Scouts Battalion

Scouts Battalion
Scoutspataljon

Insignia of the Scouts Battalion
Active 1918–1940
2001–present
Country  Estonia
Branch Estonian Land Forces
Type Mechanized infantry
Size Battalion
Part of 1st Infantry Brigade
Garrison/HQ Paldiski
Motto(s) E Pluribus Unum
Anniversaries Formed: 21 December 1918
Restored: 29 March 2001
Engagements Estonian War of Independence
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Commanders
Current
commander		 Major Tarmo Kundla
Notable
commanders		 Friedrich-Karl Pinka

The Scouts Battalion (Estonian: Scoutspataljon) is a battalion of the Estonian Land Forces. It is a part of the 1st Infantry Brigade and acts as its rapid response unit. The battalion is currently based at Paldiski and is commanded by Major Tarmo Kundla.

History

Estonian War of Independence

In November 1918, Estonian American entrepreneur and scouting enthusiast Henry Reissar returned to Estonia and turned to the Ministry of Defence (then Ministry of War) with a proposition of forming a voluntary military unit, financed by himself, in order to help defend Estonia. Having received such permission, the unit was formed on 21 December 1918, in Viljandi, where the first volunteers took their oaths in the ruins of Viljandi Castle, and Friedrich-Karl Pinka was appointed commander of the newly formed unit.[1] On 3 January 1919, the company-sized unit was sent to the front against the Red Army. On 23 January 1919, a 43-man unit of Scouts captured the Pikksaare Train Station, defended by 524 Red Army troops.[2] The Scouts fought mostly alongside armoured train units and acquitted themselves well in combat, manifesting greater morale than the regular conscript units. The Scouts took part in several major battles including the attack against the Krasnaya Gorka fort in October 1919 and the Battle of Krivasoo in November – December 1919. On 1 December 1919, the Scouts Regiment (Estonian: Scoutspolk) was formed as a part of the Armoured Train Division.[1]

1920–1940

After the signing of the Peace Treaty of Tartu, many servicemen were demobilized and returned to civilian life. From 1921-28, the Scouts unit was reduced in size and continued to serve as a part of the 2nd, 5th, 6th and 10th Infantry Regiment. On 1 October 1928, the unit was renamed Scouts Single Infantry Battalion. The battalion was based at Tallinn, from where it was moved to Uuemõisa in 1932. After the Soviet occupation in 1940, the battalion was disbanded.[3]

2001–present

The Scouts Battalion was restored on 29 March 2001, as a fully professional unit. The Scouts Battalion has actively participated in international operations together with other NATO, European Union and United Nations member states, including the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.[1] The battalion is currently equipped with Combat Vehicle 90 infantry fighting vehicles and Patria Pasi armoured personnel carriers.

Current structure

Scouts Battalion:[4]

List of commanders

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Scoutspataljon" (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces.
  2. ↑ "Scoutspataljon tähistas Pikksaare lahingu aastapäeva" (in Estonian). 23 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Õun, Mati. 2001. Eesti sõjavägi 1920-40. Tallinn: Tammiskilp, page 29-30
  4. ↑ "Scoutspataljoni põhimäärus" (in Estonian). Riigi Teataja.
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