Taisto class motor torpedo boat
Encyclopedia
The Taisto class motor torpedo boats or T class was a Finnish
-designed class of motor torpedo boat
s, which saw with the Finnish Navy
during World War II
.
In 1943, the Finnish Navy was in great need for new motor torpedo boats and the Finnish ship designer Jarl Linblom studied the Finnish Navy's Italian-designed motor torpedo boats and improved the design. The improved hull design gave them better seaworthiness and the boats could reach up to 63 knots without armament. Six were manufactured at Turun Veneveistämö during the war, and called the "Taisto class".
In the summer of 1944 the motor torpedo boats participated in the battles near the Karelian Isthmus
. On 21 June the Taistos were attacked by Soviet aircraft, who managed to sink Tarmo and damage Tuuli, resulting in the loss of two men. The T class served with distinction during the attempted conquer of the island of Hogland in Operation Tanne Ost.
Five of the six vessels survived the war, and another two were manufactured after the war. The ships were converted into patrol boats in 1949, in accordance with the Paris peace treaty
. The T class vessels served until 1964, when they were auctioned out.
Taisto (T 2)
Tyrsky (T 3): Tyrsky is today preserved at the Turku
Maritime Museum Forum Marinum.
Tuima (T 4): Tuima was the command ship of the flotilla leader, the Mannerheim Cross
knight Jouko Pirhonen. Tuima the only ship that was fitted with torpedo tubes, instead of torpedo launchers, during the war. She was changed into a gunboat in 1945 and served until 1954 when she was sold on the private market.
Tuisku (T 5)
Tuuli (T 6)
Taisto 7 (T 7): Taisto 7 was constructed in 1946.
Taisto 8 (T 8): Taisto 8 was constructed in 1946.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
-designed class of motor torpedo boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s, which saw with the Finnish Navy
Finnish Navy
The Finnish Navy is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Navy employs 2,300 people and about 4,300 conscripts are trained each year. Finnish Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "FNS" simply short for "Finnish Navy Ship"...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1943, the Finnish Navy was in great need for new motor torpedo boats and the Finnish ship designer Jarl Linblom studied the Finnish Navy's Italian-designed motor torpedo boats and improved the design. The improved hull design gave them better seaworthiness and the boats could reach up to 63 knots without armament. Six were manufactured at Turun Veneveistämö during the war, and called the "Taisto class".
In the summer of 1944 the motor torpedo boats participated in the battles near the Karelian Isthmus
Karelian Isthmus
The Karelian Isthmus is the approximately 45–110 km wide stretch of land, situated between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga in northwestern Russia, to the north of the River Neva . Its northwestern boundary is the relatively narrow area between the Bay of Vyborg and Lake Ladoga...
. On 21 June the Taistos were attacked by Soviet aircraft, who managed to sink Tarmo and damage Tuuli, resulting in the loss of two men. The T class served with distinction during the attempted conquer of the island of Hogland in Operation Tanne Ost.
Five of the six vessels survived the war, and another two were manufactured after the war. The ships were converted into patrol boats in 1949, in accordance with the Paris peace treaty
Paris Peace Treaties, 1947
The Paris Peace Conference resulted in the Paris Peace Treaties signed on February 10, 1947. The victorious wartime Allied powers negotiated the details of treaties with Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland .The...
. The T class vessels served until 1964, when they were auctioned out.
Vessels of the class
Tarmo (T 1): Sunk on 21 June 1944 by Soviet aircraft.Taisto (T 2)
Tyrsky (T 3): Tyrsky is today preserved at the Turku
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
Maritime Museum Forum Marinum.
Tuima (T 4): Tuima was the command ship of the flotilla leader, the Mannerheim Cross
Mannerheim Cross
The Mannerheim Cross of Liberty is the highest Finnish military decoration. The medal was introduced after the Winter War and named after Field Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim...
knight Jouko Pirhonen. Tuima the only ship that was fitted with torpedo tubes, instead of torpedo launchers, during the war. She was changed into a gunboat in 1945 and served until 1954 when she was sold on the private market.
Tuisku (T 5)
Tuuli (T 6)
Taisto 7 (T 7): Taisto 7 was constructed in 1946.
Taisto 8 (T 8): Taisto 8 was constructed in 1946.