• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Rauma class

The Rauma class is renovated and to be decommissioned 2022-25.

Rauma-class missile boats of the Finnish Navy Rauma (70), Raahe (71), Porvoo (72), and Naantali were built in 1990-1992 in RaumaHollming / Finnyards Dockyard. The initial cost of the vessels was approximately EUR 50 million each. The Finnish Navy's Rauma-class missile boats - Rauma, Raahe, Porvoo and Naantali - have the Navy's most important underwater performance. They are lightweight and extremely shallow draft vessels designed for demanding archipelago conditions. Although shallow draft is not the most pleasing feature for the crew during heavy seafaring, it does not affect the seaworthiness of the vessels. They tend to tilt up to 35 degrees in storm surges. Even if the ship crashes for some exceptional reason, it will jump upright. Inside ships, provision is made for fluctuations; the handrail or handle is always within reach.

The building material of ships is aluminum, which is why the vessels are light and agile. Vessel propulsion are the Riva Calzone Water Propulsion System. The water propulsion system is basically the same as jet skis and does not have traditional propellers on board or rudders. The water propulsion system enables the vessel to have good maneuverability and activity in shallow waters. Vessel design has taken into account the vessel's magnetic, electrical, noise, and radar excitations, and efforts were made to reduce them by various methods.

Rauma class rocket boats were modernized in 2010-2013. The Rauma class underwent a $70 million renovation at Salon Teijo at Western Shipyard. During the modernization, the battle command system of the ships was renewed and related weapon and sensor systems. During the modernization of ships, French Matra Mistral anti-aircraft missiles replaced by Rheinmetall MASS-decoy launchers.

Patria's coordinated renovation of the Rauma class missile boats of the Finnish Navy will carry the performance of the vessels until the 2020s. The change from the technology of late 1980s systems to the present day is staggering. During the last couple of years, Rauma-class vessels were renovated and their systems renewed and upgraded. The overall responsibility for project coordination and scheduling was borne by Patria's Systems business.

Warships like this have a lifespan of about 30-35 years, and Rauma class ships had already exceeded half of that lifetime. During the lifecycle, one overhaul is required, among other things, because the equipment is outdated and spare parts for systems made 20 years ago are no longer available.

The upgraded Rauma-class missile combat center is like a ship's brain. The data flowing from the various subsystems provide an accurate snapshot of the whole world: the marine, surveillance and fire control radar and the video system detect the ship's surroundings and interiors. Like the ears, the depth-of-field listening depth of the underwater sound can be lowered to almost 200 meters. An echo meter can be used to find and locate underwater objects. When it is time for action, the commands leave the command center.

The major compromise made in the renovation is the active air defense, which will be handled with a single cannon in the future as the anti-aircraft missiles were abandoned. In addition, ships were equipped with gray-matter launchers that deflect radar and heat-seeking missiles by firing torches or metal chips. The features needed for underwater monitoring also improved with modern echo meters. In Rauma class missile boats, lightness is an edge condition.

The conditions in the archipelago are very challenging, but a ship of this size cannot use very large equipment. However, the performance of these echo meters is the best in the world. The Navy tested with Patria the performance of the echo meter with a remote controlled submarine paint, says Rauhanummi.

The vessels are primarily equipped with six Saab MTO85M anti-aircraft missiles. The 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft cannon and two anti-aircraft machine guns are used on the ship force protection. As anti-submarine weapons, the ships carry two Saab ASW-600 ELMA -Depth Rocket Launcher and Depth Bombs. Vessels also use Kongsberg to deep sonar for submarine searching. The vessels are also equipped with mine rails which allow the use of ships in mining missions.

Rauma class missile boats are normally used to train personnel so military exercises at sea than simpler training events on the pier. The ships are also used in the operational tasks of the Armed Forces. Performed by ships operational tasks also serve as training for ship's personnel. The ship normally has 24 soldiers on board while at sea. Everyone of the ship's crew has a specific role to perform. Crew member tasks depends on what the ship is doing at any given time.