Submarine Vesikko

The submarine Vesikko, used in the Second World War, is one of the most popular places of interest in Suomenlinna. Visitors can explore the submarine and see the conditions the 20-member crew lived in when the vessel was dozens of metres below the surface of the sea.

The original commissioner of the submarine, launched from the Turku shipyard in 1933, was the German navy, which used the submarine for test sailing in the Airisto sea area. Finland purchased the submarine in 1936 and named it Vesikko.

During the Winter and Continuation wars the Vesikko operated in the Gulf of Finland in convoy, safety and patrolling duties with four other Finnish submarines. The submarine base was in the dock area of Suomenlinna. As the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 forbade Finland from having submarines, they were forced to be scrapped in 1953, with the exception of Vesikko, which was docked on the beach of Tykistölahti bay.

The submarine is only open during the summer season.

How to get there

The Helsinki City Transport ferry operates to the main pier throughout the year, and from there the museum is about 700 metres away. The waterbus stops at the Visitor Centre pier during summer. The museum is about 200 metres from the pier.

Accessibility

The submarine is not accessible with a wheelchair.