HSwMS Carlskrona (P04)

HSwMS Carlskrona is the largest vessel in the Swedish Navy when it comes to length with 105,7 meters (346,8 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 (M01) in both roles.

History
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. Shortly thereafter she was decommissioned. 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.