Tallinn, having been historically an important trading center between the East and the West, became one of the main naval bases of the Imperial Russian Baltic Fleet.

A systematic coastal defence network and naval gun installations were ordered, and the construction works began at the end of the 1890s.

During World War II and later the Soviet occupation of Estonia, little has remained of the former coastal defence lines and fortifications.

The main responsibility of BALTRON is to improve the co-operation between the Baltic States in the areas of naval defence and security.

Service in BALTRON provides both, the crews and staff officers, with an excellent opportunity to serve in an international environment and acquire valuable experience in mine countermeasures.

Since 1995 Estonian Navy ships have participated in most of the major international exercises and operations carried out in the Baltic Sea.

[citation needed] In 2020, the Estonian Defence Forces started planning the development of new defensive capabilities, which included procuring naval mines and anti-ship missile systems.

'When the Soviet Navy left the Tallinn Naval Base, they sabotaged the facilities and scuttled about 10 of their ships in the harbour.

'[12] Although the Soviet legacy's clean-up and military infrastructure rebuilding has taken most of the defence budget resources away from the Navy, the armament and equipment has improved a great deal.

The first crafts that entered the service in the restored Estonian Navy in 1993 were mainly German background mine-layers and mine-hunters.

Most of the modern navy vessels have either been received as foreign aid or been bought from Germany, Finland, United Kingdom and Denmark.

In 2006, Estonia purchased three Sandown-class minehunter from the UK to enhance the Estonian Navy's mine-hunting capabilities.

They would enter service in 2021 and would be used for force protection at sea and in ports, and could also provide support for other agencies, including the Police and Border Guard Board.

[19] The "Merevägi" has operated a number of naval bases and war harbors, most of them being located on the western coast and the islands.

Until 1939 there were more than ten smaller and bigger war harbors and bases; including Aegna, Paldiski, Virtsu, Rohuküla, Mõntu, Kuressaare, Kõiguste, Papisaare, Jaagurahu, Tagalaht, Küdema, Sõru, Kärdla, Kallaste, Mustvee and Tallinn harbor.