Estonia Estonian Navy question

[Markgraf]

Hi for everyone!

It's a ribbon from an Estonian sailor cap with the name of interwar period destroyer Vambola (picture from estonian wiki).

In the Hungarian Military Museum is an Estonian sailor cap from the same ship with little diference: the ship's name spelled Wambola...Does anyone know what could be the reason? (I saw an English book the same spelling.)

My another question: What does it mean the M.R. abbrevation?

Thanks

M

[Dave Danner]

The "M" stands for Mereväe, or "Naval". Modern Estonian ships carry the abbreviation EML, for Eesti Mereväe Laev, or Estonian Naval Vessel. I'm not sure about the R.

[Noor]

In this case M.R. front of ship name means a ship class - miiniristleja (destroyer) "Vambola". Actually this ship (called "Spartak") was part of communists troops in the Baltic sea but on the 26th Dec. 1918 was captured by British Navy and they gave it to Estonian troops who renamed it after fixing it to "Vambola".

Wambola-Vambola - W was common in older type of Estonian language.

In 1933 Estonia sold it to Peru and was called next 20 years in service as a "Almirante Villar"

Edited August 9, 2011 by Noor

[Markgraf]

Thank You!

M