Taisto-class motor torpedo boat
The Taisto-class motor torpedo boats or T class was a series of motor torpedo boats, which saw service with the Finnish Navy during World War II. Following the war, the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 prohibited the Finnish Navy from employing torpedo-carrying vessels of any kind and the Taisto class were converted into motor gunboats. By 1964, all vessels of the class had been removed from service. Background and description Following the invasion of the Soviet Union by Germany in World War II, the war between Finland and the Soviet Union began again. The Finnish Navy, tasked with closing the Gulf of Finland, sought more vessels. Based on an Italian design and built under license, eight Taisto vessels were manufactured at Turun Veneveistämö. All eight vessels were launched between 1943 and 1946. The vessels had a displacement of , and were long with a beam of and a draught of . They were powered by two Isotta Fraschini petrol engines creating and had a maximum speed of . They mounted two torpedo tubes and one Madsen gun. Vessels in class Service history The Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 was signed following the end of World War II, and Finland was