PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Estonian Navy
rdfs:comment
  • The Merevägi is the navy of Republic of Estonia and is part of the unified Kaitsevägi (Estonian Defence Force). 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 Estonian Navy has been reduced severely since the second half of the decade mainly due to insufficient maintenance, lack of funding and hereby training of personnel and timely replacement of equipment. Another possible setback could be attributed to Estonia's domestic lack of maritime defence policy strategy as the current navy neither operates a single traditional warship that could perform defensive or offensive operations nor coastal defense capabilities and maritime l
owl:sameAs
current commander label
  • Commander-in-chief
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
Garrison
  • Miinisadam
Branch
  • Navy
command structure
identification symbol
  • 200
Current Commander
  • Lieutenant Commander Sten Sepper
identification symbol label
  • Naval Ensign
Dates
  • 1918
Unit Name
  • Eesti Merevägi
  • Estonian Navy
notable commanders
garrison label
  • Headquarters
commander2 label
  • Commander-chief-of-staff
Battles
Anniversaries
  • --11-21
aircraft recon
identification symbol 2 label
  • Naval Jack
abstract
  • The Merevägi is the navy of Republic of Estonia and is part of the unified Kaitsevägi (Estonian Defence Force). 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 Estonian Navy has been reduced severely since the second half of the decade mainly due to insufficient maintenance, lack of funding and hereby training of personnel and timely replacement of equipment. Another possible setback could be attributed to Estonia's domestic lack of maritime defence policy strategy as the current navy neither operates a single traditional warship that could perform defensive or offensive operations nor coastal defense capabilities and maritime landing operations along its long and island rich territorial waters. In general, the Estonian Navy in the terms of maritime naval terminology can be classified between green-water and brown-water navies, having at the same time both naval type capabilities. Today green-water navies are generally defined as navies with frigates or corvettes operating in coastal and regional areas. As green-water navies are usually capable of sending their naval ships overseas on friendly port-visits, the Estonian Navy has participated in numerous time at NATO´s naval joint-exercises. A brown-water navy usually lacks the ability for sustained long-distance combat operations, and the current Estonian naval doctrine does not envisage deployments far away from its home bases. Although the Merevägi is a hybrid brown/green-water navy, it does not lack offensive capability, as its ships can be armed with powerful anti-ship missiles. In 2010, the Ministry of Defence confirmed an interest to obtain a number of warships in the terms of gunboats in the purpose likely to ensure defence of territorial waters and to improve maritime surveillance. In late 2011, despite the changes in general defence policy and the armed forces reforms that are to take place in the coming years it is still not certain if, what type and number of the vessels will be obtained by the navy.