Finnish Navy launches exercise Lumiukko 22 in the Gulf of Finland


According to information published by the Finnish Ministry of Defense on February 28, 2022, the Coastal Fleet’s annual winter operations exercise Lumiukko 22 kicked off and continues in the Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland until 10 March 2022.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link


Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Finnish Pansio-class minelayer (Picture source: Finnish MoD)


The Coastal Fleet of the Finnish Navy (Rannikkolaivasto) is the main naval fleet in the Finnish Navy. It is responsible for the territorial integrity of Finland and its territorial waters. Almost all of Finland's naval vessels like the Pansio-class minelayers are part of the Coastal Fleet.

The Pansio-class minelayers is a three-strong class of mine warfare vessels used by the Finnish Navy, built between 1991 and 1992. The vessels can also be used for transport or to supply the naval forts. The vessels can carry a 100-ton load. The ships are referred to as "mine ferries" in the Finnish Navy.

The vessels were also equipped with a Saab Trackfire RWS with a 7.62mm PKM machine gun and a 40mm Heckler & Koch GMG. The two Sako twin-barreled 23 mm/87 (modified ZU-23-2) were removed.