Kalev class submarine

The "Kalev" Class consisted of two mine laying submarines built for the Estonian Navy. The newly independent Republic of Estonia followed the Finnish naval armament program in acquiring submarines. Unlike the German designed Finnish subs, Estonia opted for British built submarines. Both ships of the class "Kalev" and the "Lembit" were built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness, in the United Kingdom. [ [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=579 Allied Warships - Kalev class] ] The two subs were delivered in 1936. After the Soviet annexation of Estonia in 1940 the Estonian Navy was integrated into the Soviet Baltic Fleet. The "Kalev" class submarines were commissioned into the Soviet Navy on Sep 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.meremuuseum.ee/?op=body&id=45 Submarine "Lembit"] - Estonian Maritime Museum
* [http://users.tkk.fi/~andres/models_lembit.html Kalev-class submarine (Kalev or Lembit)]
* [http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/archive/browser.asp?deepcriteria=Kalev&searchtype=1 The Vickers Photographic Archive] (search for "Kalev")
* [http://www.mytravelguide.com/guides-and-advice/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1302 Lembit Submarine - Tallinn]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/9984.html Allied Warships - Kalev class]