Page 74 - Standing Display

Finnish Fieldpost 1939-1945 Winter War 1939-1940

Naval Fieldpost

The Finnish Navy comprised not only of the sea going warships and their supporting personnel, but
also the Coastal Artillery units based in a series of coastal fortresses along the Gulf of Finland and on
the shores of Lake Ladoga. Although some units used the Army fieldpost, the Navy maintained a
system of postoffices on warships and in naval bases around the coast. Mail from these offices was
endorsed with distinctive handstamps reading either 'Merivoimat' (i.e. Navy), 'Rannikkolaivasto' (i.e.
Coastal Fleet), or RannikkotykistOrykmentti (i.e. Coastal Artillery Regiment).

Cover postmarked 5-3-1940 with the unusual duel-language fieldpost handstamp from a sailor at
Porvoo. The large 35mm. circular handstamp reads 'Merivoimat 3' (i.e. Navy 3) was allocated
to the Porvoo Naval Base postoffice. The cover was forwarded to fieldpost office
No.16 at Tampere for postmarking, censorship and onward transmission.