Finnish coastal defence ship Ilmarinen
Ilmarinen: Finnish coastal defence ship
- Type and names: Ilmarinen was a Väinämöinen-class coastal defence ship of the Finnish Navy. Her sister ship was Väinämöinen, and she was named after the mythological hero Ilmarinen from the Kalevala.
- Where and when built: Built by Crichton-Vulcan Oy in Turku, Finland. Ordered in 1927, laid down in September 1929, launched on 9 July 1931, and commissioned on 17 April 1934.
- Size and propulsion: Displacement about 3,900 tons; length 93.0 m; beam 16.864 m; draught 4.5 m. Propulsion was a diesel-electric system with four diesel engines powering two shafts, giving about 3,500 kW total. Top speed about 14.5 knots. Range around 700 nautical miles. Crew of about 403.
- Armament (design): Four 254 mm guns in two twin turrets, eight 105 mm dual-purpose guns, four 40 mm anti-aircraft guns, and two 20 mm guns.
- Purpose: Built for close-to-shore defense to protect Finland’s sea lanes and archipelago areas. They were designed to deter larger Soviet ships and support ground forces in the Baltic approach.
- Service before and during World War II: In the late 1930s they patrolled Finnish waters and guarded the Åland Islands during rising tensions. They also provided anti-aircraft defense in Turku and were sometimes painted white to avoid detection.
- Actions in the war: In the Continuation War, Ilmarinen shelled targets such as the Hanko airfield. On 13 September 1941 she took part in Operation Nordwind, a diversionary move to draw the Soviet fleet away from an invasion force. Ilmarinen hit sea mines and sank within seven minutes after a paravane cable was snagged. Of her crew, 271 were lost and 132 survived.
- Wreck: The wreck was found in 1990, lying upside down at about 70 meters depth. It is considered a war grave, located near the wreck of the Estonia.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 04:41 (CET).