.gif)
EML Ugandi (M315)
Encyclopedia
EML Ugandi is a Sandown-class minehunter
Minehunter
Minehunters are mine countermeasure vessels that actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines...
commissioned by the Estonian Navy
Estonian Navy
The Merevägi is the navy of Republic of Estonia and is part of the unified Kaitsevägi .In total, there are about four commissioned ships in the Estonian Navy, including three auxiliary ships; the displacement of the navy is under 10,000 tonnes making it one of the smallest navies in the world...
in 2009. Ugandi is a former Royal Navy vessel HMS Bridport
HMS Bridport (M105)
HMS Bridport was a Sandown-class minehunter of the British Royal Navy. She decommissioned in 2004, and is awaiting transfer to the Estonian Navy....
built by Woolston Yard of Southampton-based shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft.
The vessel is the third and final Sandown-class vessel which joined the naval force after its mine countermeasures vessel modernization programme. She is named after an ancient Estonian county Ugandi, between the east coast of Lake Võrtsjärv
Võrtsjärv
Lake Võrtsjärv is a lake in southern Estonia with an area of 270 km² . It is the second largest lake of Estonia. The shallow lake is 33.7 m above sea level. The river Emajõgi flows from Lake Võrtsjärv to Lake Peipus.-External links:**...
and west coast of Lake Pskov
Pskov
Pskov is an ancient city and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located in the northwest of Russia about east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: -Early history:...
, bordered by Vaiga
Vaiga
Vaiga was a small landlocked ancient Estonian county in the eastern part of the territory of Estonia.- External links :***...
, Mõhu
Mõhu
Mõhu was a small landlocked ancient Estonian county in the central part of the territory of Estonia.- External links :***...
, Nurmekund
Nurmekund
Nurmekund was a small independent country on the north coast of Lake Võrtsjärv in Central Estonia, bordered by Sakala, Alempois, Järvamaa, Mõhu, and Ugandi...
, Sakala
Sackalia
Sakala County was an ancient Estonian county first mentioned in print by Henry of Livonia in the beginning of the 13th Century....
, Latgale
Latgale
Latgale is one of the four historical and cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. It is the easternmost region north of the Daugava River...
, and Pskov
Pskov
Pskov is an ancient city and the administrative center of Pskov Oblast, Russia, located in the northwest of Russia about east from the Estonian border, on the Velikaya River. Population: -Early history:...
. Ugandi is commanded by Senior-Lieutenant
Senior lieutenant
Senior lieutenant is a military grade between a lieutenant and a captain. Sometimes senior lieutenant is called a first lieutenant....
Marek Mardo.
Introduction
The vessel carries clearance divers and Remote Control Mine Disposal Systems. Unlike the previous Lindau-classLindau class minesweeper
Type 320 Lindau-class minesweepers was a class of German coastal mine warfare vessels built as part of the first FRG naval program. The ships were made from non-metallic components and built by Burmester Bremen. None of these ships now remain in service with the German Navy. Several went into...
minehunter
Minehunter
Minehunters are mine countermeasure vessels that actively detect and destroy individual naval mines. Minesweepers, on the other hand, clear mined areas as a whole, without prior detection of mines...
, the vessel was built from glass reinforced plastic to reduce her magnetic signature. Other parts of the ship were constructed from non-ferrous metals for a similar reason. They are propelled by Voith Schneider Propellers and are very maneuverable due to two bow thrusters which gives an advantage when working with mines.
The former HMS Bridport was modernized and overhauled in Bay 1 of the Syncrolift
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
at Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
. The project was started ahead of schedule to deconflict the programme. After a ceremony at the Fife yard the HMS Bridport became ENS Ugandi and joined the Mineships Division
Estonian Mineships Division
The top priority for the Navy is the development of mine countermeasures capability that is also one of the Navy's peacetime responsibilities: during World War I and II more than 80 000 sea mines were laid in the Baltic Sea...
. She differs from the previous two Sandown-class
Sandown class minehunter
The Sandown class is a class of minehunter originally built for the British Royal Navy). Sandown-class vessels also serve with the Royal Saudi Navy and the Estonian Navy...
vessels delivered to the Estonian Navy, as she has been fitted with a ZU-23-2
ZU-23-2
The ZU-23-2, also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. ZU stands for Zenitnaya Ustanovka - anti-aircraft mount.-Development history:...
twin mount, 23mm cannon system and a Klein 5000 sidescan sonar.
The ships motto is in Latin Semper Ante. The coat of arms was designed by Priit Herodes.