British Built Estonian Submarine Lembit.

[BALTICSUBS]

Here are some phots of the oldest British built submarine still afloat, the Estonian Lembit from the mid 1930's.

Take a close look at the periscope and you can see the unique Russian emblem on it. If your wondering what the first photo is, it is the Russian WW1 seaplane hangars in Tallinn. I was given a personal tour of the area by Vello Mass from their maritime museum, (their wreck hunter), and he informed me the untimate aim was to drag the Lembit ashore and have her on permanant display under this unique hangar.

After serving with the Estonians she was taken over by the Russians in 1940 and served in WW2. When Estonian got their independance one more in the 1990's, as a gift Lembit was handed back minus one item. The Russians wanted to keep an example of British diesel engines from the time and nicked one of the engines for themselves, the Estonians being a very proud people were not too impressed.

For lovers of British submarines, she is a must to see.

Enjoy!

[BALTICSUBS]

Could not fit all photos in on the last post.

Enjoy.

[qprdave]

Great set of photographs. Thank you for sharing them with us.

Dave

[steve roberts]

Hi Balticsubs.Great photos,thanks for posting them with us.To my undying shame as a submariner,I had never heard of her.As they say,you are never to old to learn something new.Thanks again.
Regards Steve.

[astraltrader]

Great photos BS - much appreciated.

[BALTICSUBS]

As mentioned, if you love RN Submarines as i do, it is a must see! Hopefully & with fingers crossed, Vello Mass will find her sister this year. While searching last year he found one of the Russian Bars Class in the Gulf of Finland. He showed me his wreck maps of the Gulf, dear me, cluttered to say the least!

[BALTICSUBS]

Just an update on Lembit's future, i took these photos today showing the work being carried out on the WW1 Russian seaplane hangars, and once renovated Lembit will be lifted from the water and these hangars will be her new home. They hope later this year.

[crolick]

BalticSubs - do you know what was the crest and motto of KALEV?!


Andrzej

[BALTICSUBS]

BalticSubs - do you know what was the crest and motto of KALEV?!

Sorry for not replying sooner, have been in London for 6 weeks.

I have asked Vello Mass from the Estonian Martime Museum your question who thinks he has just found Kalev.

Vello thought he had found U-26 from WW1, but it has turned out to be the Russian SHCH-322 which was lost on the 12th of October 1941, she lies west of Nargen.

The photos show,

1, Lembit next to Vello's research ship the MARE,

2, the sonar image of what they believe is Kalev,

3, the families of HMS E18 on Lembit this year. Of interest, the chap standing in the back row on our right is Russian Captain of the 1st Rank Igor Kurdin with whom i have stayed in contact with, funny how he said he used to look in our backyard, he has been a great help to me with the Russian Archives, a good man. He was there to represent the 3 Russians killed in E18.

4, Last photo is Lembit & Kalev in August 1937 in Parnu Estonia.

Cheers

[astraltrader]

Great photos BS - many thanks and appreciated.

[davep]

interesting pics thanks

[BALTICSUBS]

O.K. My answer from Vello Mass was Kalev's motto was "Bravely, Steadily, Calmly".

Here is her Crest as well.

Vello has just had a ROV down on what they thought was the wreck of Kalev which it seems is not her, here is what he told me, Two days ago the wreck was examined by a Klein 5000 and today we managed to get ROV down there. I have never seen such a construction of iron tubes and goffered metal sheets. What might it have been?
Attached is a sonar image of this wreck.

[crolick]

O.K. My answer from Vello Mass was Kalev's motto was "Bravely, Steadily, Calmly".

Here is her Crest as well.Thank you! :)
How should I translate the motto into Estonian - Vapralt, pidevalt, rahulikult perhaps??

And one more question - on the enclosed picture one can see LEMBIT's crest. The cross is different from the one on your image. Why is it so?

Vello has just had a ROV down on what they thought was the wreck of Kalev which it seems is not her, here is what he told me, Two days ago the wreck was examined by a Klein 5000 and today we managed to get ROV down there. I have never seen such a construction of iron tubes and goffered metal sheets. What might it have been?
Do you know whether the wreck is a wreck of a submarine or no? And what is the length of this wreck?


Cheers,
Andrzej

[BALTICSUBS]

I will ask Vello for the exact Estonian spelling.

No the wreck was not a submarine, here is waht Vello said, It is not a ship at all, it is a framework of a hugh Russian Navy aerostat (dirigible) that they used for lifting up special secret antennas. In 1978 one such a thing flew away , fell down and sank some miles from the shore. I know a man who was commanding this Navy radiotechnical unit that time and he recognized remains of the aerostat. So simple it is! So Kalvev is still out their somewhere, they seem to know the minefield she went missing in, but it was a huge area. I have been shown by Vello the maps of wrecks in the area, there are hundreds, and that is the problem.

The Crests, the one i put on was Kalev, your one is Lembit. I guess they should be different as are all are.

[BALTICSUBS]

Here is Vello's answer on Kalev's motto translation.

The motto can be translated into Estonian - "Julgelt, Kindlalt, Rahulikult". This was written into the guest-book of Kalev by General Johan Laidoner when visiting the submarine on the 5th June 1937.

[crolick]

Thank you! :)
Do you know whether LEMBIT's motto (Vääri oma nime => Be worthy of your name) was given the same way as KALEV's?

Shame that the wreck was not KALEV but I hope that the search continues...

[BALTICSUBS]

Do you know whether LEMBIT's motto (Vääri oma nime => Be worthy of your name) was given the same way as KALEV's?

Have asked the question, so will get the answer soon.

[BALTICSUBS]

Do you know whether LEMBIT's motto (Vääri oma nime => Be worthy of your name) was given the same way as KALEV's?

Here is the answer from Vello.


The story of Lembit´s coat of arms and motto is completely different. It was told that the newly built Lembit and Kalev came from British shipyard to Tallinn with the coat of arms hanging in front of the conning tower. Who has given it to Lembit is still unclear but there exists a interesting version. Since 1918 until 1927 Estonian Navy had gunboat Lembit (former Russian Bobr, German Biber). After excluding the gunboat from Navy and cutting her in pieces, her coat of arms was given over to the submarine. Is it true or not, no authentic explanation. The Kalev´s coat of arms was made taking example of the Lembit' s one.

[crolick]

Here is the answer from Vello.


The story of Lembit´s coat of arms and motto is completely different. It was told that the newly built Lembit and Kalev came from British shipyard to Tallinn with the coat of arms hanging in front of the conning tower. Who has given it to Lembit is still unclear but there exists a interesting version. Since 1918 until 1927 Estonian Navy had gunboat Lembit (former Russian Bobr, German Biber). After excluding the gunboat from Navy and cutting her in pieces, her coat of arms was given over to the submarine. Is it true or not, no authentic explanation. The Kalev´s coat of arms was made taking example of the Lembit' s one.Thank you - very interesting! :)

[Antipodean Andy]

Great photos of the Lembit, Balticsubs. Thanks for taking the time to post. I only just 'discovered' HMS Caroline on here so am amazed to see a British-built pre-war submarine to add to the memory banks. The hangar project looks ambitious and the perfect way to preserve Lembit (although she looks in bloody good nick).

[mick meras]

Great to see pictures, sorry the sunken wreck was not Kalev. I hope the search continues.

If the old hanger roof does not leak (lol joke) it will be great to see the hull, I hope its a crowd-puller.

I also hope you get some 'lost' British engine parts to make the Engine Room/ Generator Room look more crowded...Just seeing the Scott generator, it seems to be in a world of its own...hope the Russians give some stuff back.

Otherwise I think your Museam and the historical ships look good.

[Nigel999]

What a marvellous thread.

It looks like I am not the only one to be educated by it.

Great stuff! :)

Cheers, Nigel

[Teuchter]

This thread is new to me and like Nigel I am mightily impressed!!

BZ Baltic Subs and thank you

[BALTICSUBS]

Lembit was due to be dragged from the water soon, when it happens i will get some photos sent.

[Bootle]

I'm going to Tallin this week. I realise the Lembit is being dragged out of the water but is it still available for viewing?

PS. I am a newbie here, ex BAE Systems (previously Vickers) where Lembit was built. The Dock Museum http://www.dockmuseum.org.uk/ has some photos of it during build.

[HMS DARLASTON]

Thank you for a brilliant thread. I hope that there is enought interest in this historic boat to ensure her future for many years.

PS, what letters went before her name?
ie HMS Hood, ??? Lembit.

[Vovan]

??? Lembit.

EML Lembit

[Bootle]

Just back from Tallinn so I can answer my own query of last week. Unfortunately Lembit is currently under tarpaulins inside the Hangar surrounded by serious building work so I couldn't see any of it. I need to go back next year.
If you want to see what it will look like go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbbCH-wrOs

Fortunately the steam powered ice breaker Suur Toll made up for it as visitors are free to roam pretty well everywhere on the ship. Built in 1914 it was in service until 1988 and still has it's three triple expansion engines and four boilers intact. The machinery is very well preserved and looks ready to go!

Tallinn is worth a weekend trip and thanks to Easyjet is not difficult to get to.

[Bootle]

The Grand opening of the new Large Exhibit section of the Estonian Maritime Museum with submarine Lembit as the star attraction will be on the 11th May 2012.

Details at http://lennusadam.eu/en/world%E2%80%99s-oldest-still-in-water-submarine-lembit-brought-on-land/