Meredessantpataljon
Encyclopedia
The Meredessantpataljon, was a short lived Estonia
n marine infantry battalion
during the Estonian War of Independence of the Estonian Defence Forces subject to the Estonian Navy
. The battalion was created from the crews of the Estonian surface warships, students and Finnish volunteers soldiers. The battalion was created and later disbanded in Tallinn
after it had fulfilled its military objectives in 1919.
As common marine infantry tasks include providing security in a warship
whilst at sea and reflecting the pressed nature of the ships company and the risk of mutiny
. Also other tasks include boarding of vessels during combat or capture of prize ship
s and providing manpower for raiding
ashore in support of the naval objectives, the Estonian Meredessantpataljon was more focused on contributing to the campaign ashores, in supporting of the military objectives.
Another difference from the usual marines is that the Estonian marines unit was only a temporary military formation. The unit was operational from March to June in 1919. Today there are no marine infantry or marine special force units among the Estonian Defence Forces.
and the liberation of Narva
and in other naval campaigns in northeast Estonia in Ida-Viru county
. In March 1919 the marine battalion was designated onto the Armoured Train Nr. 5
and was shipped to the Southern Front in Northern Latvia to Valka
.
.
On March 5, 1919 the first Estonian marine unit was created which was made up from the crews of the bigger warships, mainly from destroyers ENS Lennuk
and ENS Vambola
, gunboat ENS Lembit, minesweepers ENS Kalew and ENS Olew, which stationed in Tallinn. The battalion was strengthened further with the Peipus flotilla
marines, volunteer students and also soldiers from the major Ekström Finnish volunteers Regiment "Sons of the North"
. On March 16 the battalion was transferred to Southern Front and had a strength of 293 marines. After arriving to the front the unit received another 28 sailors from the Peipus flotilla.
On March 23 the battalion was reinforced with the 4th company and the naval officers platoon along with a 130mm railway gun
platform. In total the battalion battle strength was around 400 marines at its peak and it was designated to carry a supportive role on the coastal warfare.
The unit saw first action on March 19 near Orava
in Luuka village. Although the unit suffered under severe casualties it captured several nearby villages and the Orava estate
. At the end of March the battalion was transferred to Tallinn. On April 16 the Meredessantpataljon was joined up with a naval squadron heading towards Heinaste with an operational aim was to capture it.
The marine infantry battalion was closed before the end of the independence war as the unit had achieved its operational tasks and had no longer a role on the war theatre. The unit was disbanded on June 1, 1919. After the war the Estonian Navy began to rebuild some of the former Russian sea fortifications and coastal artillery positions, along with the purchase of the modern submarines from United Kingdom in late 1930s there was no longer a need for marine infantry units in Estonia.
steam boat "Nordkysten" was designated under the command of the marine battalion commander on March 5. On April 13 the marine infantry vessel was renamed after ENS Kalevipoeg. Some minor reconstruction works were carried out on the vessel in order to make room for a landing force of 200 marines and their equipment and also two 47mm cannons were added on the surface deck.
The marine infantry battalion had the following battle order in 1919:
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n marine infantry battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
during the Estonian War of Independence of the Estonian Defence Forces subject to the Estonian Navy
Estonian Navy
The Merevägi is the navy of Republic of Estonia and is part of the unified Kaitsevägi .In total, there are about four commissioned ships in the Estonian Navy, including three auxiliary ships; the displacement of the navy is under 10,000 tonnes making it one of the smallest navies in the world...
. The battalion was created from the crews of the Estonian surface warships, students and Finnish volunteers soldiers. The battalion was created and later disbanded in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
after it had fulfilled its military objectives in 1919.
As common marine infantry tasks include providing security in a warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
whilst at sea and reflecting the pressed nature of the ships company and the risk of mutiny
Mutiny
Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject...
. Also other tasks include boarding of vessels during combat or capture of prize ship
Prize Ship
Prize Ship is a science fiction short story by Philip K. Dick, first published in 1954 in Thrilling Wonder Stories and later in The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick...
s and providing manpower for raiding
Raid (military)
Raid, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold terrain, but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to the enemy forces being...
ashore in support of the naval objectives, the Estonian Meredessantpataljon was more focused on contributing to the campaign ashores, in supporting of the military objectives.
Another difference from the usual marines is that the Estonian marines unit was only a temporary military formation. The unit was operational from March to June in 1919. Today there are no marine infantry or marine special force units among the Estonian Defence Forces.
History
The Meredessantpataljon was mainly used on the Southern Front since 1919, yet it also participated in the battle of LaagnaBattle of Laagna
Battle of Laagna took place in Laagna, Estonia during the Estonian War of Independence between Estonian mariners and Finnish volunteers against Red Army....
and the liberation of Narva
Battle of Utria
Battle of Utria took place during the Estonian War of Independence on January 17–20, 1919 at Utria beach. It was amphibious landing of Estonian forces consisting mainly of Finnish volunteers. The leader of the landing was Estonian admiral Johan Pitka helped by Finnish officer Martin Ekström and...
and in other naval campaigns in northeast Estonia in Ida-Viru county
Ida-Viru County
Ida-Viru County , or Ida-Virumaa, is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is the most north-eastern part of the country. The county contains large deposits of oil shale - the main mineral mined in Estonia. As oil shale is used in thermal power plants, the earth in Ida-Viru literally holds the largest...
. In March 1919 the marine battalion was designated onto the Armoured Train Nr. 5
Armoured train
An armoured train is a train protected with armour. They are usually equipped with railroad cars armed with artillery and machine guns. They were mostly used during the late 19th and early 20th century, when they offered an innovative way to quickly move large amounts of firepower...
and was shipped to the Southern Front in Northern Latvia to Valka
Valka
Valka is a town in northern Latvia, on the border with Estonia.Valka and the Estonian town Valga are twins, separated by the Estonian/Latvian border but using the slogan "One Town, Two States". The border dividing the Livonian town of Walk was marked out in 1920 by an international jury headed by...
.
Origins and creation
The first pre-marine battalion unit was formed from the warship sailors in February 1919 which also toom part in the restoration of order in saaremaa during the pro-Soviet Saaremaa UpriseSaaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia, measuring 2,673 km². The main island of Saare County, it is located in the Baltic Sea, south of Hiiumaa island, and belongs to the West Estonian Archipelago...
.
On March 5, 1919 the first Estonian marine unit was created which was made up from the crews of the bigger warships, mainly from destroyers ENS Lennuk
Izijaslav class destroyer
The Izyaslav-class were a group of destroyers built for the Baltic Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy. They were modified versions of the Orfey-class destroyer built in Russia with the assistance of the French Company Augustin Normand...
and ENS Vambola
Orfey class destroyer
The Orfey-class destroyers were built for the Baltic Fleet of the Imperial Russian Navy. They were modified versions of the Novik and the Derzky-class destroyers. These ships were larger, had triple torpedo tubes and an extra gun. Fourteen ships were completed in 1914 - 1917 and fought in World...
, gunboat ENS Lembit, minesweepers ENS Kalew and ENS Olew, which stationed in Tallinn. The battalion was strengthened further with the Peipus flotilla
Lake Peipus
Lake Peipus, ) is the biggest transboundary lake in Europe on the border between Estonia and Russia.The lake is the fifth largest in Europe after Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega in Russia north of St...
marines, volunteer students and also soldiers from the major Ekström Finnish volunteers Regiment "Sons of the North"
Heimosodat
The term in Finnish historiography heimosodat in English literally "Kindred Nations Wars", "Wars for kindred peoples" or "Kinship Wars" for Finnic kinship. It is often erroneously translated as "Tribal Wars"...
. On March 16 the battalion was transferred to Southern Front and had a strength of 293 marines. After arriving to the front the unit received another 28 sailors from the Peipus flotilla.
On March 23 the battalion was reinforced with the 4th company and the naval officers platoon along with a 130mm railway gun
Railway gun
A railway gun, also called a railroad gun, is a large artillery piece, often surplus naval ordnance, mounted on, transported by, and fired from a specially designed railway wagon. Many countries have built railway guns, but the best known are the large Krupp-built pieces used by Germany in World...
platform. In total the battalion battle strength was around 400 marines at its peak and it was designated to carry a supportive role on the coastal warfare.
War of Independence
Orava
Orava may refer to:*Orava , a region in Slovakia and Poland*Orava in Slovakia*Orava , a castle in Slovakia*Orava , a reservoir in Slovakia...
in Luuka village. Although the unit suffered under severe casualties it captured several nearby villages and the Orava estate
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
. At the end of March the battalion was transferred to Tallinn. On April 16 the Meredessantpataljon was joined up with a naval squadron heading towards Heinaste with an operational aim was to capture it.
The marine infantry battalion was closed before the end of the independence war as the unit had achieved its operational tasks and had no longer a role on the war theatre. The unit was disbanded on June 1, 1919. After the war the Estonian Navy began to rebuild some of the former Russian sea fortifications and coastal artillery positions, along with the purchase of the modern submarines from United Kingdom in late 1930s there was no longer a need for marine infantry units in Estonia.
Battalion attributes
In addition to the ground operations the battalion operated also on coastal warfare. For naval transport purposes a former Swedish cargoCargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
steam boat "Nordkysten" was designated under the command of the marine battalion commander on March 5. On April 13 the marine infantry vessel was renamed after ENS Kalevipoeg. Some minor reconstruction works were carried out on the vessel in order to make room for a landing force of 200 marines and their equipment and also two 47mm cannons were added on the surface deck.
Order of battle and equipment
The Meredessantpataljon comprised total of four infantry companies of which the 4th Company was made up by the Finnish volunteers. The unit never received any special purpose training or combat preparations and was often used as a strike force both on land and on coastal operations.The marine infantry battalion had the following battle order in 1919:
- 1st Company
- 2nd Company
- 3rd Company
- 4th Company
- ENS Kalevipoeg - marine infantry transport steam boat.
- 1x130mm naval gun, occasionally attached to the unit.