EML Admiral Cowan (M313)

EML "Admiral Cowan" (M313) is a "Sandown"-class minehunter, the former HMS "Sandown" lead ship of her class of the Royal Navy, now of the Estonian Navy. She is part of the Estonian Navy's Mineships Division. The commanding officer of the vessel is Lieutenant Commander Johan-Elias Seljamaa.

Introduction

The minehunter "Admiral Cowan" is the third vessel of the Estonian Navy Mineships Division and also the first modernised "Sandown" class minehunter.

The coat of arms is a red saltire cross on a silver shield and above, a red fleur de lys ((lily). The shield is placed into a blue ring which is surrounded by a golden ship's rope. The ship's coat of arms is based on an Admiral Sir Walter Henry Cowan's family coat of arms. The ship's motto is "Ad Omnia Paratus" (Latin) - in English "Always ready". The coat of arms was designed by Priit Herodes.

History

"Sandown" (RN pennant number M101) was built in United Kingdom, in a Vosper Thornycroft shipyard. The vessel was launched on 16 April 1988 and entered service a year later on 9 June 1989. The Royal Navy decommissioned HMS "Sandown" and two of her sisters "Bridport" and "Inverness" on 9 October 2006 and sold the vessels to the Estonian Navy. Her new name comes from Admiral Walter Cowan who led the British naval forces in the Baltic in their intervention in the Russian Civil War, providing naval support to Estonia during the Estonian War of Independence. The vessel's coat of arms was presented by Queen Elizabeth on 20 October 2006 in Tallinn. [http://mil.ee/?menu=merevagi&sisu=cowan ENS Admiral Cowan (M313)] [http://www.shippingtimes.co.uk/item510_SANDOWN.htm HMS Sandown handed over to Estonian Navy]

Gallery

ee also