Name Undine Commissioned 1967 Fate Donated to Estonia Length 38 m | Operator German Navy Decommissioned 2002 Launched 16 May 1966 | |
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Builder Krogerwerft Rendsburg Germany | ||
EML Vaindlo (M416) was a Frauenlob-class minelayer of the Estonian Navy and belonged into the Estonian Navy Mineships Division. The commanding officer of the vessel was Lieutenant Erkki Silm.
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Introduction
The minelayer Vaindlo is a vessel of the Estonian Navy Mineships Division and also the second modernized Frauenlob class minelayer. A silver star cross represents the light tower on the coat of arms of the vessel. The light tower also symbolizes the international connections between Estonia and her allies. The Red Holy Jüri remembers the fallen British sailors in 1721, whose memorial plate is situated at Vaindloo island. The star cross is placed on Vihula´s municipality coat of arms and combined with the golden and silver lines they represent the ancient Estonian agriculture. The ship's motto is in Latin "Memento" which means in English "Remember". The coat of arms was designed by Priit Herodes. In 2003 a cooperation contract was signed between the Kunda city council and the minelayer Vaindlo which gave the vessel a right to wear the Kunda town coat of arms and to introduce the city in all foreign harbors across the world.
History
The EML Vaindlo (M416) is built in West-Germany, in a Krögerwerft shipyard in Rendsburg. The vessel was launched on the 16 May 1966 and she entered service a year later in 1967. The German Navy decommissioned Undine and two of her twin sisters Minerva and Diana in late 1990s and gave the vessels to the Estonian Navy to operate. On the ceremony the vessel received an Estonian name Vaindlo. The ships were decommissioned in 2005.