Karlskrona naval base

The Karlskrona naval base (Swedish: Karlskrona örlogsbas) is the largest naval base of the Swedish Navy.^[1] Located in Blekinge in southern Sweden, the base has close ties with the city of Karlskrona. It has an exceptionally well-sheltered location: arcs of islands provide a strong defense not only from the sea but also from land attacks. Two of Sweden's three naval warfare flotillas are based there. It contains the Marinmuseum and the Ropewalk, the longest wooden building in the country.^[2]

Naval Port of Karlskrona

UNESCO World Heritage Site
bell tower (Admiralstorn)
Location	Karlskrona Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden
Includes	Karlskrona and the Island of Trossö Mjölnarholmen [commons] Koholmen [commons] Kungshall [sv] (Basareholmen [sv]) Godnatt [commons] Kurrholmen [sv] Ljungskär [commons] Crown Mill at Lyckeby (Kronokvarnen [commons]) Kungsholms Fort [commons] Drottningskärs Citadel (Kastellet [commons]) Skärva [commons]
Criteria	Cultural: (ii), (iv)
Reference	871
Inscription	1998 (22nd Session)
Area	320.4 ha (792 acres)
Buffer zone	1,105.1 ha (2,731 acres)
Coordinates	56°09′22″N 15°35′11″E
Location of Karlskrona naval base in Blekinge Show map of Blekinge Karlskrona naval base (Sweden) Show map of Sweden

Donjon of Kungsholms Fort

History

After Sweden and Denmark ceased hostilities after the Scanian War (1675–1679), King Charles XI of Sweden made a reconnaissance trip in the eastern part of the Blekinge archipelago. The king decreed the construction of a city named "Carlscroona" on the island of Trossön.^[3] The major reason for its establishment was to provide the Swedish Navy with a permanent base closer to Denmark, which throughout the 17th century had been the foremost enemy of Sweden. In addition, a shipyard was needed for both construction and repair of ships, as well as for supply depots and barracks. The new base had the added advantage of being free of ice in winter, unlike the base in Stockholm which had until then been the principal base of the navy. A plan for the base was laid forth by quartermaster general Erik Dahlbergh in 1683, and construction was started two years later. The new city of Karlskrona received its city privileges in 1680.

An international incident occurred on October 27, 1981, when the Soviet Whiskey-class submarine S-363 ran aground approximately 10 km from Karlskrona, in an event sometimes called "Whiskey on the rocks".^[4]

Ships

The base contains ships and vessels from the Swedish 1st Submarine Flotilla and the 3rd Naval Warfare Flotilla.

• Södermanland-class submarine, 2 ships
• Gotland-class submarine, 3 ships
• Stockholm-class corvette, 2 ships
• Visby-class corvette, 2 ships
• Tapper-class patrol boats, 3 ships
• Koster-class mine countermeasures vessel, 2 ships
• Styrsö-class mine countermeasures vessel, 1 ship
• Support ship HSwMS Trossö (A264)
• Work ship HSwMS Fårösund

Two Visby-class corvettes and one Spårö class ship docked at the naval base.

See also

• Vega expedition
• Naval Base

References

1. "Naval Base (MarinB) - Försvarsmakten". www.forsvarsmakten.se. Archived from the original on 2010-08-26.
2. "The Old Navy Yard". Karlskrona Kommun. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
3. "Om förbandet" (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 2010-08-20.
4. West, Nigel (2010). Historical Dictionary of Naval Intelligence. Scarecrow Press. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-8108-6760-4.

External links

• Om marinbasen (in Swedish)
• Naval Port of Karlskrona UNESCO Collection on Google Arts and Culture