Kalev class submarine
Encyclopedia
The Kalev Class consisted of two mine laying
submarine
s built for the Estonian Navy
.
in acquiring submarines. Unlike the German designed
Finnish subs, Estonia opted for British built submarines. Both boats of the class Kalev
and the Lembit
were built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness
, in the United Kingdom
.
. The Kalev class submarines were commissioned into the Soviet Navy
on September 18, 1940. Kalev was sunk outside Hanko, Finland in 1941, but Lembit continued a successful campaign against Swedish iron ore transports
to Germany. Lembit was decommissioned in 1979. She is now preserved as a museum ship
at the Estonian Maritime Museum
Lennusadam (Seaplane harbour/Hydroplane port), Tallinn
.
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s built for 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...
.
Development history
The newly independent Republic of Estonia followed the Finnish naval armament program and the common top secret defense cooperationFinnish–Estonian defense cooperation
Finnish–Estonian defence cooperation began in 1930 with a secret military cooperation pact between Finland and Estonia against the threat of the Soviet Union...
in acquiring submarines. Unlike the German designed
IVS
IVS is an abbreviation that can mean:*The International Valuation Standards published by the IVSC - The International Valuation Standards Committee*Indus Valley Script*Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture*Interactive visualization system...
Finnish subs, Estonia opted for British built submarines. Both boats of the class Kalev
EML Kalev
EML Kalev was one of two submarines of the Republic of Estonia launched in 1936 at Vickers and Armstrongs Ltd. in England. Her twin sister Lembit survived the Second World War and is the oldest submarine still afloat in the world today.-History:...
and the Lembit
EML Lembit
EML Lembit is one of two Kalev class mine-laying submarines built for the Republic of Estonia and served in Estonian and Soviet Navy. She was launched in 1936 at Vickers and Armstrongs Ltd. in Great Britain, and now she is a museum ship in Tallinn...
were built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and seaport which forms about half the territory of the wider Borough of Barrow-in-Furness in the county of Cumbria, England. It lies north of Liverpool, northwest of Manchester and southwest from the county town of Carlisle...
, in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Service history
The two subs were delivered in 1936. After the Soviet annexation of Estonia in 1940 the Estonian Navy was integrated into the Soviet Baltic FleetBaltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
. The Kalev class submarines were commissioned into the Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
on September 18, 1940. Kalev was sunk outside Hanko, Finland in 1941, but Lembit continued a successful campaign against Swedish iron ore transports
Swedish iron ore during World War II
Swedish iron ore was an important economic factor in the European Theatre of World War II. Both the Allies and the Third Reich were keen on the control of the mining district in northernmost Sweden, surrounding the mining towns of Gällivare and Kiruna...
to Germany. Lembit was decommissioned in 1979. She is now preserved as a museum ship
Museum ship
A museum ship, or sometimes memorial ship, is a ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public, for educational or memorial purposes...
at the Estonian Maritime Museum
Estonian Maritime Museum
The Estonian Maritime Museum is located in the Fat Margaret tower in the old town of Tallinn. The museum presents history of ships and navigation in Estonia and related to Estonia...
Lennusadam (Seaplane harbour/Hydroplane port), 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...
.
See also
- Estonian NavyEstonian NavyThe 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...
- Finnish–Estonian defense cooperationFinnish–Estonian defense cooperationFinnish–Estonian defence cooperation began in 1930 with a secret military cooperation pact between Finland and Estonia against the threat of the Soviet Union...
- EML KalevEML KalevEML Kalev was one of two submarines of the Republic of Estonia launched in 1936 at Vickers and Armstrongs Ltd. in England. Her twin sister Lembit survived the Second World War and is the oldest submarine still afloat in the world today.-History:...
- ENS LembitEML LembitEML Lembit is one of two Kalev class mine-laying submarines built for the Republic of Estonia and served in Estonian and Soviet Navy. She was launched in 1936 at Vickers and Armstrongs Ltd. in Great Britain, and now she is a museum ship in Tallinn...
External links
- Submarine Lembit - Estonian Maritime MuseumEstonian Maritime MuseumThe Estonian Maritime Museum is located in the Fat Margaret tower in the old town of Tallinn. The museum presents history of ships and navigation in Estonia and related to Estonia...
- Kalev-class submarine (Kalev or Lembit)
- The Vickers Photographic Archive (search for Kalev)
- Lembit Submarine - Tallinn
- Allied Warships - Kalev class