Nuoli-class gunboat

The Nuoli-class motor gunboats (English: Arrow) was a series of thirteen fast attack craft of the Finnish Navy. The ships were constructed in 1961 by Oy Laivateollisuus Ab in Turku, and modernized in 1979. The Nuoli motor gunboats played a very important role in naval training and were in service until the early 90s.[1]

Nuoli-class fast gunboat
Class overview
Name	Nuoli
Builders	Oy Laivateollisuus Ab
Completed	13
General characteristics
Type	Fast attack craft
Length	22.0 m
Beam	6.6 m
Draught	1.5 m
Propulsion	3 × Zvezda M50 F water cooled V-12 diesel; each developing 880 kW (1200 hp)
Speed	45 knots (top speed) 25 knots (cruise speed)
Complement	15
Crew	20
Armament	1× 40 mm Bofors 1× 20 mm Madsen
Notes	Ships in class include: Nuoli 1, Nuoli 2, Nuoli 3, Nuoli 4, Nuoli 5, Nuoli 6, Nuoli 7, Nuoli 8, Nuoli 9, Nuoli 10, Nuoli 11, Nuoli 12, Nuoli 13

There are two distinctive versions, 1-10 and 11-13. The former could be distinguished by having a higher superstructure.

All were equipped with three Soviet-made Zvezda M50 F V-12 four stroke, water cooled diesel engines displacing 62.4 litres. They had a mechanical supercharger and a compressed air starter, developing 1200 hp at 1850 rpm max.[2] There was no separate cruise engine, except from a small auxiliary engine that produced electricity. The vessels were first equipped with large screws, but later changed to smaller, albeit equally effective screws, manufactured by FinnScrew.[3]

The main armament of the Nuoli class was a Bofors 40 mm gun mounted aft. It was later planned to be equipped with an electrically-controlled Bofors 40/70-system, but limitations of the auxiliary engine prevented this. The forward armament was a Madsen 20/60. For a brief period these were replaced with Breda 12.7 mm heavy machine-gun which came from WW II-period Fiat G.50 fighters formerly used by e.g. No. 26 Squadron of the Finnish Air Force; the change back to Madsen was done in 1981.

Finland was forbidden to have torpedo boats after World War II, but the Nuoli class could quickly be converted into such, if need arose.[4] in 1982 Nuoli-6 was transferred and ferried to the Upinniemi (Swedish: Obbnäs) torpedo test station in southern Finland to be used as test vessel for a new Finnish-origin torpedo system, which failed. The trip to Obbnäs was made in heavy weather - the waves were so hard that they damaged the wooden support structure of the bow. Nuoli-6 was driven aground in Obbnäs 1983 (summer/autumn) and was stricken.

20 mm Madsen autocannon on Nuoli 8

As a service vessel these boats gave one a true feeling of being a sailor. Constructed of wood, they leaked "a bit" and so the atmosphere was rather moist. Living quarters were limited - even those of the commanding officer. There was no privacy at all - on a Nuoli everyone was a true member of the crew.

The vessels are today spread all over Finland, and one is in Germany (Nuoli 12). Nuoli 8 is preserved at the Turku marine museum Forum Marinum.