EML Sakala (M314)

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ENS Sakala M314
Career (UK) RN Ensign
Name: HMS Inverness (M102)
Operator: Royal Navy
Builder: Vosper Thornycroft
Launched: 27 February 1990
Commissioned: 24 January 1991
Decommissioned: 2005
Fate: Sold to Estonia
Career (Estonia) Estonian Ensign
Name: EML Sakala (M314)
Operator: Estonian Navy
Acquired: January 24, 2008
Motto: In Nomine Libertatis
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Sandown class minehunter
Displacement: 450 tons full
Length: 52.6 m
Beam: 10.5 m
Draught: 2.4 m
Propulsion: 2 shafts Voith-Schneider propulsors
diesel-electric drives
Paxman Valenta 6RPA200M diesels,
2 Rolls Royce (Perkins) CV8-250G drives
Speed: 13 knots diesel, 6.5 knots electric
Complement: 7 officers, 27 sailors
Crew: 34
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Type 1007 navigation radar
Thales 2093 variable-depth mine hunting sonar
Armament: 3 × Browning 12.7 mm MG gun
Armour: fibreglass
Notes: Mine counter measures equipment:
Atlas Elektronik Seafox MIDS

EML Sakala (M314) is a Sandown-class minehunter of the Estonian Navy and belongs to the Estonian Navy Mineships Division. The commanding officer of the vessel is Senior Lieutenant Ain Pärna.

Contents

[edit] Introduction

The minehunter Sakala is the fourth vessel of the Estonian Navy Mineships Division and second of three modernized Sandown class minehunters purchased from the Royal Navy. A black shield which represents the rich soils of Sakala and the ethnic Estonian men clothing. The rose points towards the capital of the Sakalamaa Viljandi. The swords are representing Sakalas important role in Estonian ancient freedom fight and the fighting spirit as silver stands for loyalty. The ships motto is in Latin „In nomine libertatis” which means in English "In the name of freedom". The coat of arms was designed by Priit Herodes. The vessel will arrive to Estonia from United Kingdom in February or March 2008.

[edit] History

The EML Sakala (M314) was built in the United Kingdom, in a Vosper Thornycroft shipyard. The vessel was launched on 27 February 1990 and she entered service a year later on 24 January 1991. The ship's name comes from an ancient Estonian county Sakala which is today known as Viljandimaa yet is often called Sakalamaa. The Royal Navy decommissioned Inverness and one of her two twin sisters Bridport and HMS Sandown on 9 October 2006 and sold the vessels to the Estonian Navy. The coat of arms was presented on a ceremony on 24 January 2008 in Scotland.[1]

[edit] Gallery

Sakala undocking

Sakala crew

Sakala on a patrol

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://mil.ee/?menu=merevagi&sisu=sakala ENS Sakala (M314)

[edit] External links

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Kaitsevägi (Military of Estonia)
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Estonian Mineships Division