Merevägi

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Estonian Navy Eesti Merevägi
Active	1993–present
Size	350
Commanders
Current commander	Commander Igor Schvede
Chief of Staff	Lieutenant Commander Peeter Ivask

The Estonian Merevägi (an Estonian word in English translation for "Navy"; listen (help·info) is the name of the unified naval forces of Estonia.

The Merevägi is the main naval arm of the Estonian Defence Forces. The size of the military formation in peacetime is about 350. The Navy component of the operational structure consists of a Mine-layer Division and a Divers Division.
The Estonian Navy is responsible for protecting the territorial waters of the Republic of Estonia. In case of a crisis situation the Navy must be ready to defend sea approaches, harbour areas, sea lines of communication and to co-operate with coalition units.^[1]

Contents 1 The Navy military training 2 Mine warfare 3 International co-operation 4 BALTRON 5 Equipment 5.1 Weapons and equipment 5.1.1 Marine combat helmets 5.1.2 Marine light weapons 5.1.3 Marine assault weapons 5.1.4 Marine machine guns 5.2 Navy vessels 5.2.1 Naval light boats 5.2.2 Naval cutters 5.2.3 Naval diving vessels 5.2.4 Naval command vessels 5.2.5 Naval mine-hunter vessels 5.2.6 Naval mine-layer vessels 5.2.7 Radar systems 5.3 Ceremonial weapons 5.3.1 Ceremonial sword 5.3.2 Ceremonial rifle 6 Estonian Navy future development 7 See also 8 Notes 9 External links

[edit] The Navy military training

Most of the Estonian Navy officers have been trained in European or US naval academies. In 2003 Estonian Navy established its own Centre of Naval Education and Training (CNET) to train junior petty officers. Each Baltic state shares its limited training resources with the others, for instance Estonia provides communications training in Baltic Naval Communications School in Tallinn and Latvia hosts common Baltic Naval Diving Training Centre in Liepaja.

[edit] Mine warfare

The top priority for the Navy is the development of mine countermeasures capability that is also one of the Navy's peacetime responsibilities: during World War I and II more than 80,000 sea mines were laid in the Baltic Sea. Since 1995 number of mine clearance operations have been carried out in Estonian waters in close co-operation with other navies of the Baltic Sea region in order to find and dispose ordnance and contribute to safe seagoing.^[2]

[edit] International co-operation

Since 1995 Estonian Navy ships have participated in most of the major international exercises and operations carried out in the Baltic Sea. Even though it was not until 1993 when the Navy was re-established and despite of the fact that it incorporates one of the smallest fleets in the world, the young crews of the Navy ships have demonstrated excellent interoperability during international exercises and have proved to be equal partners with other navies. From May 2005 to March 2006 EML Admiral Pitka was assigned as the Command and Support Ship of Standing NATO ^[3] (SNMCMG1) which is part of the NRF maritime capability. ENS Admiral Pitka was the first vessel from the Baltic navies to be part of the force. SNMCMG1 is also one of the main partners of Estonian Navy in NATO.

[edit] BALTRON

In 1998 Baltic Naval Squadron - BALTRON was inaugurated. The main responsibility of BALTRON is to improve the co-operation between the Baltic States in the areas of naval defence and security. Constant readiness to contribute units to NATO-led operations is assured through BALTRON. Each Baltic state appoints one or two ships to BALTRON for certain period and staff members for one year. Service in BALTRON provides both, the crews and staff officers, with an excellent opportunity to serve in international environment and acquire valuable experience in mine countermeasures. Estonia provides BALTRON with on-shore facilities for the staff.

[edit] Equipment

The Estonian Navy uses a small number of different vessels and weapon-systems. Since the restoration of the Estonian Defence Forces on 3 September 1991 and the Estonian Navy on 1 July 1993 the naval force has developed tremendously. Although the Soviet Legacy clean-up and military infrastructure rebuilding has taken most of the defence budget resources away from the Navy the armament and equipment has improved a great deal.

[edit] Weapons and equipment

[edit] Marine combat helmets

• Estonian Marine PSAGT helmet. In service: active standard issue combat equipment

[edit] Marine light weapons

• Pistol Heckler&Koch USP. In service: active standard issue pistol

[edit] Marine assault weapons

• Assault rifle IMI Galil AR. In service: active standard issue combat rifle
• Assault rifle M16A1. In service: active

[edit] Marine machine guns

• Heavy machine gun Browning M2. In service: active

[edit] Navy vessels

Although the Estonian Defence Forces has a relatively small selection of combat vessels, the Navy still has a variety of different light-combat craft, coastal patrol-craft and support vessels. The first craft that entered the service in the restored Estonian Navy in 1993 were mainly German background mine-layers and mine-hunters. With the last 15 years the Navy logistics support has increased year by year. Most of the modern navy vessels have either received as foreign aid or been bought from Germany, United Kingdom and Denmark. The Estonian Navy is currently undergoing modernization and will improve in the following 2 years the mine warfare division. The Navy combat division still waits to be restored. Navy combat vessel issue will be in focus probably between 2015 and 2020.

[edit] Naval light boats

• Descent boat. In service: active

[edit] Naval cutters

• EML Ahti. In service: active

[edit] Naval diving vessels

• EML Tasuja. In service: active

[edit] Naval command vessels

• EML Admiral Pitka. In service: active

[edit] Naval mine-hunter vessels

• EML Sulev. In service: active
• EML Wambola. In service: active
• EML Admiral Cowan. In service: active
• EML Sakala. In service: under modernization active in 2008
• EML Ugandi. In service: under modernization active in 2009

[edit] Naval mine-layer vessels

• EML Vaindlo. In service: active
• EML Olev. In service: active
• EML Kalev. In service: reserve

[edit] Radar systems

• coastal radar system network. In service: active

[edit] Ceremonial weapons

Like most naval forces the Estonian Navy also has ceremonial weapons. Ceremonial weapons are used at festive and national celebrations and military parades.

On 1 November 2006, the Estonian Defence Force's new ceremonial swords were officially introduced to the public. The sword has always had a special place in the armed forces of Estonia. During the 1920-30s the sword was an Estonian Navy officer official uniform element. The ceremonial sword tradition restoration was organized by the Reserve Officers Association of Estonia.

[edit] Ceremonial sword

• Ceremonial Sword. In service: ceremonial

[edit] Ceremonial rifle

• Ceremonial Rifle M14. In service: ceremonial

[edit] Estonian Navy future development

Possible navy development tasks and needed equipment between 2025 and 2040.

• Modernized mine-layer ships^{[citation needed]}
• Fast attack crafts^{[citation needed]}
• Frigates^{[citation needed]}
• Missile crafts^{[citation needed]}
• Medium class submarines^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• Estonia
• NATO
• European Union
• BALTRON

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Estonian Navy
• Estonian Ministry of Defence
• General Staff of the Navy
• Naval Base
• Naval Minelayers Division
• Naval Divers Division
• Baltic Naval Squadron

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