Kuha-class minesweeper (1974)

The Kuha class minesweepers (English: Zander) is a series of six inshore minesweepers of the Finnish Navy. The ships were constructed in 1974-1975. All the vessels of the class were modified and modernized in the late 1990s. This included a lengthening of the hull.

There has also been an older class named Kuha in the Finnish navy, see Kuha class minesweepers (1941).
Kuha 26
Class overview
Name: Kuha class minesweeper
Builders: Oy Laivateollisuus Ab, Turku, Finland
Succeeded by: Katanpää class
Completed: 6
General characteristics
Type: Minesweeper
Displacement:
  • 130 tons
  • 150 tons after rebuild
Length: 31.62 m
Beam: 6.9 m
Draught: 1.9 m
Propulsion:
  • 2× 242 kW
  • 620 kW after rebuild
Speed: 11 knots
Complement: 14
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Kelvin Hughes radar
  • Raytheon 41 XX radar
  • Skipper GDS 101 sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:		 SeaBat mineavoidance sonars
Armament:
  • 1× twin 23 mm
  • 2× 12.7 mm machine guns

The vessels have a glass fibre hull and are amongst the largest vessels built in this material. They are equipped with hydraulic machinery, and its engines are placed in the aft part of the superstructure. The engines are separated from the hull with rubber springs. The engine power is transferred to the propeller unit (which can turn 360 degrees) through two separate hydraulic valves; in this manner the vessels are as quiet as possible, and it has been possible to completely eliminate propeller axles, which are very difficult to silence and are easily damaged in mine explosions.

The vessels are very lightly armed with only a twin 23 millimetres (0.91 in) anti-aircraft gun and a couple of heavy machine guns; Kuha 22 is an exception, as it assumes an anti-aircraft readiness role. It is therefore equipped with a couple more guns than its sister vessels.

The Kuha class vessels usually operate together with some vessels of the Kiiski class, and they can sweep both impact and influence mines.

The Kuha class will be retired when the Katanpää class mine countermeasure vessels enter active service.

Vessels of the class
Kuha 1 (21)
Kuha 2 (22)
Kuha 3 (23)
Kuha 4 (24)
Kuha 5 (25)
Kuha 6 (26)
Commissioned 1975, rebuilt 1999
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References
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