Matti Kurki was originally the Kazarski-class gunboat 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.

Design and description

The Kazarski-class gunboat were an early Russian design of torpedo gunboats. The ships measured 60.20 m long with a beam of 7.42 m and a draught of 3.25 m. They had a displacement of 420 t and had a complement of 65 officers and ratings. They were propelled by one shaft powered by a vertical triple expansion engine fed steam by two Ioco boilers rated at 3500 ihp. The Kazarskis sported a single funnel. They had a maximum speed of 21 kn and could carry 90 t 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 in torpedo tubes. One was fixed in the bow while the other was deck-mounted and could be trained at targets. The vessel underwent a series of modifications during her existence. In 1907 Voevoda had her 3-pounder guns replaced with two 57 mm/40 calibre guns. In 1910 the ship was rearmed with two 75 mm guns, two 57 mm guns, two machine guns and the bow torpedo tube was removed.

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. 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. Voevoda was taken over in March 1918 and renamed Matti Kurki for a 13th century commander. The ship was stricken in 1937 and broken up for scrap in 1938.

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