HSwMS Carlskrona (P04)

HSwMS Carlskrona (in Swedish: HMS 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.

HSwMS Carlskrona
History
Sweden
Name: Carlskrona
Builder: Karlskronavarvet, Karlskrona
Launched: 28 June 1980
Commissioned: 11 January 1982
Identification:
Status: Operational
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Patrol vessel
Displacement: 3,150 tonnes (3,100 long tons)
Length: 105.7 m (346 ft 9 in)
Beam: 15.2 m (49 ft 10 in)
Draft: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Speed: 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h)
Complement:
  • 45 officers
  • 40 cadets
  • 85 conscripts
Sensors and
processing systems:		 2x Fire control radars with IR/TV sights
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 x AW109LUH (HKP15B)
Aviation facilities: 1 spot

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 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 the March 13, 2010, and commenced her mission as HQ ship for the EU operation on April 15.[3]

On May 6 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 June 16, 2017.[6][7]

Today both the 57mm guns have been removed. The aft gun was removed when the helicopter pad was expanded and the front 57mm 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]

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. http://www.blt.se/karlskrona/aspofarjan-i-krock/
  5. http://24blekinge.se/2016/05/16/hms-carlskrona-gor-comeback-efter-krocken/
  6. http://www.janes.com/article/71737/carlskrona-completes-life-extension-refit
  7. http://www.blt.se/karlskrona/en-gammal-dam-rustas-upp/
  8. http://www.vhfk.se/varvets-historia/forteckning-over-varvets-300-nybyggen-under-300-ar/minfartyget-hms-carlskrona-1980-nb-390/


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