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However, the actual guild activity did not start until after the wars in the late 1950s and early 1960´s.One of the first military guilds was Rannikonpuolustajain Kilta ry.
Its activity stretched along the whole coastline of Finland. Local guilds in connection with the different coast artillery units were soon founded. Before long these local guilds were separated from the main guild and were registered as independent societies. The first independent coast artillery guild was Helsingin Rannikkotykistökilta, which in 1985 was renamed Suomenlinnan Rannikkotykistökilta (Suomenlinna Coast Artillery Guild).
Suomenlinnan Rannikkotykistökilta is a coast artillery guild, which operates between Inkoo and Ahvenkoski on the southern coast of Finland. The main part of activity takes place in the archipelago around Helsinki and Porkkala. The uniting factor of the members of the guild is some kind of connection with the coast artillery unit, Suomenlinnan Rannikkorykmentti (Suomenlinna Coastal Regiment) with its predecessors, which operated in the area mentioned above.
One of the aims of the guild is to preserve the traditions of Suomenlinnan Rannikkorykmentti and its predecessors. To achieve this the guild has, among other things, published several small booklets on coast artillery history. One of the biggest projects in the history of the guild has been to renovate the stone sauna initially built by the famous Finnish composer Robert Kajanus. The guild has also built a log cabin on Järvö, an island in the Porkkala archipelago.
The latest project of the guild has been to renovate an old 12" (305 mm) coastal gun on Fort Kuivasaari.
Most of the activity takes place among the reservists. Different kinds of activities are arranged, i.e. excursions to different places, presentations on various topics, courses on interesting topics, festivities etc.
History of Fort Kuivasaari
In the 18th century Kuivasaari was used by fishermen. In 1896 it was expropriated for military use. The Russians started to fortify Kuivasaari in connection with Word War I. The main armament was a four-gun 254/45 D-battery (M1895). The fort was almost completed by the outbreak of World War I. When the Germans landed in Hanko during the Civil War, the fort crew left for St. Petersburg leaving the fort intact.
After World War I Kuivasaari was used for training by the Finns using the original Russian guns. In the early 1930's a decision to build two 12" gun-turrets, one at Mäkiluoto and another at Kuivasaari, was made. The Kuivasaari twin turret became operative in 1935, when the first exercises were arranged.
In 1939 and 1940 the 254/D-guns were transferred to other forts. During World War II Kuivasaari fired just twice and only once against the enemy when the Russians left Hanko in 1941.
According to the armistice in Moscow in 1944, the Kuivasaari 12" turret had to be taken down and transferred to an arms depot near Hämeenlinna, 100 kilometres from the coast. Not until the Paris peace treaty in 1947 was it possible to even consider re-installing the turret on Kuivasaari. However, it took several years to make the decision. The work was done between 1960 and 1961, when the guns were first fired since the war. Officially the turret was ready in 1962, when it was handed over to the user, the Suomenlinna Coast Artillery Regiment.
The turret was operative till the early 1970's, when it became inoperative because of lack of funds for an extensive renovation. Finland had acquired anti-ship missiles in the late 1960's, and the 12" turret had become obsolete. The guns were administered by the Military Museum, but despite several petitions by retired gunners, mainly Warrant Officer Erkki Kujanpää, the turret was left to deteriorate.
Restoration
In 1989 the commander of the Suomenlinnan Coast Artillery Regiment, Colonel Asko Kilpinen, initiated a restoration of the 12" turret. Work started in 1991, and on 6th December 1992 the twin turret saluted the 75th anniversary of Finland's independence by firing blanks.
The restoration was first lead by Pekka Ahtola from Suomenlinnan Rannikkotykistökilta. The workers have mostly been voluntary young people supported by retired gun "veterans" and reservists. Different firms and associations as well as the City of Helsinki and the Military Museum have sponsored the restoration. After Ahtola withdrew from the project the upkeep of Kuivasaari has been the responsibility of the Kuivassari section of the guild.
Inspired by the success and public interest, the project was prolonged and expanded to incorporate additional guns. In practice, the Kuivasaari exhibition is today part of the Coast Artillery Museum. However, the island is still used by the navy, and a special permit is needed to visit the island.
Each summer conducted tours are arranged, when Finnish citizens can freely visit the island. One of the tours is also open to foreigners. The tours are arranged by the Suomenlinna Coastal Guild and Iha-Lines Oy. For additional information contact Iha-Lines at http://www.ihalines.fi/ or by telephone +358 9 6874 5050 or e-mail ihalines@ihalines.fi
Text by Ove Enqvist (email: Enqvist[at]oktanet.fi)
Publications
These publications are in Finnish, but there is a summary in Swedish or English in some of them. They can be ordered from Ms Kristiina Slotte, please see contact information below.
Ove Enqvist: Itsenäisen Suomen Rannikkotykit (Coastal Guns in Finland) 1918-1998. Price 12 EUR + postage.
Mäkiluoto (sixth printing 2007), 64 pages, b&w pictures and drawings, summary in English and Swedish, Price 3,50 EUR + postage
Ove Enqvist: Järvö (Järvö is an ex-Russian fort 1944-56, now in use by members of the Suomenlinna Coast Artillery Guild). Suomenlinnan Rannikkotykistökilta and Porkkalamuseon Ystävät 1998. New added edition, published previously 1988, 26 pages, b-w photos & pictures and drawings, summary in Swedish. Price 3,50 EUR + postage.
Ove Enqvist: Robert Kajanuksen sauna ja huvila (stone sauna initially built by the famous Finnish composer Robert Kajanus). Second revised printing. Suomenlinnan Rannikkotykistökilta 1990. 40, pages, b&w pictures and drawings, summary in Swedish. Price 3,50 EUR + postage.
Ove Enqvist: Kuivasaari (Fort Kuivasaari). Suomenlinnan Rannikkotykistökilta 2005. (second revised printing) 64 pages, b&w pictures and drawings, summary in English. Price 3,50 EUR + postage.
Ove Enqvist: Vallisaari Kuninkaansaari (Fort Vallisaari) and Kuninkaansaari. Suomenlinnan Rannikkotykistökilta and Suomenlinnan Rannikkorykmentin perinneyhdistys 2001. Revised edition, published previously 1988, 48 pages, b-w photos and drawings. Price 3,50 EUR + postage.
NEW. Tyrskyjä, terästä, tekniikkaa. (Finland’s Naval defence: A History of Technical Research, Development and Testing Since Independence), Merivoimien Tutkimuslaitoksen perinneyhdistys ry 2007, 249 pages plus list of sources, A4-size, hard cover, b&w and colour pictures and drawings, captions and summary in English, price to be decided
Kristiina Slotte, Merivirta 16 as. 7, 02320 ESPOO, telephone +358 9 801 1116, +358 50 525 0022, kristiina_slotte@yahoo.com
For more information about Kilta action, membership etc. please contact following persons:
Chairman Mr Martti Holma
Caloniuksenkatu 3 A 10, 00100 Helsinki, FINLAND
Mobile: +358 40 755 4261
Email: martti.holma[at]welho.fi
Publicist Mr Jussi Wirtanen
Secretary Mr Timo Mäki-Ventelä
History and traditions of coast artillery Mr Ove Enqvist
Email: enqvist[at]oktanet.fi
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