The ''Tuima''-class missile boat was a

class Class or The Class may refer to: Common uses not otherwise categorized * Class (biology), a taxonomic rank * Class (knowledge representation), a collection of individuals or objects * Class (philosophy), an analytical concept used differentl ...

fast attack craft A fast attack craft (FAC) is a small, fast, agile, offensive, often affordable warship armed with anti-ship missiles, gun or torpedoes. FACs are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the seakeeping and all-round defensive ...

used as

missile boat A missile boat or missile cutter is a small, fast warship armed with anti-ship missiles. Being smaller than other warships such as destroyers and frigates, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming a navy at lower cost. They a ...

s by the

Finnish Navy The Finnish Navy ( fi, Merivoimat, sv, Marinen) is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The navy employs 2,300 people and about 4,300 conscripts are trained each year. Finnish Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "FNS", short for ...

. The vessels were constructed in the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...

and purchased by the Finnish Navy between 1974 and 1975. The vessels were similar to the Soviet Project 205U ''Tsunami''-class missile boats, given the

NATO reporting name NATO reporting names are code names for military equipment from Russia, China, and historically, the Eastern Bloc (Soviet Union and other nations of the Warsaw Pact). They provide unambiguous and easily understood English words in a uniform manne ...

Osa II. All of the vessels were later modified into fast minelayers at

Aker Finnyards STX Finland Oy, formerly Aker Yards Oy, was a Finnish shipbuilding company operating three shipyards in Finland, in Turku, Helsinki and Rauma, employing some 2,500 people. It was part of STX Europe, a group of international shipbuilding companie ...

when their armament became obsolete. The modification work took place between 1993 and 1994 at the Uusikaupunki yards. ''Tuima'' and ''Tuuli'' had their missiles removed and the

superstructure A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships. Aboard ships and large boats On water craft, the superstruct ...

was modified. Mine rails and mine loading equipment were installed and the weapons guidance systems were modernized. ''Tuisku'' and ''Tyrsky'' were also modernized into fast minelayers, but less extensively, removing their missile weapons, and installing mine rails. The ''Tuima''-class vessels belonged to the 5th Minewarfare Squadron based at Upinniemi. The vessels of the class were decommissioned by 2000. The ''Tuima'' class had three 56-cylinder radial diesel engines, each one producing . The middle engine and propeller shaft of ''Tuima'' and ''Tuuli'' were removed during the modernization to make space for the mine laying equipment. This lowered the top-speed by . The class was known amongst the Finnish Navy conscripts as "''Tuska''" (Agony) class or "''Moskvich''" after a Russian car brand of that name. They were not considered as pleasant places to serve because of their poor ergonomics. After decommissioning, the vessels were moored at

Loviisa Loviisa (; sv, Lovisa ; formerly Degerby) is a municipality and town of inhabitants () on the southern coast of Finland. It is located from Helsinki and from Porvoo. About 43 per cent of the population is Swedish-speaking. The municipality co ...

, and it was planned that one was to be transferred to the new Maritime Museum in Kotka. However, in October 2006, the Finnish Ministry of Defence stated that all four were to be sold to

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

where they were refitted and taken into active service.Loviisan sanomat article
/ref>

Vessels of the class

* ''Tuima'' (11) * ''Tuuli'' (12) * ''Tuisku'' (14) * ''Tyrsky'' (15)

References

{{reflist Missile boat classes Missile boats of the Finnish Navy Minelayers of the Finnish Navy Minelayers of the Egyptian Navy Missile boats of the Soviet Union