HSwMS Carlskrona (P04)

HSwMS Carlskrona (in Swedish: HMS Carlskrona) is the longest vessel in the Swedish Navy at 105.7 metres (346 ft 9 in). 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.

For other ships with the same name, see HSwMS Carlskrona.
HSwMS Carlskrona
History
Sweden
NameCarlskrona
BuilderKarlskronavarvet, Karlskrona
Launched28 June 1980
Commissioned11 January 1982
Identification
StatusIn service
Badge
General characteristics
TypePatrol vessel
Displacement3,150 tonnes (3,100 long tons)
Length105.7 m (346 ft 9 in)
Beam15.2 m (49 ft 10 in)
Draft4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Complement
  • 45 officers
  • 40 cadets
  • 85 conscripts
Sensors and
processing systems		2 x fire control radars with IR/TV sights
Armament2 x Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun
Aircraft carried1 x AW109LUH (HKP15B)
Aviation facilities1 Helipad

Construction and career
Carlskrona in original rôle as a minelayer, visiting Portsmouth in 1984

Carlskrona was built by the Karlskrona shipyard, the largest ship ever built there. Not only was the ship designed as a minelayer, but she 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 ceremony 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.[1] 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.[2] She left the naval base at Karlskrona, Sweden on 13 March 2010, and commenced her mission as HQ ship for the EU operation on 15 April.[3]

On 6 May 2016 Carlskrona collided with the ferry Yxlan outside Karlskrona in the Baltic Sea. The ship received minor damage and returned to active duty only ten days later.[4][5]

In August 2016 the ship was dry-docked to give the ship a 10 year extension refit that will extend its service-life to 2025. The ship was handed back to the Swedish Navy on 16 June 2017.[6][7]

Both the 57 mm guns were removed. The aft gun was removed when the helicopter pad was expanded and the forward 57 mm gun was removed when the ship was mothballed in 2007 as it was of an older type that was no longer used on any other ships in the Swedish Navy.[8]

On 13 May 2022, Carlskrona took part in a PASSEX training with the Finnish and American navies in the northern Baltic Sea.[9]

References
  1. "Nya minfartyget "Carlskrona" sjösatt. Kungen döpte "Älvsnabbens" efterträdare" [New minelayer "Carlskrona" launched. The king named "Älvsnabben's" successor]. Vestkusten (in Swedish). San Francisco & Mill Valley, Cal (12): 1. 26 June 1980. SELIBR 4085814. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  2. "HMS Carlskrona tillbaka efter piratjakten". Blekinge Läns Tidning (in Swedish). 5 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012.
  3. "Från minfartyg till ledningsfartyg i rekordfart" (in Swedish). Defence Materiel Administration. 19 February 2010. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010.
  4. "Aspöfärjan och HMS Carlskrona i kollision". 6 May 2016.
  5. http://24blekinge.se/2016/05/16/hms-carlskrona-gor-comeback-efter-krocken/
  6. "Janes | Latest defence and security news".
  7. "En gammal dam rustas upp". 22 July 2016.
  8. "Minfartyget M04 HMS Carlskrona 1980 (NB 390) | VHFK".
  9. "Finnish Navy Holds Drills In Northern Baltic Sea". Naval News. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.


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