EML Admiral Pitka

EML Admiral Pitka (A230) was a Beskytteren-class ocean patrol vessel and former flagship of the Estonian Navy, belonging to the Mineships Division. She was named after Estonian Admiral Johan Pitka.

EML Admiral Pitka in Tallinn, July 2013
History
Denmark
NameBeskytteren
BuilderAalborg Værft, Aalborg, Denmark
Laid down15 December 1974
Launched29 May 1975
Commissioned27 February 1976
Decommissioned21 November 2000
Identification
FateDonated to Estonia
Badge
Estonia
NameAdmiral Pitka
Acquired24 January 2000
Commissioned21 November 2000
Decommissioned13 June 2013[2]
Identification
MottoPro patria
FateScrapped, 2014[3]
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeBeskytteren class offshore patrol frigate
Displacement1,970 tons full
Length74.7 m (245 ft 1 in)
Beam12.2 m (40 ft 0 in)
Height21 m (68 ft 11 in)
Draft5.3 m (17 ft 5 in)
Propulsion
  • 3 B&W Alpha Mark 16 V23LU diesel engines (7,440 hp)
  • 1 Ulstein Bow Thruster
  • 1 VP Propeller
Speed18.5 kn (34.3 km/h)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 13 kn (24 km/h)
Complement8 officers, 35 sailors
Crew43
Sensors and
processing systems		2 Litton Decca E (I-band) navigation radars
Armament
  • 1 × 76mm K M/61 LvSa naval gun
  • 2 × 12.7mm Browning M2HB HMGs
Aviation facilitiesHelicopter deck for 1 medium helicopter.
NotesStrengthened for ice operations (A1 ice-class)

History
Beskytteren in Klaksvik, Faroe Islands, May 1979

As HDMS Beskytteren (F340) the ship, an improved version of the Hvidbjørnen-class patrol vessel, was laid down at the Aalborg Shipyard, in Aalborg, Denmark on 15 December 1974. She was launched on 29 May 1975 and entered service a year later on 27 February 1976.[4]

The Danish Navy decommissioned Beskytteren in 2000 and donated the vessel to the Estonian Navy. The Estonian flag was hoisted on the ship on the anniversary of the Estonian Navy, 21 November 2000. The 75-meter frigate was at the time the biggest vessel of the navy. The EML Admiral Pitka served more than once as command ship with the joint Baltic mine countermeasures squadron BALTRON and NATO's mine countermeasures group.

The flagship of the Estonian Navy, the Admiral Pitka, was retired on Thursday, 13 June 2013, and the symbolic title of flagship passed on to the mine-hunter EML Admiral Cowan (M313). Navy Chief Captain Sten Sepper handed the vessel's flags and symbols over to the naval school that from now on has a classroom named after Admiral Pitka, military spokespeople said. Defence Chief Maj. Gen. Riho Terras said in his remarks at the retirement ceremony that the Admiral Pitka was the first unit of the Defence Forces to begin service under the NATO flag only a year after Estonia's accession to the alliance.

The vessel was to be given back to Denmark,[5] but the Danes declined and the vessel was scrapped in 2014.[6]

Mission

The command and support frigate Admiral Pitka was the flagship vessel of the Estonian Navy and the Mineships Division and also the first modernized frigate in the navy.

The ship was a platform for the staff that conducts mine countermeasure (MCM) operations and exercises. The ship's responsibilities also included supporting other participating units with fuel, water, food etc. She was equipped with office and living quarters for staff members, as well as special facilities to provide medical support.

The ship was built in Denmark for North Atlantic and Greenland waters; therefore she has strengthened structure for ice operations.

Traditions

The ship's Latin motto was Pro Patria, which translates into English as "For Fatherland".

The vessel's coat of arms was designed by Priit Herodes and Captain-Lieutenant Jaan Kapp and was donated to the navy by AS Falck Baltic, being presented during a ceremony on 21 November 2000.[7] The colors of the coat of arms represented the knights' honor on the battlefield and also the connections and joint history between Estonia and Denmark. The shape of the cross pointed to the Estonian Liberty Cross and pointed out Admiral Johan Pitka's important role during the Estonian War of Independence.

In 2001 a cooperation contract was signed between the Rakvere city council and the frigate Pitka which gave the vessel the right to wear the Rakvere town coat of arms and to introduce the city in all foreign harbors across the world.

See also

References
  1. Olsen, Gunnar; Storgaard, Sven (1998). Flådens skibe og fartøjer 1945-1995. Marinehistorisk selskab. ISBN 978-8787720137.
  2. "Estonian Navy Flagship Admiral Pitka Retired". Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  3. "GALERII JA VIDEO: admiral Pitkast sai doonor mereakadeemiale". Õhtuleht. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. Moore 1979, p. 126.
  5. Estonian Review, 07-13 June 2013; http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/17455 Archived 2014-03-02 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Admiral Pitka seadmeid hakatakse kasutama meremeeste väljaõppeks". Delfi. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  7. http://mil.ee/?menu=merevagi&sisu=pitka ENS Admiral Pitka (A230)
  • Moore, John. Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1979. ISBN 0-354-00587-1.
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