Coastal batteries of Estonia

The coastal batteries presented itself as a powerful strike force of the Estonian Navy between 1918 and 1940.

Estonian Naval Fortresses
The flag of the Estonian Naval Fortresses
Active13 November 1918 - 1 April 1940[1]
CountryEstonia
AllegianceEstonian Navy
Branchartillery
Typecoastal artillery
Rolesurface warfare
Size656 peacetime strength
1183 combat strength
Garrison/HQAegna
Naissaar
Suurupi
Miiduranna
Leppneeme
Randvere
Anniversaries13 November 1918
16 February 1919
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Major-General Johannes Orasmaa
Colonel Vladimir Janitz
Lieutenant-Colonel Karl Aleksander Freimann
Captain-Major Vassili Martson
Captain Joan Masik
Captain Joan Masik
Captain Konrad Rotschild
Staff-Captain[2] Eduard Aindt

History

Since the end of the 19th century the Russian Empire began to build coastal fortresses and naval strongholds to Estonia which was annexed to empire after the Great Northern War in 1721. Tallinn having been historically an important trading center between the East and the West became one of the main naval bases of the Imperial Russian Baltic fleet. A systematic coastal defence network and naval gun installations were ordered and the construction works began at the end of the 1890s.

During the Republic of Estonia

Most of the coastal fortifications and fortresses were blown up by the retreating Russians units in October 1917 after the Germans had landed on the islands. During the Estonian War of Independence and after the Treaty of Tartu the Estonia Navy began to rebuild and develop the coastal defence network. During the period of independence from 1918 to 1940 Estonia invested millions of kroons into the renovation and development of the coastal defence. By 1939 the coastal batteries presented a considerable naval force and were considered among the Navy elite forces.

Estonian-Finnish naval defence cooperation
Main article: Finnish–Estonian defense cooperation

The end of the coastal batteries and the Soviet occupation

During World War II and later the Soviet occupation of Estonia, little has remained of the former coastal defence lines and fortifications. Today some buildings and firing positions can be seen at various places of which the best preserved ones are located on the island of Aegna.

  • Tallinn: Armoured-trains 102 mm gun platform No. 215
    Tallinn: Armoured-trains 102 mm gun platform No. 215

References
  1. http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?6539
    Military of Estonia:1920-1940. Mati Õun. Page 78.
  2. http://www.raamatukoi.ee/cgi-bin/raamat?7619
    Estonian Naval Fortresses. Mati Õun. Page 6.

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