HMS Inverness (M102)

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Inverness
Operator: Royal Navy
Builder: Vosper Thornycroft
Launched: 27 February 1990
Commissioned: 24 May 1991
Decommissioned: 2005
Out of service: Paid off 15 November 2004
Fate: Sold to Estonia
Estonia
Name: EML Sakala
Operator: Estonian Navy
In service: 24 January 2008
Status: Active
General characteristics
Class and type: Sandown-class minehunter
Displacement: 484 tons full
Length: 52.5 m
Beam: 10.9 m
Draught: 2.3 m
Propulsion:
Speed: 13 knots diesel, 6.5 knots electric
Complement: 34 (7 officers, 27 ratings)
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Type 1007 navigation radar
  • Type 2093 variable-depth mine hunting sonar
Armament:
  • 1 × Oerlikon 30 mm KCB gun on DS-30B mount
  • 2 × 7.62 mm L7 GPMG machine guns
  • Wallop Defence Systems Barricade Mk. III countermeasure launchers
  • Irvin Aerospace Replica Decoy launchers
Notes:
  • Mine counter measures equipment:
  • SeaFox Mine Disposal System
  • Clearance divers

HMS Inverness (M102) was a Sandown-class minehunter of the Royal Navy. She was decommissioned by the Royal Navy in 2005 , and in 2008 became EML Sakala (M314) of the Estonian Navy.

HMS Inverness

Inverness was built by Vosper Thornycroft and launched on 27 February 1990 as one of the 12 ship class of Sandown-class minehunters.

Inverness took part in the major joint service Exercise Saif Sareea II in Oman throughout October 2001, and also trained on her way back from the Gulf as part of the overarching Exercise Argonaut 2001 maritime task group. During Exercise Saif Sareea II, Inverness formed part of a minehunter group with her sisters Walney, and the Hunt-class mine countermeasure vessels Quorn and Cattistock, supported by RFA Diligence.[1]

In 2003, Inverness was one of a number of Royal Navy warships taking part in a multi-national exercises off Scotland, which involved ships and aircraft from a number of the world's navies, including French, German and American units.[2] HMS Inverness was awarded the Freedom of the City of Inverness in 2004.[3]

In July 2004, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that as part of the restructuring of the Navy, the three oldest Sandown-class minehunters would be retired by April 2005. Inverness was decommissioned in 2005 and was then laid up awaiting a buyer or disposal. In September 2006, Estonia signed a contract to acquire the three vessels.

After refitting in Rosyth Inverness was formally handed over to the Estonian Navy in April 2007, and renamed EML Sakala.

EML Sakala (M314)

EML Sakala M314 (left) in Turku
History
United Kingdom
Name: Inverness
Operator: Royal Navy
Builder: Vosper Thornycroft
Launched: 27 February 1990
Commissioned: 24 January 1991
Decommissioned: 2005
Fate: Sold to Estonia
Estonia
Name: Sakala
Operator: Estonian Navy
Acquired: 24 January 2008
Motto: In Nomine Libertatis
Status: Active
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:
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

Sakala belongs to the Estonian Mineships Division. The commanding officer of the vessel is (Lt. Sr. Grade) Vanemleitnant Ott Laanemets. 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.

The coat of arms was presented on a ceremony on 24 January 2008 in Scotland.[4] The ship's name comes from an ancient Estonian county Sakala which is today known as Viljandimaa but is often called Sakalamaa. The arms are a black shield which represents the rich soils of Sakala and ethnic Estonian men's clothing. The rose points towards the capital of Sakalamaa. The swords represent Sakala's important role in the Estonian ancient freedom fight and fighting spirit, as silver stands for loyalty. The ship's motto in Latin is "In nomine libertatis” meaning "In the name of freedom". The coat of arms was designed by Priit Herodes.

See also

References

  1. ↑ HANSARD written answers
  2. ↑ globalsecurity.org
  3. ↑ bbc.co.uk
  4. ↑ http://mil.ee/?menu=merevagi&sisu=sakala ENS Sakala (M314)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.