Maritime Museum Opens in Estonia ■ by CAPTAIN MICHAEL HOWORTH (England)

Home , Estonian Maritime Museum, Seaplane Harbour, Short Type 184

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is home to one of Europe’s newest maritime museums – The Seaplane Harbour.

The doors to the museum first opened to the public during May this year offering visitors the chance to see displays comprising of more than a couple of hundred large exhibits, that revitalises the colourful history of Estonia a country whose Seaplane hangars’ front facade. K Haagen, Seaplane Harbour, Estonian Maritime Museum past has been influenced by Czarist Russia, the WW II and around 50 years of the Soviet occupation. for the Estonian navy, Lembit vessel based in the town of Gorky The occupation lasted a total of 48 served in the WWII under the on the Volga River. In 1979 the years, one year in 1940-41, then a Soviet flag. It remained afloat for submarine returned to Tallinn. In further 47 years from 1944 until 1991. 75 years and was decommissioned 1985 it was opened to the general in 1979 making it 42 years in public after renovation as a branch With the help of modern service from 1937-1979. She was of the Baltic Fleet Museum at multimedia, the Seaplane Harbour perhaps the oldest submarine in Pirita Harbour. tells exciting stories about the the world still in use until she was Estonian maritime and military hauled ashore last year. history promising a sea of excitement to the whole family. The order for the building of the submarine was submitted in 1934 to the British shipbuilding Lembit company Vickers-Armstrongs. The British built submarine The vessel was completed and Lembit is the centrepiece of the launched in England in 1936. On 9 new museum. Launched in 1936 July 1937 she arrived in Estonia. Once in Estonia, the submarine continued operating in peacetime Submarine Lembit’s control room mode: the crew underwent LEMBIT A Teiss, Seaplane Harbour, Estonian Maritime in-service training and proper Museum Class and type: Kalev class constant maintenance was submarine ensured of the new and valuable In 1992 the submarine was taken Completion date: 1936 equipment. In 1939 the vessel took over by the Estonian Maritime Production site: Barrow-in-Furness, England part in Finnish military exercises Museum and became vessel No 1 External hull Length 59.5 m, width that constituted one part of the of the Estonian Navy. Lembit held dimensions: 7.5 m, draft 3.6 m secret cooperation between the honour of being the oldest Displacement: surfaced – 665.5 t, Estonia and Finland. submarine in the world still in submerged – 853.4 t After the Soviet Union had water, when it was hauled ashore up to 90 metres Diving depth: occupied Estonia in 1940, Lembit on 21 May 2011. Speed when surfaced: 13.7 knots served in the Red Banner Baltic The largest nationwide collection Speed when Fleet of the USSR. During the of funds was conducted in submerged: 8.5 knots WWII she conducted three Estonia in the mid-1930s to Weaponry: 4 torpedo tubes, 20 successful attacks: one ship was finance submarine-building. The mines, one Bofors torpedoed, one ship sank and one Kalev and Lembit submarines, 40 mm gun, one 7.7 ship was damaged after hitting mm machine gun commissioned by the state and mines laid by the submarine. After Crew: 32 based on a special design project, the war she was used as a training had the best equipment and

28 SEA BREEZES Maritime Museum Opens in Estonia

weaponry available at the time the body and wings with a of their building. The submarine SHORT 184 special cloth. In March 2012, after is still preserved in almost its final assembly, the aircraft was Maiden flight: 1915 original shape, without substantial mounted in flying mode under the Built in: United Kingdom reconstruction. ceiling as if in the air. Length: 13.54 yd Despite its long history, Lembit Wingspan: 21.17 yd Museum guests can also take is still in an excellent condition Wing area: 76.42 yd a trip on the Seaplane Harbour’s offering a glimpse of the 1930s art Empty weight: 3,703.77 lb simulators to enjoy a flight above of technology. The submarine’s Powerplant: Sunbeam Maori III, Tallinn. They go on an around- interior is fully restored providing 260 hp the-world journey in the Yellow museum visitors with an Maximum speed: 142 km/h Submarine, or navigate on the Gulf extraordinary opportunity to go on Crew: 2 of Tallinn. board and experience Lembit as it Armament: 1 x 7.7 mm Lewis was in its heyday. gun, up to 4 x 45 kg of bombs

Short 184 Another exciting attraction is a conducted the first successful full-scale replica of Short Type 184, aerial torpedo attack in history, a British pre-WWII seaplane, which hitting a Turkish supply ship. was also used by the Estonian The aircraft was widely armed forces. Short Type 184 has used as an anti-submarine earned its place in military history patrol aircraft, as a bomber, by being the first aircraft ever to and for reconnaissance in attack an enemy’s ship with an the Mediterranean and in the Full-size replica of Short 184. air-launched torpedo. Since none surroundings of the British Isles. Seaplane Harbour, Estonian Maritime Museum of the original seaplanes have Over 900 aircraft were built in survived, the replica in Tallinn various plants. The exhibits are displayed in Seaplane Harbour is the only full- The Estonian Air Force operated hangars built almost a century size representation of the Short eight Short 184 seaplanes from ago, during 1916 and 1917. Next Type 184 aircraft in the world. 1919-1933. They were mainly used to the hangars is Patarei prison The Short 184 seaplane played as trainer aircraft, but also for built in 1840 by Nicholas I and an important role in the biggest hauling post between Tallinn and which was used by every regime naval battle of World War I and Helsinki. The seaplanes were based (Czarist, Estonian, Soviet) as such was in active duty in Estonia right here in the seaplane hangars. until 2002. It has been kept largely during the years of 1919-1933 as it was and is now a tourist when eight aircraft of this type ‘The exhibits are attraction. The hangars are the were used by the Air Force. world’s first reinforced concrete However, the Estonian aircraft displayed in hangars built shell structures of such a great did not participate in battle and almost a century ago’ size. Charles Lindbergh, he of were mainly used for training, a solo flight across the Atlantic sightseeing, postal and civil flights. Construction of this, the only Ocean fame, landed here in 1930s. Short Brothers, the first company full-scale Short 184 in the world, The hangars have also served as a in the world to make production was commenced in spring 2010. summer resort to the Estonian air aircraft, designed the seaplane Nurmsi Flight Club at Türi built the force unit and as a closed military Short 184 during World War I aircraft on the basis of drawings base to the Soviet Army. at the order of the British Royal and pictures. Building the Short The construction of the Seaplane Navy. The maiden flight of the 184 was a real challenge for the Harbour has been supported Short 184 took place in April 1915. builders as accurate drawings of by the European Regional A month later, the prototype and all details were nowhere to be Development Fund’s programme the first production aircraft were found and photographs had to be for development of cultural sent to the Mediterranean aboard relied on for many aspects. The and tourism objects of national a ship. In August, the Short 184 most difficult task was covering importance.