EML Wambola (A433)

EML Wambola (A433) is a Lindormen-class minelayer built in 1977. As KDM Lossen, she served in the Danish Navy until 2006. Sold to the Estonian Maritime Academy as a maritime training vessel, she was renamed MS Kristiina. In 2009, she was handed over to the Estonian Navy as a command and support vessel and renamed Wambola.

For other ships with the same name, see HDMS Lossen and EML Wambola.
EML Wambola at quay 6 in Miinisadam Tallinn 6 November 2016
History
Denmark
Name: KDM Lossen
Operator: Danish Navy
Ordered: 1973
Builder: Svendborg Skibsværft
Laid down: 9 June 1977
Launched: 9 September 1977
Commissioned: 14 June 1978
Decommissioned: 22 October 2004
Homeport: Sønderborg Harbour
Identification:
Notes: Sold to Estonia
Estonia
Operator: Estonian Maritime Academy
Acquired: 4 July 2006
Renamed: MS Kristiina
Homeport: Seaplane Harbour, Tallinn
Notes: Handed over to Estonian Navy
Estonia
Operator: Estonian Navy
Acquired: 10 September 2009
Recommissioned: 1 November 2016
Renamed: EML Wambola
Refit: 2016
Homeport: Tallinn, Harju County
Identification:
Motto: Ad Unquem (transl. Forever)
Status: Active
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Lindormen-class minelayer
Displacement: 577 tons full
Length: 44.5 m (146 ft 0 in)
Beam: 9.0 m (29 ft 6 in)
Height: 21 m (68 ft 11 in)
Draught: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × MTU diesel engines (1600 kW)
  • 2 adjustable propellers
Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 2
Troops: 36
Complement: 29 (including 5 officers)
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • navigation radar
  • 2 × Litton Decca E, I-band
Armament: 4 × Browning M2
Notes: Also equipped with 2 cranes.[1]

History

KDM Lossen (English: Lynx) was built in Denmark by Svendborg Ship Yard Ltd. as a minelayer. Her crest was prepared by the Navy's Heraldic Working Group at the request of the Chief of the Danish Navy and approved by H. M. Queen Margrethe II on December 1, 1976.[2] The vessel was laid down on 9 June 1977 and launched on 9 September 1977. She entered service a year later on 14 June 1978 and became part of the Danish 2. Minelayer Division. In 1982, Lossen was made available to STANAVFORCHAN for command and support duties. Lossen served as a command ship when she participated in the exercise Blue Harrier between 12 and 22 April 1988.[3]

The Danish Navy decommissioned KDM Lossen on 22 October 2004[4] and sold the vessel to the Estonian Maritime Academy on 4 July 2006. Renamed MS Kristiina, it was intended that she be used as a maritime training vessel.[5] However, due to shortfalls in funding, the Maritime Academy handed the vessel over to the Estonian Navy on 10 September 2009.[6] The ship was renamed EML Wambola on 14 May 2010[7] and left in reserve.

Wambola was modernized in the first half of 2016[8] and commissioned to replace EML Tasuja (A432) on 1 November 2016, with (Lt. Junior Grade) Leitnant Ermo Jeedas becoming her commander.[9] EML Wambola took up the role of flagship of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 between 8 February 2017 and 29 June 2017.[10][1] On 31 August 2017, (Lt.) Vanemleitnant Tanel Kangro became the ship's commander.[11] On 16 August 2019, (Lt. Comdr.) Kaptenmajor Deniss Tulin replaced Tanel Kangro as the captain of the ship.[12]

References
  1. "EML Wambola". mil.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  2. Bjerg, Hans Christian (2012). DANSK ORLOGSHERALDIK: SØVÆRNETS OG MARINEHJEMMEVÆRNETS VÅBENSKJOLDE 1959-2010 (PDF) (in Danish). Statens Forsvarshistoriske Museum i samarbejdet med Søværnets Operative Kommando Marinehjemmeværnet. p. 113. ISBN 8789022688.
  3. "Søværnsorientering" (PDF) (in Danish) (10/88). Søværnskommandoen. 13 June 1988: 1–3. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Olsen, Gunnar; Storgaard, Svenn (1998). Flådens skibe og fartøjer 1945-1995 (in Danish). Marinehistorisk selskab. ISBN 87-87720-13-2.
  5. "XI Riigikogu stenogramm VI istungjärk Esmaspäev, 12. oktoober 2009, kell 15:00". stenogrammid.riigikogu.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  6. "Riigivara tasuta üleandmine". www.riigiteataja.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. Konso, Kalev (2011). Eesti Mereväe sümboolika kataloog 1993–2011 (in Estonian). Kaitseväe Ühendatud Õppeasutused. ISBN 9789985951385.
  8. "Leping NSPA-ga EML Wambola moderniseerimiseks". www.src.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  9. "Estonian navy commissions diver, support vessel Wambola". www.leta.lv. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  10. "All Hands on Deck!". www.nspa.nato.int. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  11. "Mereväe staabilaeva Wambola uus komandör on Tanel Kangro". www.err.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  12. "Sõjalaevad Wambola ja Admiral Cowan said uued komandörid". www.mil.ee (in Estonian). 16 August 2019.
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