Finnish minelayer Riilahti

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Riilahti in 1942
History
Finland
Name	Riilahti
Namesake	Battle of Riilahti (1714)
Builder	Wärtsilä Crichton-Vulcan
Launched	14 December 1940
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk 23 August 1943
General characteristics
Class and type	Ruotsinsalmi-class
Displacement	310 t
Length	50.0 m (164.0 ft)
Beam	7.9 m (26 ft)
Draught	1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Propulsion	2 × MAN diesel (894 kW) later 2 × Rateau diesel (835 kW)
Speed	15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Armament	[design] 1× 75 mm gun 1× 40 mm Bofors gun 2× 20 mm Madsen anti-aircraft cannons depth charge launchers 3× rails for 100 mines Smoke generators

Riilahti was a

in 1714.

New minelayers for the navy

Funding for two new minelayers had been secured as early as in 1937, but instead the money was used to refurbish the garrison at Mäkiluoto. Riilahti was launched on December 14, 1940, three weeks after her sister ship Ruotsinsalmi.

The ship had an extensively modified propulsion system and hull, compared to her sister vessel, and it took some time before the crew had figured out all the characteristics of the vessel. Originally, the vessels were intended as escort

so she could protect itself, and other near-by vessels from the enemy.

Riilahti was commanded by kapteeniluutnantti Osmo Kivilinna during her entire career.

Riilahti during the Continuation War

Riilahti and Ruotsinsalmi began mining the

.

In 1941, Riilahti managed to seize control of a Soviet barge and participated in minesweeping operations south of the Hanko Peninsula.

In the summer of 1942, Riilahti laid numerous mines near

.

Riilahti was sent as reinforcement to the island of

on 8 July 1942, when the Russians tried to land and take the island. She was involved in artillery duels with ships from the Soviet Navy, gave fire support to the Finnish defenders on the island and fended off several air attacks. The vessel counted 56 aircraft attacking her, but she survived, thanks to the gallantry of her crew. The island was held by the Finnish defenders.

The Marshal of Finland,

together with some German patrol vessels on 26 May 1943.

The last battle

On August 22, 1943 at 5.30 am, Riilahti set out from

He later died from his wounds on the operating table.

This was one of the most significant single losses during the war years; Kivinlinna was a very well-liked officer, and it was widely believed that he could become the first full Admiral of the Finnish Navy.

The wreck of Riilahti lies five nautical miles from the island of Tiiskeri^[2] at a depth of 70 m. The loss of Riilahti left the Finnish Navy with a gap in their mine warfare capabilities. This was addressed with the launching of the Keihässalmi in 1957.

The third engine, which had been ordered, but not yet fitted on the Riilahti was instead fitted onto the sister vessel Ruotsinsalmi.

Riilahti laid 1,733 sea mines and 599 obstacles during her career.

References