History

Tapa military base is one of the few former Soviet military facilities which were taken over by the Estonian Defence Forces in early 90s. The first facility of the base was built in the autumn of 1939, an airfield, by the Red Army. After the end of World War II and the Soviet recapture of Estonia the base area was enlarged and totalled at its peak around 9 square kilometers. The military also stationed later a Soviet Air Force fighter regiment equipped with 40 fighters Mig-23. In the 60s the military base received also a tank and a pioner training regiment. During the Soviet exploitation of the military base a lot of ecological damage was carried out, mainly due to the poor handling of the oil and other fuel.

Today the Tapa military base is home to the North-Eastern Defence District of the Estonian Ground Force, 5 battalions and a training center of the Defence Forces.

Structure

The Tapa Army Base accommodates the following units:

• North-Eastern Defense District HQ (Tapa)
• Engineer Battalion
  Pioneervägi
  The Pioneeripataljon is the name of the Estonian Defence Forces combat engineering force which has a supportive military formation role among the Estonian Ground Forces.-Role:...
  
   (Tapa)
• Artillery Battalion (Tapa)
• Air Defence Battalion (Tapa)
• Central Training Area
  Keskpolügoon
  Keskpolügoon or the Central training area is the main military training field of the six areas used by the Estonian Defence Forces. Defense Forces central training area covers and is located in the eastern part of the Kuusalu municipality in Harju County...
  
  

Look also

• Jägala Army Base
• Amari Air base