Osmussaar

- Osmussaar is located 65 kilometers south-east from Hanko. The distance from Osmussaar to Russarö, which is located close to Hanko, is about 60 kilometers. Osmussaar together with the area of Paldiski and Pakri Cape were the most important areas to guard the southern end of the so-called closure of Gulf of Finland. After Soviet Union occupied Estonia in 1940, the coastal gun positions were quickly built to the island. The 314th Coast Artillery Battalion was stationed in the island. The coast artillery battalion positions can be still found from the island. The main armament for the coast artillery battalion was two 180mm MB-2 guns. These guns could fire to the distance of 36 kilometers. Additionally there has been also smaller coastal gun position in the island, for example for 130mm guns. The remains of these positions are still visible. Also the command bunker for 314th Coast Artillery Battalion can be found from the area in the condition in which the Russians left the bunker in December 1941, meaning that it is full of water. The crew of the coast artillery battalion was evacuated to Hanko in December 1941 from where the journey continued nearly immediately to Gogland (Suursaari) and to Leningrad. Pictures have been taken on 16th of July 2003 and on 17th of June to 18th of June 2006.