Paired minelaying and the case for a fifth Pohjanmaa

Putting minelaying and combat capabilities in the same hull does not remove the value of deploying a pair. Two Pohjanmaas could lay more mines and give each other support and protection. A four-ship force can have two available at some times, but the recommendation seeks greater assurance of that capacity. Britain and France using four ballistic-missile submarines to sustain one at sea provide an availability analogy. The comparison does not establish identical deployment or maintenance cycles. Finnish geography strengthens the preference for keeping capability at sea, since ships in harbour are considered easier to attack. A fifth vessel remains a recommendation based on those operational concerns.