Pansio-class minelayer

The Pansio-class minelayers^[1] are a three-strong class of mine warfare vessels used by the Finnish Navy, built between 1991 and 1992.^[2] The vessels can also be used for transport or to supply the naval forts. The vessels can carry a 100-ton load.

Finnish minelayer Pyhäranta
Class overview
Name	Pansio class
Operators	Finnish Navy
Completed	3
Active	3
General characteristics
Type	Minelayer
Displacement	680 tons
Length	43 m (141 ft 1 in)
Beam	10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Draught	2 m (6 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	2 × diesel engines 1,100 kW (1,500 hp)
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement	19
Armament	1 × Saab Trackfire RWS (1 × 7.62 mm PKM machine gun and 1 × 40 mm H&K GMG) 1 × 12.7 mm NSV 50 mines (Sea Mine 2000)

The ships are referred to as "mine ferries" in the Finnish Navy.

Mid-life upgrade

The three vessels went through a mid-life upgrade between 2015 and 2017 and are now expected to serve until the 2030s. The upgrades included new main and auxiliary engines, as well as a new high-pressure fire extinguishing system.^[3] The vessels were also equipped with a Saab Trackfire remote weapon station with a 7.62 mm PKM machine gun and a 40 mm Heckler & Koch GMG. The two Sako twin-barreled 23 mm/87 (modified ZU-23-2) were removed.

Service

On 24 August 2022 Pyhäranta ran aground in the Archipelago Sea, off Turku, Finland. Her hull was holed.^[4]

List of ships

Pennant number	Name	Builder	Built	Commissioned	Modernized	Home base	Status
90 (ex-876 and ex-576)	Pansio	Olkiluoto	1991	25 September 1991		Pansio	In active service
92 (ex-875, ex-575 and ex-475)	Pyhäranta	Olkiluoto		26 May 1992		Upinniemi	In active service
91 (ex-777)	Porkkala	Olkiluoto		29 October 1992		Upinniemi	In active service