Crawling around inside a 90-year-old submarine called ‘Lembit’ at the Seaplanes maritime museum, Tallinn
After seeing the Ironman Tallinn finish in the Seaplanes Museum and catching a glimpse of the enormous submarine through a window, I decided I should explore the Seaplanes Maritime Museum further, and I must say, it was a wonderful experience!
The Seaplane Harbour Maritime Museum is located in the Noblessner area of Tallinn and is housed in a former seaplane hangar that was built in the early 20th century for the Imperial Russian Navy. The hangar has been renovated and turned into a modern museum, and as well as a race finish line, is a popular attraction for visitors to Tallinn.
Named after the display of historic seaplanes, which were used by the Imperial Russian Navy during World War, the museum is visually stunning, and it was clear that a lot of attention had been paid to the design and layout. The exhibits were presented in an interactive way that made it easy to engage with the material.
One thing that really stood out to me was the animation that was projected onto the surfaces of the submarine and exhibits. It was a unique way of telling the story of Estonia's maritime heritage, and it was both engaging and entertaining, thanks to the quality of it (I’m something of a maritime and design nerd if you couldn’t already tell!).
Lembit the Submarine
The museum's main attraction was the actual submarine that was on display. It was a surreal experience to walk around the submarine and see what life was like for those who served on it. Despite having spent many months of my life onboard Royal Navy warships as a Royal Marines Commando officer, I never visited a submarine, and so was quite fascinated to actually walk around in one to get the experience that submariners would have. The presentation of the submarine was tasteful and well-done, which added to the overall experience.
Built in the UK in the 1930s and used by the Estonian navy during World War II, the Lembit submarine is around 57 meters long and 4.4 meters wide according to what I could find out, and it was designed for coastal defence and anti-submarine warfare. It had a crew of 32 and could reach a depth of up to 80 metres below the surface. During its service in World War II, the submarine carried out various missions, including laying mines and attacking enemy ships.
After the war, the Lembit submarine was used for training purposes until it was decommissioned after the fall of the Soviet Union. A few decades later, the submarine was restored and put on display at the Seaplane Harbour Maritime Museum.
Visitors to the museum can explore the interior of the submarine and see what life was like for the crew during its service. The submarine's exhibits also showcase its technical features, including its torpedo tubes and periscope (that you can see in the photos).
Hell on the Baltic Sea: The Juminda tragedy
One exhibition that caught my attention was the 'Hell on the Baltic Sea' exhibit, which detailed the Juminda maritime tragedy. The exhibit was presented in a way that was both insightful and thought-provoking, and left a lasting impression on me that I’ll go and visit the peninsula for visual context.
The Juminda tragedy was a significant event in Estonia's maritime history that occurred during World War II. It took place on the night of September 19-20, 1941, when German forces began an evacuation of their troops and equipment from the Juminda Peninsula on the north coast of Estonia, when they came under attack from the Soviet navy.
During the evacuation, the Germans had to abandon many of their ships, and around 15,000 people, including soldiers, civilians, and wounded, were left stranded in the water which resulted in a chaotic and deadly situation.
The situation was exacerbated by a big lack of lifeboats and lifejackets, and the weather was stormy and cold. As a result, many people drowned or died of hypothermia, and only about half of the ships involved in the evacuation made it to safety.
The Juminda tragedy was a significant loss of life and a dark chapter in Estonia's maritime history, so the tragedy is remembered every year in Estonia that honours the victims.
Suur Tõll and the historic ships
The museum also has a large collection of historic ships and boats on display in the harbour outside. You can walk around most of them thanks to staircases fitted to the hull, these vessels offer visitors a unique insight into Estonia's maritime history and the development of seafaring technology.
One of the most impressive ships on display is the icebreaker Suur Tõll, which was built in the early 20thcentury and served as an important vessel for Estonia's maritime trade and coastal defence. Suur Tõll was the largest and most powerful icebreaker in the Baltic Sea during its time, and it played a significant role in keeping Estonian ports open during the winter months when the sea often freezes (to the point you can drive a car on it!).
If you’re visiting Tallinn, I’d highly recommend visiting the Seaplanes Maritime Museum, not only is it a beautiful piece of architecture and design, it’s also a fascinating and sobering place to explore, so I would try and go if you’re visiting Tallinn.
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If you’re seriously considering a year as a digital nomad, whether that’s to explore the world, setup a virtual business, or both, I strongly urge you to put Estonia at the top of your list for all the reasons I mention below – however don’t be surprised if you don’t want to return back to your country of origin at the end of it!
Secondly, I make no apologies for being so enthusiastic about the place, I’ve travelled in over 60 countries across the world and feel like I’ve found somewhere that is truly remarkable for many good reasons that people aren’t yet aware of.