Archipelago Sea The Archipelago Sea ( fi, Saaristomeri, sv, Skärgårdshavet) is a part of the Baltic Sea between the Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland and the Sea of Åland, within Finnish territorial waters. By some definitions it contains the largest ar ...

Naval Command ( fi, Saaristomeren meripuolustusalue, sv, Skärgårdshavets Marinkommando) was a Finnish Navy unit headquartered in Pansio, Turku. Its main operating area was the

. Archipelago Sea Naval Command was formed in 1998 by combining the

Archipelago Sea Fleet An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Examples of archipelagos include: the Indonesian Archi ...

and

Turku Coastal Regiment Turku Coastal Regiment ( fi, Turun Rannikkorykmentti) was a Finnish coastal artillery unit operating in the Turku area and Archipelago Sea. It was formed on 10.9.1939 as Turku Sector (''Turun Lohko'') as part of the neutrality guard and later Win ...

. The command was wound down at the end of 2014 and its constituent units were moved to a new command, the ''Coastal Fleet'', which contains all vessels of the Navy. The main duty of the Archipelago Sea Naval Command during normal condition was the surveillance of Finnish territorial waters and maintaining territorial integrity. In addition, the Command trained conscripts to fulfil duties in the crisis-time organization of the Command. The Command was always at the state of enhanced readiness, prepared to repel unauthorized incursions to Finnish waters using force. In a crisis, securing the sea lanes for the use of Finnish commercial shipping would have been the main duty of the Command.SMMEPA: Esittelyt
Retrieved 2-4-2008. Turku Coast Battalion consists of Military Police Company and Logistics Company. The Coast Battalion trains navy and military police NCOs. ASNAC does not give basic training for conscripts anymore, as all Finnish Navy conscripts are initially trained at Gulf of Finland Naval Command's Navy Training Centre at Upinniemi before being transferred to other units for advanced training.

Organization

* 6th Missile Squadron (''6. Ohjuslaivue''), operating Rauma class Fast Attack Crafts and Hämeenmaa minelayer Uusimaa,

Pansio class minelayer The ''Pansio''-class minelayers are 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. ...

Pansio * 4th Mine Warfare Squadron (''4. Miinalaivue''), Katanpää class Mine Hunters. * Turku Coast Battalion (''Turun Rannikkopataljoona''), responsible for providing logistics, force protection and coastal artillery support for the command. The unit is also responsible for the surveillance of territorial waters. * Logistics Centre (''Huoltokeskus'') * Navy Band (''Laivaston Soittokunta'')

References

{{reflist Naval units and formations of Finland Military units and formations established in 1998 Military units and formations disestablished in 2014