Riilahti was a Ruotsinsalmi class minelayer of the Finnish
Navy. Riilahti was commissioned in 1940 and sunk in 1943. The vessel was named
after the battle of Riilahti, which was fought between Sweden and Russia in
1714.
Funding for two new minelayers had been secured as early as
in 1937, but instead the money was used to refurbish the garrison at Mäkiluoto.
Riilahti was launched on December 14, 1940, three weeks after her sister ship
Ruotsinsalmi.
The ship had an extensively modified propulsion system and
hull, compared to her sister vessel, and it took some time before the crew had
figured out all the characteristics of the vessel.
Originally, the vessels were intended as escort minesweepers
for the Finnish navy’s coastal defense ships Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen, and
they were therefore designed with a draft of only 1.5 m. Riilahti was armed
with one 75 mm gun, one Bofors 40 mm guns and two Madsen 20 mm anti-aircraft
cannons. The vessel had three mine dropping rails, and could carry about 100
mines. The ship could also hunt submarines, and was equipped with sonar, depth
charge throwers and rails. The vessel was also strong enough to be able to tow
minesweeping equipment. She was equipped with smoke generators so she could
protect itself, and other near-by vessels from the enemy.
Riilahti was commanded by kapteeniluutnantti Osmo Kivilinna
during her entire career.
Riilahti and Ruotsinsalmi began mining the Gulf of Finland
on June 26, 1941, immediately after the outbreak of the Continuation War.
Riilahti launched almost 1,000 sea mines during 1941, most of them in the
Juminda minefield.
In 1941, Riilahti managed to seize control of a Soviet barge
and participated in minesweeping operations south of the Hanko Peninsula.
In the summer of 1942, Riilahti laid numerous mines near
Hogland.
Riilahti was sent as reinforcement to the island of Someri
on 8 July 1942, when the Russians tried to land and take the island. She was
involved in artillery duels with ships from the Soviet Navy, gave fire support to
the Finnish defenders on the island and fended off several air attacks. The
vessel counted 56 aircraft attacking her, but she survived, thanks to the
gallantry of her crew. The island was held by the Finnish defenders.
The Marshal of Finland, Mannerheim awarded the Mannerheim
Cross to Osmo Kivilinna on 8 March 1943, citing the war record of the ship,
whose characteristics still were not all known. The ship had also previously
sunk the Soviet submarine Shch-406 together with some German patrol vessels on 26
May 1943.
On August 22, 1943 at 5.30 am, Riilahti set out from Loviisa
on an anti-submarine mission west of Hogland. The patrol vessel VMV 1 followed
her on the journey. At 2 pm on August 23 an outlook spotted two Soviet motor
torpedo boats and sounded the alarm. The officer on duty had previously ordered
the engines to be stopped so that the sonar operators easier could listen for
submarine sounds. While the vessel tried to start her engines and reach
steering power, the Soviet motor torpedo boat TK 94 fired a torpedo, which
struck Riilahti amidships and broke her in two. Riilahti sunk in two minutes,
taking with her 23 of her crew. VMV 1 saved eleven men from the water, one
being the commander of the ship, and Mannerheim knight Osmo Kivilinna. He later
died from his wounds on the operating table.
This was one of the most significant single losses during
the war years; Kivinlinna was a very well-liked officer, and it was widely
believed that he could become the first full Admiral of the Finnish Navy.
The wreck of Riilahti lies five nautical miles from the
island of Tiiskeri at a depth of 70 m. The loss of Riilahti left the Finnish
Navy with a gap in their mine warfare capabilities. This was addressed with the
launching of the Keihässalmi in 1957.
The third engine, which had been ordered, but not yet fitted
on the Riilahti was instead fitted onto the sister vessel Ruotsinsalmi.
Riilahti laid 1,733 sea mines and 599 obstacles during her
career.
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti, 18 June 1942. |
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| Sketch of the minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Launching the minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti, 23 May 1942. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti during the Continuation War. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti followed by a coast guard motorboat, 18 May 1942. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Marshal Mannerheim inspects the minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Marshal Mannerheim inspects the minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Marshal Mannerheim inspects the minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Marshal Mannerheim inspects the minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Marshal Mannerheim inspects the minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Marshal Mannerheim inspects the minelayer Riilahti. |
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| Marshal Mannerheim inspects the minelayer Riilahti. |
