Submarine plans
During World War I British and Russian submarines operated from Finnish bases. Holland type Russian submarines AG 11, AG 12, AG 15 and AG 16 were scuttled 3 April 1918 in Hanko harbour just before the first German landings. The AG boats had been built by Electric Boat Co. in 1916. AG comes from "Amerikanskij Golland", that is American Holland type. They were 355 ton boats armed with one 47 mm gun and four 45 cm torpedo tubes. They were good sea boats and easy to operate. AG 16 was originally AG 13, but superstitious Russians changed its number in July 1917. When German troops approached Helsinki, the British boats E 1, E 8, E 9, E 19, C 26, C 27 and C 35 were scuttled 4 April 1918 off Helsinki. Their crews were evacuated to Murmansk and transported back to home. A treaty between Germans and Russians allowed Russian ships sail to Leningrad.
Finns raised two of the scuttled Russian submarines AG 12 and AG 16 to be repaired. AG 12 was transported to Turku and AG 16 to Helsinki. It was soon clear that repair of AG 12 was not possible. Repair of AG 16 was prepared and contacts were made to Germany and to Electric Boat Co. The costs and royalty fees of Electric Boat Co. were so high that only German option was left. German experts evaluated the wreck and made estimates on repair cost, but funds were never granted. The repair of AG 16 was known to be expensive and no shipyard was willing to guarantee a successful restoration. The boat was finally stricken from navy lists 1929, when the first naval program was approved and construction of new submarines had begun.
Submarine plans |
Photo gallery of submarine types |
The submarines were included in all naval programs since 1919. Bonsdorff plan in 1919 included four 300 ton boats. Schoultz plan from 1920 had also four boats, but they had increased to 750 tons. In 1921 the first plan of Golovin included four 345 ton and two 100 ton boats, and the second plan only the 345 ton boats. The programs of the Coast Defence Commitee in 1922-23 included a strong submarine arm. The larger plan included twelve 400 ton boats and four 99 ton boats and the smaller one six 400-ton and four 99-ton boats. The third version had only three 400-ton boats and one small one. The planned submarine arm consisted of two boat types:
At the end of 1925 it was known that funding for Navy construction was coming and invitation to submit tenders for both small and large boat was sent to British, Dutch, French, Danish, Swedish, and Finnish shipyards. At the appointed time 15 March 1926, four Finnish and 13 foreign yards had made a tender, and more arrived later. A total number of 22 companies were interested on building of the three boats of the "Vetehinen" class, including four Finnish yards, and two very experienced yards: Electric Boat Co, USA, and Kockums Mekaniska Verkstad, Sweden. All the Finnish yards were co-operating with some foreign company. Hietalahden Laivatelakka with Electric Boat Co. offered both boats, Crichton-Vulcan with I.v.S. offered only the larger one, Kone ja Silta Oy with I.v.S only the smaller one, and Viipurin Höyryvene Oy with Estonian Peetri Tehas offered only the large boat. It was no secret that German expertise was behind some companies. This breach of Treaty of Versailles did not cause much agitation. Perhaps most of the diplomats and attachés that discussed with Finnish officials were more concerned that their own companies could miss financial contracts than that Germany was violating treaties.
The prices of the boats varied from 6 to 35 million marks. Boat sizes varied between 98 and 532 tons. Construction times were between 15 and 27 months [Wih99]. The plans were reviewed by a technical committee. It discarded all single-hulled plans, too small and too large boats, and all boats that could not lay mines. The committee considered many plans to be acceptable and those of Kockums (Sweden) and Leven Shipyard (Scotland) were good. It recommended that large boats should be ordered from Kockums and small ones from Hietalahden Laivatelakka. The German submarine expert Karl Bartenbach reviewed the plans again. He recommended that large boats should be built by Kockums or alternatively by Crichton-Vulcan. He did not recommed giving construction of the 99-ton boat to Hietalahti [Wih99]. Bartenbach criticized the plans of the 99-ton boat of Hietalahti that it was not a modern boat, not even a boat of 1914 vintage. In December 1926 Kone ja Silta Oy got share majority of Hietalahti, and so only two Finnish yards were left.
Finally the large boats were built at Crichton-Vulcan yards in Turku with German assistance. The construction of the first boat started in September 1926. From the beginning of 1927 Crichton-Vulcan had German engineers, for example Georg Behrmann, Hugo Peine, Edgar Rickmeyer and Wilhelm Etzbach [Wih99]. Behrmann started a drawing office in Crichton-Vulcan and he was responsible for starting the construction project. Peine was responsible for shipbuilding and Rickmeyer for machinery. Etzbach as a torpedo and submarine specialist was representing the I.v.S [For99]. Inexperience of the local workers, a nine month strike, and hard winters slowed down the construction in Turku. The construction of the small boat was given to Kone ja Silta, but it transferred the rights for Hietalahden Laivatelakka. The contract was signed in April 1928. Also here the inexperience of workers slowed construction. The work quality was even worse that required in normal ships. The construction began to make progress after German craftsmen were hired.
The boats were launched in following order:
|
|
Vetehinen was the first warship to be built in independent Finland. The Finnish yards had no personnel for submarine trials. For the trials the boats the I.v.S enrolled a crew from Germany, with a good amount of World War I veterans. Some Finnish officers had got experience in Italy, France, Denmark, USA, Sweden, and UK. A few Germans had got experience in the earlier projects of the I.v.S. One of them was Kapitänleutnant Karl Topp, later vice-admiral and commander of battleship Tirpitz. The test crew was led by a reserve officer, Lieutenant Hans Schottky, but the real boss was 54 year old lieutenant-commander (Eng.) Heinrich Papenberg. Besides Schottky and Papenberg the crew included three active officers: Topp, lieutenant (Eng.) Thannemann and lieutenant Hans Rösing, later one of the U-Boot aces, and three young resigned officers: lieutenants Lorek, Plaas and Wätje. Thannemann was later replaced by lieutenant (Eng.) Bartels. The crew was strengthened by a varying number of German shipyard workers in Finland and Finnish sailors [For99].
The tests of the first three completed boats were done in summer and autumn 1930. Vetehinen was tested from the middle of July to September in Turku. The tests went well, and only complaint was that the boat dived too slowly. It was agreed that Saukko would also tested by the whole crew of Hans Schottky. This boat had several troubles, including breaking of diesel engine. Because of the engine troubles only a few of the tests of Saukko were finished before the German test team returned in the middle of September. Testing of Saukko continued to December. Testing of Vesihiisi was planned after the tests of Vetehinen but they started in October and continued to December. For these tests Papenberg, who had remained in Finland, was allowed to hire three German experts. They were again lieutenants Lorek, Plaas and Wätje [For99]. The tests of the last boat Iku-Turso and torpedo shooting tests of all boats were done in summer 1931. The surface tests of Iku-Turso were done by a Finnish crew. Papenberg arrived again in the beginning of June to lead the underwater tests. Iku-Turso was commissioned 13 October 1931.
The commission dates of the boats were :
|
 |
The large "Vetehinen" class boats were crammed with torpedoes and mines and so their diving and seagoing properties were not as good as they should have been. However, the German test crews did consider the boats to be better than other boats of this size considering their diving properties, sea keeping, and weaponry [Wih99]. The Saukko was too small and had poor seagoing and torpedo shooting properties. The Diesel engine of Saukko was a prototype of Krupp-Germaniawerft and it never performed as well as expected.
The "I.v.S" company ordered a 250 ton boat from the Crichton-Vulcan yard in October 1930. The previous boats had been ordered by the Finnish Government, but this one was not and it was officially described as a commercial prototype of the Crichton-Vulcan yard. In March 1931 it was agreed between Ministry of Defence and Crichton-Vulcan that Finland had option to buy the boat till the end of 1937. This boat was to be the prototype of the Type II German boats, the "Einbäume". The building of this boat began 1 August 1931, with building number CV 707 and it was launched 10 May 1933.
Testing of CV 707 began in June 1933. The strength of the German test crew was 14 and ten of them were from the first German submarine course. The commander was Werner Fürbringer, LI (Leitende Ingenieur) was again Heinrich Papenberg and Finnish liaison officer was lt.-cmd. (Eng.) Jaakko Rahola. Fürbringer had a heart attack 9. August and was replaced by Robert Bräutigam. Testing was very extensive including torpedo shooting and sound detection with the German special ship Grille. Many German submarine and torpedo experts did short tours in CV 707 testing during summer 1933. Testing was finished in September and the boat was docked for winter and minor repairs in Crichton-Vulcan. The boat had performed well. Complaints were short range, noisy diesels at full speed, and most important, slow diving. In 1934 13 members of the U-boot-Abwehrschule (Kiel) practiced with CV 707 during the summer. The commander was Bräutigam, LI was Papenberg and Finnish liaison officer was lt.-cmd. Hakon Grönholm. The practice included among other things shooting with the first E-torpedoes (Built by Firma Julius Pintsch near Berlin; 120 hp motor capable for 4000 m at 30 knots and 300 kg explosive load). Again many experts did short tours the during summer. Tests were finished 4. August and negotiations for selling the boat to Finnish Government began a week later. The Finnish Defence ministry took over the boat temporarily 23.10. The boat sailed to Suomenlinna for the winter. During the year 1935 the situation was not clear but CV 707 did not remain in dock. The Finnish navy used boat extensively for testing and training. Finnish Government purchased the boat finally in January 1936 and it was named to Vesikko 1 May 1936. The first commander was lieutenant-commander Veijo Virkki.
Germany began to build its own submarines under great secrecy in February 1935. The work was done in Deutsche Werke AG in Kiel. On 15.6.1935 Germany was again allowed to construct submarines and the work was already well under way. During August 1935 the first boats joined German navy. These boats, U 1 to U 6 were copies of Vesikko and known as Type IIa. Later Type II boats were slightly larger. The main differences between Vesikko and Type IIa are slightly different conning tower and that Vesikko was constructed by riveting and welding but Type IIa boats were all-welded construction.
 |
 |
Personnel training had to be started from nothing. At first several officers were trained abroad. Lieutenant Raninen participated 1919-21 submarine course in France. In 1922 he and three engineers were commanded to the Danish Navy. The first submarine commanders, commander Rahola, lieutenant Enkiö and cadet Kijanen served in Italian navy 1927-29 and lieutenants Holmberg, Grönholm and engineer Aho served in Swedish navy 1931. In 1929 the first submarine personnel course was held. The boats practiced actively, but due to low funding, each season one or two boats were kept in reserve and overhaul during the late 1930´s. In winter time the boats were stationed in Suomenlinna.
| As tenders the Submarine Fleet had at first gun boat Klas Horn and minelayer M 1 (renamed Louhi 1936). In July 1939 the fleet got a purpose-built tender, the icebreaker Sisu. This ship was especially constructed for a tender, it had workshops, rooms for crews etc. |  |
 |
The Navy had a defensive doctrine. Its task was to support coastal artillery in preventing landings. There was no clear doctrine for the submarines. They were most likely intended to be the first line against landings on Finlands south coast. So their main tasks would have been reconnaissance and wearing down the enemy. For serious attacks the submarine force was too small and as no boat had more than six torpedoes, they would have been forced to return to base too often. It was also assumed that even their presence would be a serious threat to enemy's heavy units, so that these would not come close to bombard shore. For the defensive navy the submarine fleet was the offensive arm.
 |
 |
Winter War |
More of submarines in Winter War |
For the sailing season of 1939 the active ships were tender Louhi and submarines Vetehinen, Vesihiisi and Vesikko. Saukko was just back from modifications and was in need of tests. Iku-Turso and Saukko were also mobilized after the German attack to Poland.
Soviet Union began actions without a declaration of war on 30. November 1939 by aerial and naval bombardment of the outer islands. First attack to navy anchorage in Högsåra caused all ships to leave the area. The coast defence ships sailed first. Submarines Vetehinen and Iku-Turso with tender Suomen Joutsen needed more time to sail. The boats were still at Högsåra, when eight large four-engined bombers flew over the area. They were after the coast defence ships, because they left the clearly visible Suomen Joutsen and submarines unharmed. The first bombardments in Högsåra anchorage and Hietalahti harbour in Helsinki did not cause any damages.
It was known that Soviet cruiser Kirov was operating in Tallinn - Hanko area. When the ship made its probing attack to Russarö fort on 1.12. (10 minutes of fight at 20 km distance), Vesihiisi and Vesikko were sent after it. The boats did not arrive in time and could only watch the fight from a long distance. The baby boat Saukko and later Vesikko were ordered to Koivisto islands after Baltic Red Fleet had shelled the coastal batteries. Ice prevented attacks of Finnish submarines.
The larger boats of the "Vetehinen" class were operating mostly on the northern Baltic Sea against Soviet shipping -- without results. They were sent after two ships, the icebreaker Jermak and merchant ship Ivan Papanin. At the end of December Finnish Government decided that Estonia was not following neutrality rules as Soviet Union had permanent forces in Paldiski and Tallinn. Therefore it was allowed under international rules to attack these bases. The Estonian officials verified that Soviet warships use these harbours and that Soviet air force uses the Paldiski air field when attacking Finland. On 27.12.1939 Vesihiisi laid 19 mines just off Paldiski harbour. On 1.1.1940 Vetehinen laid 20 mines off Juminda peninsula in the sea way between Tallinn and Kronstadt. All submarine activities ceased in the middle of January 1940. In the Winter War the submarines operated only for five weeks. They did not shoot a single torpedo, only one small steamer was lost in mines they laid.
 |
 |
Continuation War |
More of submarines in Continuation War |
The first operations of submarines were done under great secrecy. "Vetehinen" class submarines laid mines in Estonian territorial waters on the morning "Barbarossa", before Finland and Soviet Union were at war. The first successful torpedo attack was done by Vesikko on 3.7.1941. The boat sunk 4100-ton merchant ship Vyborg east from Suursaari. This was also to be the largest ship sunk by Finnish submarines. During its further patrols at Tallinn and Paldiski areas Vesikko had no success. On 25.8. Saukko collided with German Schnellboot S 28 near Harmaja island off Helsinki and was in danger to capsize. Saukko had to be docked.
The large "Vetehinen" class boats had to stay in harbour after the initial minelaying operations. The situation on the sea front was not clear and the bright northern midsummer nights were not suitable for submarine operations. The submarines began their operations again in the beginning of August. Vesikko and Saukko were stationed in Kirkonmaa fort off Kotka and operated east from Suursaari. Large boats operated against Soviet supply routes to Hanko and Paldiski. The boats were stationed in Barö, west from Hanko. Because of confined waters only one of the large boats was sent on patrol at time. The boats made 16 patrols on Pakri area. The Finnish boats ceased patrols at the end of August and were stationed in Helsinki. Tallinn was evacuated 28-30.8. and it was assumed that the Soviet forces in Hanko area would stay there over the winter. The maintenance and docking for winter began thus already in October. Of the Finnish submarines Vetehinen, Iku-Turso and Saukko were operational when Soviet Union surprisingly began to evacuate Hanko area. They were sent on patrol to attack the last convoys and operated between Helsinki and Keri lighthouse. Saukko operated during daytime and during nights Vetehinen in south and Iku-Turso in north.
In 1942 it was estimated by Finns and Germans that Soviet submarine arm had still at least 40 boats left. They would most certainly start some operations during the season. The most succesful operation of the Finnish submarines was against Soviet submarines in Ahvenanmeri in 1942. The Soviet submarine offensive had mixed up the sea transport system and all possible units were concentrated to eliminate enemy submarines. At first Vesikko was sent to operate in sea area between Helsinki and Tallinn. This gave no results. In August-September all "Vetehinen" class boats were stationed in Maarianhamina for a very unusual task. The boats were to hunt down their Soviet counterparts. The idea was that by using electric motors and hydrophones it would be possible to surprise enemy submarines loading their batteries. The boats had been in Ahvenanmaa for almost two months before they succeeded. On 21 October Vesihiisi sinks Soviet S 7 at Lågskär by torpedo. Four men, including commander Sergei Lisin, are taken prisoner. 26/27. October Iku-Turso shoots torpedo against Soviet Щ 320 at 23.58 and the enemy sub sinks at 00.01 at Marhällan. 5 November Vetehinen sinks Soviet Щ 305 at Gisslan by ramming.
The sailing season of 1943 was quiet for the Submarine Flotilla. The boats were stationed west from the mine barrages. No enemy ships managed to sail this far and the submarines used the season for training and other activities.
In 1944 Finnish submarines did a short tour around the Koivisto islands and Bay of Vyborg. Iku-Turso patrolled 19-20.6. southwest from Koivusaari. There were no suitable targets for torpedoes as the large units of the Red Navy remained in Leningrad. The "Vetehinen" class boats patrolled in the north end of Koivisto sound after evacuation of Koivisto islands and mine laying operations began again. In the first week of July submarines operated at the Bay of Vyborg area. Vesihiisi laid two minefields, 4.7. east from Peninsaari and 8.7 on the mouth of Lavansaari harbour. Vetehinen laid mines on 5.7. to the north end of Koivisto Sound. Thereafter submarine operations were conducted by German VII C boats. Finnish boats operated west from the Huovari-Narvi-Seiskari line. The boats patrolled one at time, first every day and later every second day as no suitable targets were located. Some merchantmen in Lavansaari harbour rouse interest and Iku-Turso tried to attack them on 23.8. The boat detonated a small explosive charge in the submarine net and suffered some damages. The boat managed to return home with both periscopes out of operation. The last Finnish submarine on war patrol was Vetehinen that sailed on 31.8.1944 to Lavansaari. Stormy sea prevented operations and the boat returned on 2.9. The Armistice began 4.9.1944 at 07.00 hours and Submarine Flotilla remained thereafter in Emäsalo.
After the Germans had tried to capture Suursaari on 15.9. the Finnish command was afraid of a similar attack to Ahvenanmaa. Submarines were sent to Nauvo area in full alert. The Peace Treaty of 19.9. forbade Finnish warships to leave harbours as long as fighting continues. Submarines were transferred to Turku on 27.10.1944. On 15.12. Vesikko and Saukko were sent to winter dock in Suomenlinna and in January 1945 the large boats were also towed from Turku to Suomenlinna. Thereafter the boats remained there for eight years. The Finnish boats had sunk one merchantmen and three submarines. Some ships were lost to mines they had laid. Not a single one of Finnish boats was lost. A compilation of the patrols of Finnish submarines shows that they were used actively when it was necessary, but also that they seldom operated together.
 |
 |
A gallery showing submarines after the war. |
| The Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 did not allow Finland to have submarines. There was a plan to use the larger boats as coastal tankers but this was soon abandoned. The boats laid forgotten and neglected at Suomenlinna. |  |
2 December 1952 a proposal to abandon the four oldest boats was accepted by the Ministry of Defence. In May 1953 Government approved selling of the boats for scrapping. On 1.7.1953 a contract was signed with Etablissement Pascal de Saedeleier. The buyer will scrap the "Vetehinen" class boats and Saukko in Belgium. The boats were towed in two groups, first Vesihiisi and Iku-Turso 12-31.8.1953 and then Vetehinen and Saukko 15.9-1.10.1953.
My grandfather Lt. Tauno Paukku was in charge for preparing the boats to transfer. He sailed also with the first boats to Belgium.
The boats were delivered on 4.8. ready to be towed. A week later German tug Stein took Vesihiisi and Iku-Turso. Stormy weather caused delays and the boats arrived in Antwerpen on 1.9. Two weeks later Vetehinen and Saukko were towed with tug Stein. In a storm at North Sea Saukko was lost and Vetehinen arrived alone to Antwerpen on 1.10. Dutch coastal ship Fiat found drifting Saukko and towed it to Antwerpen. Vetehinen and Saukko were scrapped but Vesihiisi and Iku-Turso remained in harbour as the price of scrap was going down. On the tower of Vesihiisi was painted U 17 with large white letters and for 20 francs it was possible to enter the boat. The Belgian company claimed the boat to be a German submarine, either an ocean-going boat of World War I or Type II U-boat of World War II. Some Finnish tourists noticed the trick and contacted Finnish embassy and Belgian officials. The cheat came to end.
| Vesikko was transferred from Helsinki naval base in Suomenlinna to Katajanokka, Valmet shipyard in 1955. On 21.10.1959 it was announced that the boat would be sold to scrap. Submarine veterans contacted Navy headquarters and Military museum and managed to save the boat. The boat was transported in pieces back to Tykistölahti in Suomenlinna and welded together in 1962. The boat was opened for the public on Navy Day 9.7.1973 after tedious restoration work. It is the only Finnish submarine left and the only remaining example of German Type IIa boat.
A gallery showing Vesikko today
|
 |