Name Carlskrona Status Operational Launched 28 June 1980 Weight 3,800 tons | Commissioned 11 January 1982 Length 106 m Beam 15 m | |
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Identification Pennant numberM04 (1980 - 2009)P04 (2009 - present) Displacement 3,800 tonnes (3,740 long tons) | ||
HSwMS Carlskrona is the longest vessel in the Swedish Navy at 105.7 metres (347 ft). Only Belos, the submarine rescue vessel, has more displacement. She was originally designed as a minelayer and is also used for exercise expeditions. She replaced HSwMS Älvsnabben in both roles.
History
Carlskrona built at the Karlskrona shipyard as the largest ship ever built at the shipyard. Not only was the ship designed as a minelayer, but it was also constructed to be used as the Swedish Navy's long-travel ship.
The launch took place on 28 May 1980 with 3,000 invited guests, where the king Carl XVI Gustaf christened the ship. A music corps and ceremonial company was included in ceremoy and among the guests were Defense Minister Eric Krönmark, the Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Per Rudberg and the Director General of the Defence Materiel Administration Ove Ljung. On 19 March 1982 the ship was delivered to the navy, where she replaced HSwMS Älvsnabben (M01) and the long travel ship.
During the cold war, large minelayers like Carlskrona were very important in the Swedish defense strategy, causing the ship to be without a role after the restructuring of the Swedish Armed Forces in the early 2000s. Carlskrona was refitted in 2002. The refit left the ship fit for active service until at least 2018-20. In 2009-2010 she was modified for the Ocean Patrol Vessel (OPV) role and redesignated from M to P (P04). Carlskrona took part in the EUNAVFOR operation in the Gulf of Aden (Somalia) in 2010. She left the naval base at Karlskrona, Sweden on the March 13, 2010, and commenced her mission as HQ ship for the EU operation on April 15.
