Raidevaunuja

Raidevaunuja refers to a type of armored personnel carrier used by the Finnish Defense Forces, particularly by the Finnish Border Guard. The name 'raidevaunuja' translates to 'train carriage' in Finnish, which is derived from their design inspired by train carriages.

Developed in the 1950s by the Finnish engineer, Mauno Kuusinen and his team, the raidevaunujat were initially used for transportation of military personnel and equipment. The vehicles were built on transport wagons used by the Finnish State Railways. Modifications made to these train carriages included the addition of steel armor plating for protection against small arms fire.

The raidevaunujat were primarily used in the Finnish Security Zone in the 1970s and 1980s. They played a role in the defense of the border area during this period. The standard raidevaunu vehicles were replaced by more modern armored personnel carriers as the Finnish military transitions to newer equipment.

Raidevaunujat were observed to have a maximum speed of approximately 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) on roads. Their armored design provided considerable protection, though, not the level of modern APCs. While they fulfilled the early requirements for armored vehicles in Finnish use, raidevaunujat are now mainly of historical interest.

The raidevaunu vehicles have been withdrawn from regular military service and many are now in storage or have been preserved as part of the Finnish military museum collection.