of September. The coast defence ships with gunboats Uusimaa, Karjala and Turunmaa and patrol boats VMV 8, VMV 10 and VMV 12 sailed to Saaristomeri to be ready for any threats to Ahvenanmaa. On 26 October two Soviet SB-2 planes flew over the Armoured Flotilla that was in anchor by the Nauvo island. 2 November the ships moved to Högsåra anchorage. Because of threatening situation and border violations by Soviet airplanes, Finland began to lay mines on its own sea lanes in the end of October. When the Winter War broke out, the first task was to occupy the demilitarized Ahvenanmaa. This was done rapidly, only two days after the outbreak of war. Light naval forces protected the transports.
The coast defence ships saw not much action in Winter War. During the war the ships stayed in the west. Most of the time they were hiding from Soviet warplanes. On the night 29/30 November the headquarters on Ilmarinen was informed that diplomatic relations between Finland and Soviet Union had been cut. On the morning of 30th at 11.25 two SB-2 planes flew over the ships anchored at Högsåra and dropped 10 bombs at Ilmarinen. The ships sailed immeadiately to Lohmi and the next wave of nine SB-2 found an empty anchorage. When cruiser Kirov approached Hanko and had a short fight with Russarö fort 1 December, the coast defence ships were in Borstö area 30 miles west from Hanko. They sailed towards Hanko, but had no chance to take part in this battle. This short trip to west caused coast defence ships to miss their meeting of transports they were supposed to protect during Ahvenanmaa occupation. The coast defence ships remained in Ahvenanmaa area till end of January 1940. Their main anchorage was Flisö. During the daytime the ships cruised at low speed and during nights and days with low visibility they remained in anchor.
The enemy air force began to attack western harbours after the middle of December. To assist the air defence, coast defence ships moved to Kihti area between Ahvenanmaa and Turku archipelagoes on 23.12. On 25 December the coast defence ships with four VMV patrol boats were anchored at Kihti (Skiftet). At 08.30 the ships lifted anchors and started to circle around. One hour later three SB planes were seen 7 000 m east and two were shot down by 105 mm fire. Ten planes approached then from east. At 13.51 three planes made diversion attack against Väinämöinen. The rest of planes attacked then Ilmarinen in two groups and two 500 kg bomb near misses and machine gun fire killed seaman Armas Nordqvist and wounded seven others. At 14.30 two planes attacked and both were shot down. The fire control of the ships had not been very good. Too much attention had been paid to less dangerous planes and too much ammunition had been used.
After Ahvenanmaa waters became covered with ice in the end of January 1940, all naval activities ceased. Small vessels stayed in Maarianhamina, but coast defence ships moved to Turku to assist its air defence. Here they did most of their fighting. The ships were anchored, painted white and their decks were covered by a thin layer of snow. Turku was attacked 61 times by about 440 planes. The coast defence ships provided effective AA barrage that saved the city. The Navy estimated that 35 attacks by 218 bombers and 110 escorting fighters were done against the coast defence ships. The ships used a lot of ammunition and especially supply of 105 mm fuses was critical. On the other hand, the 40 mm Vickers guns were almost useless. They had much malfunctions and could not shoot high enough.
During the last stages of Winter War coast defence ships were ready to counter landings to Hanko-Porkkala area. It was also planned to send them to support the bitter fights on Bay of Vyborg. This failed as no icebreaker with smokeless diesels was available to open lanes. There was also risk of propeller damages and most likely ammunition had not been sufficient for the expected air attacks.
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In the Continuation War the role of coast defence ships was more or less "fleet in being". Coast defence ships were stationed first in the Saaristomeri area. Their first task was protection of the operation "Kilpapurjehdus", occupation of demilitarized Ahvenanmaa. They were attacked by Soviet planes on the morning of 22 July while at anchor. During the whole war they were a top priority target for Soviet air force. However, after the first months of the war and loss of Ilmarinen, the Väinämöinen was never found and attacked.
During the battle of Bengtskär the coastal defence ships were ordered by Navy commander Rahola to support the small Finnish force. This decision was based on false information by Finnish fighter planes, that Soviet destroyers were on the area. They must have taken either patrol boats or Finnish gunboats as destroyers. When the ships sailed to area west from Örö, no destroyers were seen, but the ships were attacked by 18 PE-2 planes. Two bombs detonated just behind Ilmarinen causing splinter damage and personnel losses: one killed and 13 wounded. Ilmarinen was repaired in Turku and to avoid personnel losses, the guns were protected by sand boxes as splinter shield.
Coast defence ship shelled Hanko area a few times in 1941. The bombardments by Finnish ships were not strong:
The semi-armor piercing or land target shells were modified 254 mm Durlacher gun shells from coastal artillery.
Their second large operation was deception operation "Nordwind", that resulted in loss of Ilmarinen. Ilmarinen was lost on mines laid by escorts Sneg and Tsiklon. The barrage 26-A had 60 mines model 1926 laid in 5.8.1941, mine interval 60 meters. This was only Soviet barrage laid in Utö area in 1941. After the loss of Ilmarinen, Väinämöinen shelled Hanko area one last time 15.11.1941. These were the last heavy shells fired by Finnish ships, except some practice shots. During the following three years of war Väinämöinen stayed mostly in the area west from "Seeigel" and "Nashorn" mine barrages. Väinämöinen was the nucleus of naval unit "Detachment Väinämöinen", whose tasks were antisubmarine operations in the west and attacks against heavier units. The unit remained mostly out of battles, as heavier enemy units never sailed out from Leningrad. Only light securing forces of "Detachment Väinämöinen" attacked sometimes Soviet submarines.
During 1942 "Detachment Väinämöinen", i.e. Väinämöinen, six VMV patrol boats and six motor mine sweepers was based on the coast between Helsinki and Kotka. Väinämöinen remained camouflaged and moved only when it was needed, for example during the battle of Someri. Even the Finnish gunboats could not cope with enemy, the Navy command was doubtful to send Väinämöinen into action. During 1943 the most important task of "Detachment Väinämöinen" was to lead the submarine hunting operations east from the Porkkala-Naissaari submarine net.
During the Soviet attack in summer 1944 Väinämöinen was kept as a last defence line. It remained hidden west from Kotka. When the relations to Germany were becoming tense, "Detachment Väinämöinen" and Submarine Flotilla were moved to Ahvenanmaa - Saaristomeri area. Their task was to prevent occupation of Ahvenanmaa (German plan "Tanne West").
After the war Väinämöinen remained in Pansio navy base in Turku. It was maintained with a minimum crew as all personnel was needed in the mine clearance operation. Väinämöinen was sold to Soviet Union as part of war reparations on 3.3.1947. The price was 265 million Finnish marks. The ship served then more than 10 years under name Vyborg. The following history is based mostly on article of A.M. Vasiljev, published in "Gangut" magazine #25, 2000.
Väinämöinen was classified as "coastal armoured ship" in the Baltic Red Fleet on 5.4.1947. The flag was changed in Turku 25 March 1947. Machinery and artillery tests were done in Airisto 29.5. The delivery protocol was signed 6 June 1947. 7 July the ship sailed to Porkkala base, where it was attached to 104th coastal vessel brigade. Vyborg was first attached to Kronstadt sea fortress and 1955 it was transferred to Leningrad navy base. During 1947-1952 Vyborg was stationed in Porkkala base. The ship sailed actively 1947-49, but in 1950-52 the number of hours underway decreased. 16 February 1949 the ship was reclassified as monitor. In 1952 Vyborg was underway only 62 hours as it was in need of an overhaul. From 30.1 to 31.3. 1952 Vyborg was overhauled in Kronstadt where the steel propellors were changed to bronze ones and about 10.000 rivets were replaced in underwater areas of the hull. During 1952 a large plan for modernization of the ship was planned.The large modernization began in March 1953. The ship was docked in Tallinn where it was worked on from 1.6.1953 to 29.8.1957. Both ships hull and machinery were overhauled. The overhaul included:
- The main diesels were changed from Krupp type 39/42 to Krupp 46A6 with the same power.
- Auxiliary diesel generators and emergency batteries were replaced.
- Navigation, radio and various other electric equipment was changed.
25 February 1954 the ship hit bottom in Tallin's Mine Harbour when water level lowered and the hull was damaged between frames 67-68. 23 November a caisson was built and the cracks were welded. From 4 April to 10 August 1956 the ship was in floating dock and 10.800 rivets were replaced and heads of 1.200 bolts fixing the main armored belt were welded.The repairs resulted in increase of deplacement to 4112 tons and draft to 4.60 metres. The maximum speed was only 75% of what it had been before the overhaul. The ship was stationed after the repairs in Kronstadt. The ship sailed actively from September 1957 to end of 1958. It was used as mobile artillery base between southern coast of Gulf of Finland and Koivisto (nowadays Primorsk). 25.12.1958 the ship was taken into dry dock in Kronstadt for conservation and 1.11.1959 the ship was transferred into reserve fleet. In the beginning of 1960's Soviet Union planned to sell the ship back to Finland. Vyborg was taken from active service 1962. 17 September 1965 the condition of the ship was evaluated and the second largest warship built in Finland was scrapped in 1966.