Suurtükiväegrupp
Encyclopedia
The Suurtükiväepataljon, (Artillery Battalion) is the name of the Estonian Defence Forces artillery
force which has a supportive military formation role among the Estonian Ground Forces. The main task of this formation is to provide artillery support for the infantry operating on the battlefield.
named the captain Hugo Kauler to the commander of the 1st Artillery Battalion. The unit fought during the Estonian War of Independence mainly on the Narva
, Tartu
and Viljandi
fronts. The unit also participated in the Landeswehr war
in Northern Latvia
(Cēsis
). Most of the combat firings were carried out by direct firing from the positions.
, Tapa. It trains conscripts for wartime artillery units. This battalion has good oportunities for live fire becouse of large Central Training Area. What is importan, 60 - 120 mm mortars belong to infantry
battalions not artillery
in Estonian armed forces.
FH-70
s. This gun has largest caliber in Baltic countries.
Other guns are from Finnish Defence Forces
.
offered Estonia
a large number of field howitzers along with ammunition and spare parts at a symbolic price. The deal included 42 122 mm H63 field howitzers. The deal was accepted
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
force which has a supportive military formation role among the Estonian Ground Forces. The main task of this formation is to provide artillery support for the infantry operating on the battlefield.
Subunits
1st Artillery Battalion-
- Staff
- Artillery school
- 2 batteryArtillery batteryIn military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
s
History
The Artillery Battalion was created on 16 January 1918. On 21 November 1918 the Estonian Minister of WarEstonian Minister of Defence
The Minister of Defence is the senior minister at the Ministry of Defence in the Estonian Government...
named the captain Hugo Kauler to the commander of the 1st Artillery Battalion. The unit fought during the Estonian War of Independence mainly on the Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
, Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
and Viljandi
Viljandi
Viljandi is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 19,150 . It is the capital of Viljandi County. The town was first mentioned in 1283, upon being granted its town charter by Wilhelm von Endorpe....
fronts. The unit also participated in the Landeswehr war
Baltische Landeswehr
Baltische Landeswehr was the name of the unified armed forces of the Couronian and Livonian nobility from 7 December 1918 to 3 July 1919.- Command structure :...
in Northern Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
(Cēsis
Cesis
Cēsis , is a town in Latvia located in the northern part of the Central Vidzeme Upland. Cēsis is on the Gauja River valley, and is built on a series of ridges above the river overlooking the woods below...
). Most of the combat firings were carried out by direct firing from the positions.
Present day
This battalion is dislocated in Tapa Army BaseTapa Army Base
-History:Tapa military base is one of the few former Soviet military facilities which were taken over by the Estonian Defence Forces in early 90s. The first facility of the base was built in the autumn of 1939, an airfield, by the Red Army. After the end of World War II and the Soviet recapture of...
, Tapa. It trains conscripts for wartime artillery units. This battalion has good oportunities for live fire becouse of large Central Training Area. What is importan, 60 - 120 mm mortars belong to infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalions not artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
in Estonian armed forces.
Equipment
The Artillery Battalion is currently armed with the Europe's first multi-national artillery program field howitzerHowitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
FH-70
FH-70
The FH-70 is a towed howitzer in use with several nations.-History:In 1963 NATO agreed a NATO Basic Military Requirement 39 for close support artillery, either towed or tracked. Subsequently Germany and UK started discussions and design studies and in 1968 established Agreed Operational...
s. This gun has largest caliber in Baltic countries.
Other guns are from Finnish Defence Forces
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
.
Future development
On 19 February 2008 FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
offered Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
a large number of field howitzers along with ammunition and spare parts at a symbolic price. The deal included 42 122 mm H63 field howitzers. The deal was accepted