Shipwreck or sea mystery · 14.11.1924
Meeme, Estonia's only warship lost on duty
Meeme began life in 1911 as a passenger ship built in Gothenburg for the city of Riga. Captured in 1919, she served the Estonian Navy as an auxiliary, a gunboat and from 1923 a minesweeper. On 14 November 1924 she was sweeping an old minefield northwest of Naissaar together with the Mardus. A mine caught in her sweep exploded under her stern. Gunner Johannes Karus was lost and Lieutenant Karl Haberman later died in hospital. She was towed towards a shoal but sank about two miles from the island. She is the only Estonian warship lost on military duty. Divers found the wreck at 44 metres on 29 July 2000.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Meeme ehitati 1911. aastal Göteborgis Riia linnavalitsuse tellimusel reisilaevana. 1919. aastal sõjasaagiks saadud laev teenis Eesti Merejõududes abilaeva, suurtükilaeva ja alates 1923. aastast miinitraalerina. 14. novembril 1924 traalis Meeme koos Mardusega miine Naissaarest loodes asunud endisel miiniväljal. Traali külge jäänud miin plahvatas laeva ahtri all. Komendor Johannes Karus jäi kadunuks ja nooremleitnant Karl Haberman suri hiljem haiglas. Laeva üritati pukseerida madalikule, kuid see uppus saarest umbes kahe miili kaugusel. See on ainus sõjalisel ülesandel hukkunud Eesti sõjalaev. Vraki leidsid sukeldujad 29. juulil 2000 44 meetri sügavuselt.