Sisu-class motor torpedo boat
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Finnish: Sisu-luokka, lit. 'Sisu class' |
| Builders | Fratelli Orlando, Leghorn, Italy |
| Operators | |
| Succeeded by | Isku class |
| Built | 1916–1917[a] |
| In commission | 1917–1942[b] |
| Completed | 2[b] |
| Retired | 2[b] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Orlando-12-tonne-type MAS boats (2nd series) |
| Displacement | 12.9 t (12.7 long tons; 14.2 short tons)[1] |
| Length | 16.4 m (53 ft 10 in)[1] |
| Beam | 3 m (9 ft 6 in)[1] |
| Draft | 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)[1] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | |
| Range | 150 nmi (280 km; 170 mi) |
| Crew | 8[1] |
| Armament |
|
The Sisu-class motor torpedo boats (named after sisu) were two World War I–era Italian 12-tonne (12-long-ton; 13-short-ton) MAS boats, also known as A-group MAS boats, which were in service with the Finnish Navy. The vessels, later designated the Sisu class in Finnish service, were launched in 1916 at the Fratelli Orlando Shipyard in Leghorn, Italy, and were the 2nd series of Orlando-12-tonne-type MAS boats. In 1917, they were commissioned in the Regia Marina as MAS 220 and MAS 221.[2][1][3]
MAS 220 and MAS 221 were acquired by the Finnish Government in 1920, and were commissioned in the Finnish Navy as MTV 1 and MTV 2 in 1922 but later renamed to Sisu and Hurja.[1][3] They saw service in World War II.[4] When dashing forward at full speed, the vessels sprayed water high in the air, earning the nickname "fountains" from Finnish sailors.
On the night of October 1–2, 1941, Sisu—together with Nuoli—was patrolling east of Gogland when it came across large, stationary Soviet naval ships. According to some Finnish sources, Sisu missed with her first torpedo, having mistaken the foam painted on a Soviet warship's bow for an indication that it was actually moving. A second torpedo hit a Fugas-class minesweeper amidship and sank her.[5] According to other sources, Sisu and Nuoli allegedly sank two Soviet minesweepers as a result of this attack.[6] In reality, according to Soviet sources and modern Russian research, Sisu and Nuoli made an abortive attack on the Soviet submarine L-3 anchored in the bay of Gogland Island at the time.[7]
Vessels of the class
- Sisu
- Ex–MTV 1 in Finnish service, and ex–MAS 220 in Italian service. She was used as a torpedo boat until 1942, and then transferred to the Naval Detachment K on Lake Ladoga, where she served as a patrol vessel. Sisu was broken up after the war.[4]
- Hurja
- Ex–MTV 2 in Finnish service, and ex–MAS 221 in Italian service. She was used as a torpedo boat until 1941. Hurja was broken up after the war.[4]
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Gardiner et al. 1985, p. 283.
- ^ a b Meister & Morozov (ed.) 2005, p. 287.
- ^ a b Gardiner et al. 1980, p. 364.
- ^ a b c Auvinen, Visa (1983). Leijonalippu merellä [Lion flag at sea] (in Finnish). Pori, Finland: Satakunnan Kirjapaino Oy. pp. 34–35. ISBN 951-95781-1-0.
- ^ Kijanen, Kalervo (1968). Suomen laivasto 1918–1968, II [Finnish Navy 1918–1968, part II] (in Finnish). Helsinki, Finland: Meriupseeriyhdistys/Otavan Kirjapaino. pp. 55–56.
- ^ Meister & Morozov (ed.) 2005, p. 25.
- ^ Meister & Morozov (ed.) 2005, p. 57.
Further reading
- Gardiner, Robert; et al. (1980). Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 363–367. ISBN 0-85177-146-7. ISBN 978-0-85177-146-5.
- Gardiner, Robert; et al. (1985). Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 252–290. ISBN 0-85177-245-5. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
- Meister, Jürg (2005) [First published in 1958 under the title Der Seekrieg in den osteuropäischen Gewässern, 1941/45]. Morozov, Miroslav E. (ed.). Восточный фронт — война на море 1941—1945 гг. [The Eastern Front: the War at Sea 1941–1945] (in Russian). Translated by Lipatov, Sergei A. Foreword and comments by Morozov, Miroslav E. Moscow: Eksmo. pp. 12–64, 273–291, 318–320. ISBN 5-699-09910-7. ISBN 978-5-699-09910-8.