Osmussaar fire control tower Fortification

The island of Osmussaar is situated off the north-west coast of Estonia. This fire control tower is located, in turn, in the north-western part of the island.

The whole island was annexed for the use of the Soviet Army, with a signal unit stationed there. The island was claimed under the Mutual Assistance Pact in 1940, forcing the locals to leave. Of all the intricate coastal defences planned on the island in 1940, only two batteries and an underground ammunition storage were ever built. The 13-metre fire control tower (or range finding tower) was completed in 1941. Germans bombed the island from the batteries set up in Põõsaspea. The upper platform of the tower was hit in November, damaging the range finder. It was replaced with a 3-metre range finder brought from the reserve fire control tower set up in the lighthouse. The reinforced concrete pillars which were hit have been repaired in certain places.

The reinforced concrete pillars are currently exposed.