Finland Navy's MCMV MHC Purunpaa conducts first train with NATO.

According to a tweet published by NATO on April 13, 2023, the Katanpää-class mine countermeasure vessel MHC Purunpää conducts its first training with the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1.
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Finnish Katanpää-class MCMV MHC Purunpää and Portuguese frigate NRP Bartolomeu Dias. (Picture source: NATO)

The Republic of Finland has officially become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on April 4, 2023. With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and increased Russian aggression, Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, and the accession protocol was signed by NATO in July 2022. By April 2023, all NATO member states had ratified the protocol, and Finland became a member of NATO during a summit in April 2023.

Finland's membership in NATO is expected to strengthen the alliance's security and defense capabilities, particularly in the Baltic region, which has become a contested space in recent years.

Katanpää-class MCMV

The Katanpää-class mine countermeasure vessel is a type of naval vessel primarily designed for detecting and neutralizing sea mines. It has a displacement of 680 tons and measures 52.45 meters (172 feet 1 inch) in length, 9.87 meters (32 feet 5 inches) in beam, and 3.15 meters (10 feet 4 inches) in draught.

The vessel is powered by two MTU 8V-396-TE74 diesel-electric engines, which generate a total output of 2,000 kilowatts (2,684 horsepower). The propulsion system features two Voith Schneider 18 GH/135-PP propellers and Combimac electric motors, which enable the vessel to reach a speed of 13 knots (24 kilometers per hour or 15 miles per hour). The vessel has a range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 kilometers or 1,700 miles) and accommodates a complement of 34 to 38 crew members.

The Katanpää-class vessel is equipped with various underwater vehicles, including the Kongsberg Maritime HUGIN 1000 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the Hydroid REMUS 100 AUV, the Saab Underwater Systems Double Eagle Mark II remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and the Atlas Elektronik SeaFox I ROV.

The vessel is also fitted with advanced sensors and processing systems, such as the Atlas Elektronik integrated mine countermeasure system, the Kongsberg Maritime EM-710 RD multibeam echosounder, the Kongsberg Maritime TOPAS echosounder, the Atlas HMS-12M hull-mounted sonar, the Klein Associates Klein 5500 towed side-scanning sonar, and the Kongsberg Maritime HiPAP underwater positioning system.

In terms of armament, the Katanpää-class vessel is armed with a Bofors 40 mm L/70 gun and depth charges. Overall, the Katanpää-class mine countermeasure vessel is a capable naval vessel designed for detecting and neutralizing sea mines and other underwater threats.