Tapa Army Base

Tapa Army Base Tapa sõjaväelinnak
Estonia
Coordinates	59°14′43.09″N 25°57′16.09″E
Type	Brigade level military base
Site history
In use	Units of North-Eastern Defence Command

Tapa army base (Estonian language: Tapa sõjaväelinnak ) is one of the largest military bases of the Estonian Army. There are only specialised battalions which require a large area for every day training. Next to the base is Central Training Area. It is excellent for artillery live firing and manoeuvre. Because of this reason other military units go to there several times a year.

History

Tapa military base is one of the few former Soviet military facilities which were taken over by the Estonian Defence Forces in early 90s. The first facility of the base was built in the autumn of 1939, an airfield, by the Red Army. After the end of World War II and the Soviet recapture of Estonia the base area was enlarged and totalled at its peak around 9 square kilometres. The military also stationed later a Soviet Air Force fighter regiment equipped with 40 fighters Mig-23. In the 60s the military base received also a tank and a pioneer training regiment. During the Soviet exploitation of the military base a lot of ecological damage was carried out, mainly due to the poor handling of the oil and other fuel.

Present day

Today the Tapa military base is home to the North-Eastern Defence Command of the Estonian Ground Forces and 4 battalions.

Renovation

Soviet-era buildings are being renovated into more modern structures. Also, a new infrastructure is being constructed.

Structure

The Tapa Army Base accommodates the following units:

• File:Northeastern Defense District of Estonia emblem.svg North-Eastern Defence District HQ
• Error creating thumbnail: Engineer Battalion
• Artillery Battalion
• File:Õhutõrjepataljon emblem.svg Air Defence Battalion
• Error creating thumbnail: Central Training Area

Look also

• Jägala Army Base
• Amari Air base
• Tapa town
• Tapa airfield