page_title: Meredessantpataljon
section_title: War of Independence
hierarchical_section_title: Meredessantpataljon / History / War of Independence
caption_attribution_description: Estonian Marines in May 1919, in the middle commander T. Kraus
context_page_description: The Meredessantpataljon, was a short-lived Estonian marine infantry battalion during the Estonian War of Independence of the Estonian Defence Forces subject to the Estonian Navy. The battalion was created from the crews of the Estonian surface warships, students and Finnish volunteer soldiers. The battalion was created and later disbanded in Tallinn after it had fulfilled its military objectives in 1919.
  As common marine infantry tasks include providing security in a warship whilst at sea and reflecting the pressed nature of the ships company and the risk of mutiny. Also other tasks include boarding of vessels during combat or capture of prize ships and providing manpower for raiding ashore in support of the naval objectives, the Estonian Meredessantpataljon was more focused on contributing to the campaign ashores, in supporting of the military objectives.
  Another difference from the usual marines is that the Estonian marines unit was only a temporary military formation. The unit was operational from March to June in 1919. Today there are no marine infantry or marine special force units among the Estonian Defence Forces.
context_section_description: The unit saw first action on March 19 near Orava in Luuka village. Although the unit suffered under severe casualties it captured several nearby villages and the Orava estate. At the end of March the battalion was transferred to Tallinn. On April 16 the Meredessantpataljon was joined up with a naval squadron heading towards Heinaste with an operational aim was to capture it.
  The marine infantry battalion was closed before the end of the independence war as the unit had achieved its operational tasks and had no longer a role on the war theatre. The unit was disbanded on June 1, 1919. After the war the Estonian Navy began to rebuild some of the former Russian sea fortifications and coastal artillery positions, along with the purchase of the modern submarines from United Kingdom in late 1930s there was no longer a need for marine infantry units in Estonia.
caption: Estonian marines of the Meredessantpataljon, in May, 1919.
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