Finnish gunboat Matti Kurki
Matti Kurki was originally the Kazarski-class torpedo gunboat Voevoda of the Imperial Russian Navy. One of three built for the Russian Baltic Fleet, Voevoda was used as a despatch vessel during World War I. During the Russian Revolution, Finland declared independence from the Russian Empire and the ship, which lay abandoned in Finnish waters, was taken over by the newly formed Finnish Navy and renamed Matti Kurki, after 13th-century commander. Matti Kurki ended her Finnish Navy service in the 1930s. The ship was broken up for scrap in 1938.
 Matti Kurki's sister ship, Klas Horn | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Russia | |
| Name | Voevoda |
| Builder | Schichau, Elbing, Germany |
| Laid down | 1891 |
| Launched | 8 December 1892 |
| Commissioned | 1892 |
| Decommissioned | 1918 |
| Fate | Taken over by Finland 1918 |
 Finland | |
| Name | Matti Kurki |
| Acquired | March 1918 |
| Commissioned | 1918 |
| Stricken | 1937 |
| Fate | Broken up for scrap 1938 |
| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | Kazarski-class gunboat |
| Displacement | 420 t (410 long tons) |
| Length | 60.20 m (197 ft 6 in) |
| Beam | 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion | 1 shaft, vertical triple expansion engine, 3,500 ihp (2,600 kW) |
| Speed | 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) |
| Complement | 65 |
| Armament |
|
Design and description
The Kazarski class were an early Russian design of torpedo gunboats. The ships measured 60.20 metres (197 ft 6 in) long with a beam of 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in) and a draught of 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in).[1] They had a displacement of 420 tonnes (410 long tons)[2] and had a complement of 65 officers and ratings.[1] They were propelled by one shaft powered by a vertical triple expansion engine fed steam by two Ioco boilers rated at 3,500 indicated horsepower (2,600 kW). The Kazarskis sported a single funnel. They had a maximum speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) and could carry 90 tonnes (89 long tons; 99 short tons) of coal for fuel. They were initially armed with six 3-pounder (47 mm) guns and three 1-pounder guns. The Kazarskis were also equipped with two 15-inch (380 mm) torpedo tubes. One was fixed in the bow while the other was deck-mounted and could be trained at targets.[1]
The vessel underwent a series of modifications during her existence. In 1907 Voevoda had her 3-pounder guns replaced with two 57 mm (2.2 in)/40 calibre guns.[3][lower-alpha 1] In 1910 the ship was rearmed with two 75 mm (3.0 in) guns, two 57 mm guns, two machine guns and the bow torpedo tube was removed.[3]
Construction and career
Voevoda was constructed at the Schichau shipyard in Elbing, Germany. The vessel was laid down in 1891 and launched on 8 December 1892. During World War I, Voevoda was used as a despatch vessel for the Baltic Fleet.[3] During the Bolshevik Revolution, Finland declared independence from the Russian Empire in 1918. The basis for the new nation's navy were a series of former Russian vessels abandoned during the revolution in Finnish waters.[2] Voevoda was taken over in March 1918 and renamed Matti Kurki for a 13th century commander.[3] The ship was stricken in 1937 and broken up for scrap in 1938.[2][3]
Notes
- The length of Russian guns in calibres denotes the overall length of the gun and not bore length.[4]
Citations
- Campbell 1979, p. 202.
- Westerlund 1980, p. 364.
- Budzbon 1985, p. 297.
- Campbell 1979, p. 171.
References
- Budzbon, Przemysław (1985). "Russia". In Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- Campbell, N J M (1979). "Russia". In Chesneau, Roger & Kolesnik, Eugene M. (eds.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905. New York: Mayflower Books. ISBN 0-8317-0302-4.
- Westerlund, Karl-Erik (1980). "Finland". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.