As HDMS Beskytteren (F340) the ship, an improved version of the Hvidbjørnen-class patrol vessel, was laid down at the Aalborg Shipyard, in Aalborg, Denmark on 15 December 1974. She was launched on 29 May 1975 and entered service a year later on 27 February 1976.[4]
The Danish Navy decommissioned Beskytteren in 2000 and donated the vessel to the Estonian Navy. The Estonian flag was hoisted on the ship on the anniversary of the Estonian Navy, 21 November 2000. The 75-meter frigate was at the time the biggest vessel of the navy. The EML Admiral Pitka served more than once as command ship with the joint Baltic mine countermeasures squadron BALTRON and NATO's mine countermeasures group.
The flagship of the Estonian Navy, the Admiral Pitka, was retired on Thursday, 13 June 2013, and the symbolic title of flagship passed on to the mine-hunter EML Admiral Cowan (M313). Navy Chief Captain Sten Sepper handed the vessel's flags and symbols over to the naval school that from now on has a classroom named after Admiral Pitka, military spokespeople said. Defence Chief Maj. Gen. Riho Terras said in his remarks at the retirement ceremony that the Admiral Pitka was the first unit of the Defence Forces to begin service under the NATO flag only a year after Estonia's accession to the alliance.
The vessel was to be given back to Denmark,[5] but the Danes declined and the vessel was scrapped in 2014.[6]
Mission
The command and support frigate Admiral Pitka was the flagship vessel of the Estonian Navy and the Mineships Division and also the first modernized frigate in the navy.
The ship was a platform for the staff that conducts mine countermeasure (MCM) operations and exercises. The ship's responsibilities also included supporting other participating units with fuel, water, food etc. She was equipped with office and living quarters for staff members, as well as special facilities to provide medical support.
The ship was built in Denmark for North Atlantic and Greenland waters; therefore she has strengthened structure for ice operations.
Traditions
The ship's Latin motto was Pro Patria, which translates into English as "For Fatherland".
In 2001 a cooperation contract was signed between the Rakvere city council and the frigate Pitka which gave the vessel the right to wear the Rakvere town coat of arms and to introduce the city in all foreign harbors across the world.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Admiral Pitka (ship, 1976).
Wikimedia Atlas of Estonia
BESKYTTEREN, offshore patrol frigate (1976-2000) - Danish Naval History
January 07, 2023
admiral, pitka, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2022, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, a. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message EML Admiral Pitka A230 was a Beskytteren class ocean patrol vessel and former flagship of the Estonian Navy belonging to the Mineships Division She was named after Estonian Admiral Johan Pitka EML Admiral Pitka in Tallinn July 2013HistoryDenmarkNameBeskytterenBuilderAalborg Vaerft Aalborg DenmarkLaid down15 December 1974Launched29 May 1975Commissioned27 February 1976Decommissioned21 November 2000IdentificationCall sign OUEK Pennant number F340 1 FateDonated to EstoniaBadgeEstoniaNameAdmiral PitkaAcquired24 January 2000Commissioned21 November 2000Decommissioned13 June 2013 2 IdentificationMMSI number 276447000 Callsign ESQF Pennant number A230MottoPro patriaFateReserve ship 3 BadgeGeneral characteristicsClass and typeBeskytteren class offshore patrol frigateDisplacement1 970 tons fullLength74 7 m 245 ft 1 in Beam12 2 m 40 ft 0 in Height21 m 68 ft 11 in Draft5 3 m 17 ft 5 in Propulsion3 B amp W Alpha Mark 16 V23LU diesel engines 7 440 hp 1 Ulstein Bow Thruster 1 VP PropellerSpeed18 5 kn 34 3 km h Range6 000 nmi 11 000 km at 13 kn 24 km h Complement8 officers 35 sailorsCrew43Sensors and processing systems2 Litton Decca E I band navigation radarsArmament1 76mm K M 61 LvSa naval gun 2 12 7mm Browning M2HB HMGsAviation facilitiesHelicopter deck for 1 medium helicopter NotesStrengthened for ice operations A1 ice class Contents 1 History 2 Mission 3 Traditions 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit Beskytteren in Klaksvik Faroe Islands May 1979 As HDMS Beskytteren F340 the ship an improved version of the Hvidbjornen class patrol vessel was laid down at the Aalborg Shipyard in Aalborg Denmark on 15 December 1974 She was launched on 29 May 1975 and entered service a year later on 27 February 1976 4 The Danish Navy decommissioned Beskytteren in 2000 and donated the vessel to the Estonian Navy The Estonian flag was hoisted on the ship on the anniversary of the Estonian Navy 21 November 2000 The 75 meter frigate was at the time the biggest vessel of the navy The EML Admiral Pitka served more than once as command ship with the joint Baltic mine countermeasures squadron BALTRON and NATO s mine countermeasures group The flagship of the Estonian Navy the Admiral Pitka was retired on Thursday 13 June 2013 and the symbolic title of flagship passed on to the mine hunter EML Admiral Cowan M313 Navy Chief Captain Sten Sepper handed the vessel s flags and symbols over to the naval school that from now on has a classroom named after Admiral Pitka military spokespeople said Defence Chief Maj Gen Riho Terras said in his remarks at the retirement ceremony that the Admiral Pitka was the first unit of the Defence Forces to begin service under the NATO flag only a year after Estonia s accession to the alliance The vessel was to be given back to Denmark 5 but the Danes declined and the vessel was scrapped in 2014 6 Mission EditThe command and support frigate Admiral Pitka was the flagship vessel of the Estonian Navy and the Mineships Division and also the first modernized frigate in the navy The ship was a platform for the staff that conducts mine countermeasure MCM operations and exercises The ship s responsibilities also included supporting other participating units with fuel water food etc She was equipped with office and living quarters for staff members as well as special facilities to provide medical support The ship was built in Denmark for North Atlantic and Greenland waters therefore she has strengthened structure for ice operations Traditions EditThe ship s Latin motto was Pro Patria which translates into English as For Fatherland The vessel s coat of arms was designed by Priit Herodes and Captain Lieutenant Jaan Kapp and was donated to the navy by AS Falck Baltic being presented during a ceremony on 21 November 2000 7 The colors of the coat of arms represented the knights honor on the battlefield and also the connections and joint history between Estonia and Denmark The shape of the cross pointed to the Estonian Liberty Cross and pointed out Admiral Johan Pitka s important role during the Estonian War of Independence In 2001 a cooperation contract was signed between the Rakvere city council and the frigate Pitka which gave the vessel the right to wear the Rakvere town coat of arms and to introduce the city in all foreign harbors across the world See also EditEstonian Navy BALTRON project Mineships Division ENS Tasuja A432 References Edit Olsen Gunnar Storgaard Sven 1998 Fladens skibe og fartojer 1945 1995 Marinehistorisk selskab ISBN 978 8787720137 Estonian Navy Flagship Admiral Pitka Retired Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archived from the original on 2 March 2014 Retrieved 9 April 2014 GALERII JA VIDEO admiral Pitkast sai doonor mereakadeemiale Ohtuleht Retrieved 9 April 2014 Moore 1979 p 126 Estonian Review 07 13 June 2013 http www vm ee q en node 17455 Archived 2014 03 02 at the Wayback Machine Admiral Pitka seadmeid hakatakse kasutama meremeeste valjaoppeks Delfi Retrieved 9 April 2014 http mil ee menu merevagi amp sisu pitka ENS Admiral Pitka A230 Moore John Jane s Fighting Ships 1979 80 London Jane s Yearbooks 1979 ISBN 0 354 00587 1 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Admiral Pitka ship 1976 Wikimedia Atlas of Estonia Estonian Navy The BESKYTTEREN promoted to Admiral BESKYTTEREN offshore patrol frigate 1976 2000 Danish Naval History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title EML Admiral Pitka amp oldid 1131209441, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
