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

The "Kalev" was the second pre-war Estonian Navy submarine. Estonia is a maritime nation and as every country with a long coastline has to defend and safeguard its territorial waters. With due regard to the experiences of World War I the submarines found their proper application in the pre-Second World War Estonian Navy. The collection organised by the Submarine Fleet Foundation in May 1933 developed into a one of the most successful undertakings among the similar events demonstrating a nation-wide determination to defend one’s country.

In the course of building and testing two submarines the Estonian crews got a top level naval training of the time in England in 1935-1937. In the period of 1937-1940 the submarines "Lembit" and "Kalev" were the most imposing naval vessels of the Estonian Navy. Their non-interference upon annexation of Estonia by the USSR was a political decision made irrespective of the will of the navy. [http://www.meremuuseum.ee/?op=body&id=45 Estonian Maritime Museum]

"Kalev" in World War II

The submarine "Kalev" joined the Estonian Navy in spring 1937 where she operated until the Soviet take over in 1940. (On 24 February, 1940, The Third Reich had expressed its interest in obtaining the submarine, if Estonia would sell it, but this offer was turned down.)

During the Soviet occupation

The submarine was formally taken over by the Soviet Navy on 18 September, 1940, by which only five men of the submarine crew remained in place, to instruct the new Soviet crews. After the outbreak of the German-Russian war in June 1941, "Kalev" was re-complemented, having a totally Russian-speaking crew, although the original name "Kalev" was retained. During the Second World War the "Kalev" participated in military operations among the vessels of the Soviet Baltic Fleet. "Kalev" did not return from her second patrol and was reported as missing since 29 October, 1941). [http://users.tkk.fi/~andres/models_lembit.html Kalev]

Interesting facts

"Kalev"’s ultimate fate or the location of the wreck is still unknown (it is usually assumed that she hit a mine and sunk off Keri in the Gulf of Finland between Tallinn and Helsinki, but she could be anywhere between Kronstadt and Hanko; some sources suggest she was scuttled in the Bay of Tallinn during the Soviet evacuation on 28 August, 1941).

ee also

*Estonian Navy
*ENS "Lembit"

References

External links

* [http://www.mil.ee/uusmil/index.php?menu=merevagi&sisu=mev Estonian Navy]