Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade (Estonia)


Artillery Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Brigade is a reserve artillery battalion of the Estonian Defence Forces. During peacetime, the unit is tasked with preparing reserve personnel through training exercises. During wartime, the unit is tasked with providing indirect fire support for combat units.

History

1919 - 1940

The battalion follows in the tradition of the 2nd Artillery Regiment, which was formed in Tallinn on January 21, 1919, by captain Herbert Brede. On February 15, the headquarters moved to Tartu Karlova manor. By the end of February, the regiment had managed to form a headquarters and seven batteries. The 7th battery was initially assembled under the Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion and then properly formed under the 2nd Artillery Regiment. The battery was also known as the "partisan battery" because of its roots in the Kuperjanov Battalion. On April 26, the headquarters moved to Võru. On August 1, 1919, captain Johannes Orasmaa was appointed the commander of the unit, he took up the position on August 19. On August 31, while inspecting the units of the 2nd Artillery Regiment, he led a successful defence in Pechorsky district against Red Army units, which had managed to break through the lines of the 7th regiment. The attack was held back purely by artillery fire. In September, the batteries were formed into two artillery groups. On October 15, 1919, Podpolkovnik Georg Feofanov became the commander of the unit. By January 1920, the regiment consisted of seven field batteries, with 27 artillery guns, 519 rifles, 3 machine guns, 35 officers, 3 doctors, 10 officials and 1190 soldiers. On May 20, 1920, the unit was reformed into the 2nd Field Artillery Division, and on January 1, 1921, renamed back to the 2nd Artillery Regiment. In 1940, the Soviets occupied Estonia and all military units were disbanded.

2014 - present

The Artillery Battalion was formed together with the 2nd Infantry Brigade on August 1, 2014. The battalion received its flag on January 24, 2017. On August 8, 2017, major Meelis Laanemets replaced major Marko Tomentšuk as the battalions commander. The unit is equipped with 122 mm D-30 howitzers and has been participating in exercises since at least 2016.