The remainders from the navy of the Czar were mostly small vessels. They had been either under construction or too weak to sail in ice-covered waters when the bulk of Russian ships left Helsinki during Spring 1918. Various naval programs included plans to construct a good amount of small ships, but these did not realize. At the beginning of 1920's the small ships the Navy had were the obsolete gun boats Klas Horn and Matti Kurki, "Turunmaa" and "Uusimaa" type gun boats, S-class torpedo boats, two M.A.S. type motor torpedo boats of Italian origin and motor boats for mine laying and clearance. One experimental motor torpedo boat was built in 1926. Two British Thornycroft type motor torpedo boats were bought in 1928 and two more were built in Finland following year.
No gunboats, destroyers, escorts or similar vessels were added to the Navy. Small torpedo vessels were very popular in various Naval Programs in 1920' and 1930's. However, except captured Soviet boats in Continuation War, the number of small gun and torpedo vessels did not increase until 1943 when "Hurja", Jymy" and "Taisto" class boats were finished or purchased.
In addition to Navy vessels, the Patrol Boats of the Coast Guard were used (VMV boats). These boats were 30-35 ton vessels, with good speed and seakeeping properties. They were used as escorts, securing vessels, gunboats, minelayers and even as motor torpedo boats.
The strength of the small gun and torpedo vessels in the Winter War was:
Gunboats Uusimaa and Hämeenmaa were ordered to coast patrol in northern Baltic and Ahvenanmeri area. In January 1940 they were used in escort duties in the Gulf of Bothnia. After two convoys they returned to Turku, because operation in thick ice was impossible. Hämeenmaa was docked because of propeller damage. GunboatsTurunmaa and Karjala were used in patrol duties at Haapasaari - Koivisto area. However, at the same time Turunmaa was securing minelayers and Karjala was a tender for motor torpedo boats. In the beginning of January 1940 Karjala was sent to Ahvenanmaa to fortify submarine hunting force, but at the same time Uusimaa and Hämeenmaa were ordered to Gulf of Bothnia. The submarine patrols were done outside Flötjan, often with only one gunboat. In the end of January Ahvenanmaa area was covered with ice, and small units in the area like Karjala and Turunmaa remained in Maarianhamina for the rest of the war.
Motor torpedo boats were first sent to Koivisto. Their task was to attack enemy units shelling Finnish position. Ice prevented these operations and Syöksy was damaged in ice. Patrol Boats were stationed west, in Ahvenanmaa area. The operated in submarine hunting and as escorts for coast defence ships and convoys. The Submarine Destroyer Flotilla had boats VMV 2, 5, 13, 14, 15, 16. The VMV 16 was not operational as it lacked one propeller shaft. The boats had no hydrophones, so their only chance was a visual contact. The Securing Flotilla had boats VMV 1, 6, 8, 9, 12, 17. VMV 11 was in the Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla. VMV 13 and VMV 14 were securing the troop transport to Ahvenanmaa 2 December. The Submarine Destroyer Flotilla had a contact with enemy submarine 8 December. It was strengthened by VMV 11 and two boats from the Securing Flotilla. The war of small wooden boats ended in 27 December as ice was too strong for their hulls.
At the beginning of Continuation War the movement of naval forces along the south coast of Finland was restricted as Soviet Union had strong forces in the Hanko peninsula lease area. The strength of the small gun and torpedo vessels in the Continuation War was:
The first operation of patrol boats was to lay defensive mine barrages to Jussarö and Hästö-Busö sea lanes 21-22 June. This was done by the boats VMV 5, 6, 12 and VMV 14. Patrol boats and motor torpedo boats captured an enemy MBR-2 flying boat south from Glosholma fort off Porvoo on Midsummer Day 24 June.
First torpedo attack was done 6 July against two Soviet sailing ships with two boats, Syöksy and Vinha. Perhaps due to excitement all torpedoes missed. Commander of the leading boat crossed then bow of one of the schooners and dropped two depth charges with minimum depth setting.
In the beginning of July motor torpedo boats laid mines off the Estonian coast. Loading of two 1100 kg weighing German magnetic mines was risky as the wooden hulls of Thornycroft boats were already rotten.
19.7. Thornycroft boats were in action with Soviet destroyer Skoryi. The Finnish boats were trying to ambush a convoy sailing to west but were surprised. A near miss damaged Vinha. The boat lost rudder and propeller, but it was towed to safety.
Finnish troops had occupied some of the small islands around Hanko Peninsula and used them as observation points. One of them was Bengtskär. Soviet command decided to eliminate this island by a small commando attack on 25/26 July. Bengtskär was occupied by a platoon-sized force and the nearest support unit was gunboats Uusimaa and Hämeenmaa about two hours travel to west. The gun boats were followed by VMV 1, 2, 13 and VMV 16. When the situation of the defenders was hopeless, the smoke-belching gunboats arrived and chased enemy boats away. Then they opened fire against enemy troops on the island and sent a machine gun squadron to the island. MO-boats tried to evacuate remaining attackers. Enemy boat PK 238 was sunk by Uusimaa, 16 survivors were picked up by VMV 13.
During evacuation of Tallinn 28./29.8. patrol boat VMV 17 sank with torpedo three-masted schooner Atta. Later the same night VMV boats captured two tugs, Paldiski and I 18, south from Kalbådagrund. During the night Finnish gunboats moved from Saaristomeri to Suomenlahti. Soviet units in Hanko remained passive and their large naval forces off Tallinn did not notice the weak Finnish force.
2.9. Thornycroft boat Syöksy sank enemy transport Meero south from Koivisto Sound.
6.10. Gunboat Karjala is damaged by bombs dropped from a German plane. In pilot's report 320-ton warship damaged is inflated to 4000 ton merchant ship sunk.
13.9. Coast defence ship Ilmarinen was lost in mines. VMV 1 picked 57 survivors from the keel of the ship and VMV 14, VMV 15 and VMV 16 together 75 men from the sea.
22.9. MTB Syöksy sank auxiliary sweeper T 41 Sergei Kirov in Suursaari harbour.
30.9 MTB Raju caught fire in engine room and was close to explosion. After crew had closed all access to engine room with their clothes, fire was extinguished.
On the following day Nuoli and Sisu attacked enemy ships in Suurkylä harbour (Suursaari). Their targets were two guard ships, one submarine and a tug with barge. The Soviet submarine L 3 was anchored ashore off the island. While approaching, the Finnish boats noticed two enemy ships lying in anchor and both boats made two attacks. The boats launched all four torpedoes and claimed to have sunk two ships after noticing two explosions. According to Soviet sources, three torpedoes exploded as they hit the bottom of the anchorage at 20-30 meter distance from the sub, causing minor damages to the ship's mine tubes, while the fourth torpedo was crippled by a 45 mm shell fired from L 3 that hit the torpedo's motor section, so it stopped and sank - in order to be raised later by the Soviets. Finnish MTB´s escaped with some splinter damage.
Gunboats were in Light Naval Detachment, stationed in the east part of Gulf of Finland. They were used to hunt enemy submarines and to support own troops if enemy would try landing operations. Another task was laying and defense of antisubmarine mine barrage north from Suursaari. Half of VMV patrol boats were securing Väinämöinen and half in Light Naval Detachment. MAS boat Sisu and experimental boat Isku were stricken from active service. Only four Thornycroft boats were in somewhat battleworth condition. In the beginning of the season their top speed was 30 knots, but later it was only 20-24 knots in full load. All boats were leaking and some of them had to be continuously pumped in harbour. In the end of August Nuoli was removed from active service, but captured Vasama (a 35 ton D3 type boat TK 52) and Vihuri (16 ton G5 type boat TK 141) were taken in service in September and October. Vasama had joined MTB Flotilla in end of June. Vasama saw action in Battle of Someri in July armed with 40 mm gun, but it had engine problems that were solved in the beginning of September.
On 8 July Soviet forces attacked island of Someri with warplanes and about 30 MO and TK-boats. Gunboats Uusimaa and Hämeenmaa sailed from Haapasaari to support defenders and Turunmaa in Pukkio was kept for troop transport. Gunboats sank seven MO or TK-boats. Several VMV patrol boats moved to the battle area. VMV 10 sank one enemy MO-boat and VMV 11 shot down one PE-2 plane. After the battle gunboat Hämeenmaa was hit by a bomb from PE-2 plane and Turunmaa had explosions in 20 mm Madsen guns while evading air attack. 6 men were lost and 16 wounded on the ships.
In 1942 VMV boats sank or assisted in sinking of four enemy submarines: Щ 317, M 97, Щ 308 and Щ 311.
Motor torpedo boats laid mines and operated against enemy transports between Kronstadt and Lavansaari. 18. November motor torpedo boats Syöksy, Vinha and Vihuri sank gunboat Krasnoje Znamja in Lavansaari harbour. The victim was 1760 ton ship with five 130 mm guns. It was built in 1895 and the original name was Hrabryi.
The last MTB operation in 1942 was 22-23 November, when Vasama (D3 type), Vihuri (G5 type) and Vinha (Thornycroft) attacked a convoy without results.
Gunboats were in Light Naval Detachment, stationed east from Suursaari. The task was laying and defense of antisubmarine mine barrage north from Suursaari.
Five Baglietto-type MTB´s ("Hurja class") purchased from Italy arrived in Turku 25 April. The flotilla was ready for training in only few days. The MAS boats that operated in Lake Ladoga 1942 were sold to Finland. They hoisted Finnish flag in Tallinn May and were renamed to "Jymy" class. The boats moved to Helsinki in beginning of May. Six "Taisto" class boats built in Finland were taken in service in the beginning of June. In addition another captured G5 boat was repaired and named Viima. Motor Torpedo Boat Detachment was created, with "Taisto" and "Jymy" classes in first Flotilla and "Hurja" class and captured boats in second Flotilla.
Not all of the new motor torpedo boats proved to be effective. The airplane engines of the Italian-built "Hurja" class were of poor quality. Their speed decreased after twenty hours of operation so that it was questionable to use them in torpedo attacks. Torpedoes were removed and the boats were equipped with mine rails. The second flotilla dropped mines in the areas of Diamant shallows, northeast from Seiskari, northwest and southwest from Lavansaari. These trips required calm weather and poor visibility. The approach had to be done slowly. Use of main engines would have alerted the enemy. Besides a "Hurja" class boat loaded with mines was unable to use its gun.
Gunboat Turunmaa was hit by bombs and to prevent sinking it was beached in shallow water at Haapasaari islands on 2 May. The boat was raised immediately and repaired, but it was not back in service until end of October.
When returning from a minelaying operation 15.5., old Thornycroft boat Raju hit an underwater boom obstacle and sank. The boat was not repaired anymore. Thornycroft boats Vinha and repaired Syöksy were transferred to Lake Ladoga as patrol boats.
22.5. VMV patrol boats were in battle with Soviet boats near Diamant shallows. Two men were lost in VMV 17 and four men wounded. Together Finnish boats sank two enemy boats.
25.5. Ruotsinsalmi and Patrol Boat VMV 6 sank enemy submarine Щ 408 at Keri by depth charges.
The lack of experienced MTB personnel was notable. In the first patrols there were collisions and other difficulties. The sea front was quiet and so motor torpedo boats were ordered back to Helsinki in July for training. They returned to east part of Gulf of Finland in August. In convoy battles 19.8, 21.8 and 6-7.9 MTB's sank 5 barges and transport ships. In late summer MTB´s made 34 patrols and met 159 enemy patrol boats. In 14 patrols they were in fight with 75 enemy boats [Peu56].
Light Naval Detachment with 4 gunboats, 2 auxiliary gunboats, and patrol boats was stationed east from Suursaari. The task was laying and defense of antisubmarine mine barrage north from Suursaari. The unit was stationed in Suursaari - Kotka - Kuorsalo - Koivisto area. Detachment Väinämöinen had some of the patrol boats. The task was antisubmarine operations between Suursaari and Porkkala. Motor Torpedo Boat Detachment had 18 MTB's. They should attack enemy supply traffic in east part of Gulf of Finland and enemy ships west from Lavansaari, and make offensive minelaying operations in the mouth of Bay of Kronstadt. They were stationed in Hamina - Uuras area.
MTB Hurja 5, Patrol Boats VMV 8 and VMV 12 had been destroyed in Soviet air raids in February.
When Soviet attack began in June, MTB's laid bottom mine barrages on coast south from Koivisto. The role of Navy was soon minelaying and protection of transports. In few cases Navy was able to support ground troops with artillery. The problem was that the Navy had only four gunboats and two auxiliary gunboats and the enemy was in almost full control of air space.
During the night 16/17 June VMV 13 and VMV 16 had a fight with three enemy MTB boats. One of them was sunk, one captured and one escaped. The captured G5 type boat was soon serving in the Finnish Navy as V 3.
While securing protection and bombardment in Koivisto area Navy lost patrol boat VMV 17 and motor torpedo boat Taisto 1. Evacuation of 2000 men from Koivisto island went without losses. Enemy made no air attacks and Light Naval Detachment stopped all surface attacks.
The fights from islands in Bay of Vyborg were costly for the Navy. In two attempts to support defenders of Teikari island all gunboats and auxiliary gunboats were badly damaged. Enemy air force and navy were too strong and Finnish units were beaten back before they reached the battle area. Field artillery hit mast of gunboat Uusimaa twice. Splinters killed or wounded 12 men out of 16 on the ships bridge. The two days, 4 and 5 July, cost Navy 23 killed and 48 wounded.
After the Armistice 4.9. Finnish MTB's were in one battle. During "Tanne Ost" 3 "Taisto" class and 3 "Viima" class boats of the 1st MTB Flotilla attacked German ships. They did hit M-boats, R-boats and transport units, but it has not been possible to determine, if their victims sank or were damaged. Patrol boats VMV 10 and VMV 14 were trapped in Suurkylä harbour and lost. Two of the patrol boats, VMV 15 and VMV 16, were in the Lapland War. They took part in the Tornio landing and patrolled in the Gulf of Bothnia throughout October.