Hamina Class

She seems to have changed her paintscheme quite some times. Or is it all play of the light?
Here’s Hamina and the other one is Helsinki, her ancestor. From Jane’s recognition guide. Info is rubbish though, Six Saab RBS-15F missiles? I only see 4, and no possibility to get any more on that… And it only mentions Hamina as the sole unit. One good notion though: On Helsinki, you can see the sextuple Sadral launcher, in the same position as I expect it to be in Hamina.

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I agree that section does look like the place a VLS would be fitted. Do you think they fit 16 cells in that spot or just 8-cells? I think the Umkhonto IR is a smaller missile comparable in size to the Barak so 16 cells would not be impossible.

“Do you have any source on the buy of the Umkhonto? How many systems they bought? A real deal has been signed already?”

I have a coulpe of sources that the contract has been signed and finalized (look in my fourth post) but I do not know how many systems or the final price of the contract.

PS. Another great pic!!!

No problem,
I don’t have any Source, nor did I say they cancelled it. I said they cancelled the project instead. Yet, they didn’t! They cancelled the Tuuli hovercrafts (8 of these were ordered). The Hamina class has two ships in service, Hamina and Tornio. A Third unit has been ordered with an option for a fourth.
If they indeed have bought those Umkhonto missiles, I think they might be backfitted in the ships. I think the plate on top of the superstructure, where the side hatches are, might be reserved for such a VLS. I don’t see any other possible place for it (in front would be too dangerous for the bridge) and the plate (with clear black outlining) indicates such an intention.

This picture shows that place best I think.
Do you have any source on the buy of the Umkhonto? How many systems they bought? A real deal has been signed already?

Sorry. Last question.
Finland bought the Umkhonto system in 2002 to arm their ships. You say they canceled that contract. If they would have not canceled that contract do you know how many Umkhonto cells this craft could have been armed with?

Do you have a source of the fins canceling this contract?

Thanks for everything so far Severodvinsk!

There is no Umkhonto VLS, it was just a proposal, the Finnish Navy has some financial problems and already has cancelled several projects.
The only Air Defense this ship has is a sextuple Matra Sadral Launcher for the Mistral missile. This launcher can be replaced by two Sako 23mm twin guns. There are also 2 12.7mm guns.
It has 4 Saab Elma LLS-920 9-barreled ASW mortars and 1 rail for Depth Charges, which I suppose can be used for Mines. None of their craft can officially carry mines, or at least very few of them. The Fact is that most of them can, and indeed as you assumed by exchanging the SSMs for it. It has no torpedo tubes.
I think, for the Sadral launcher,that it is mounted in the Recessed part just behind the main mast. The ASW mortars, I assume, are in the same part just behind the mast or maybe mounted inside the hull. Maybe someone else can deliver some specific pictures?

THANK YOU

Thanks for the pics Severodvinsk. May I ask for the source? From looking at the pics I see a Bofors Sea Trinity 40mm mount in the “A” position and Four RBS-15F missiles in the “Z” position. Is this craft armed with the Umkhonto-IR and if it is do you know how many cells and where they are placed? I am guessing they would be in the “Y” position rather than the “B” position? You also said this craft can carry mines. Any idea on how many mines it can carry. Do they have to remove the RBS-15 launchers to make room for the mines? Lastly, Is this craft armed with any torpedo tubes.

Sorry for all the questions but information on this craft is really hard to find. Any help is very apreciated.

What it serves for? Like all Baltic Navies, Air Defense is mostly provided by land-based aircraft, the small size of the Baltic allows that.
Sweden also doesn’t have AD, although Visby could receive some (also Umkhonto was proposed), yet that is probably for some more NATO related exercises.
Baltic fleet of Russia, only Bespokoiny and Nastochiviy have a medium range SAM, the others are mostly FACs.
Germany, didn’t have long/Medium range SAMs before the advent of Sachsen. Same there, not needed, yet better for international duties (and of course other reasons).

Hamina is a nice ship, but these paints are very expensive to keep ok. Other ships can stay in service with some bad paintjob too, but to have all these different colours and keep them ok, it takes a lot of paint and work and become very expensive (not an assumption,from Finnish Navy personnel).
They also have the capability of laying mines in the entire Finnish waters within 24 hours, with clearly drawn minefields. A Very good defensive Navy, all Baltic Navies have this capability, Swedes can lay mines too, very nasty, but very effective.

“No sam fited,too small for any addtional equipment.Maybe portable stinger missiles?”

What craft are these missiles intended for then? No one has any pics or links of the Hamina Class? Pics of this craft can’t be this hard to find???

“21.10.2002 Business Report: Finnish navy selects Denel missiles in a tough market Finland had selected the Umkhonto air defence missile, manufactured by state arms maker Denel, the company said on Friday.
The Finnish navy last week signed a multimillion-rand contract with Denel’s Kentron division for the supply of Umkhonto-infrared (IR) surface-to-air missiles and associated fire control equipment.”

“The choice by Finland to equip its Navy vessels with the Denel developed Umkhonto Short Range Air Defence missile, also selected by the South African Navy, is a significant milestone as it was achieved in competition against the best missile systems available in the world.”

“The Umkhonto surface-to-air missile of Kentron which was selected by the SA Navy Corvette programme was also selected by Finland for their navy.”

No sam fited,too small for any addtional equipment.Maybe portable stinger missiles?

The link doesn’t work. I believe this class is also fitted with a SAM system from South Africa. Any info on that or how many missiles it armed with?

re:

http://brd3.chosun.com/bemil/view.html?tb=BEMIL025&pn=1&num=24474

Two ships of the class, 268ton missile fac armed with 4 RBS-15F short-range anti-ship missile. 40mm Bofors gun if I’m not mistaken.

any help?

anything?

Weapons, specs, or anything?