[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.

[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.

A plan for the base was laid forth by quartermaster general Erik Dahlbergh in 1683, and construction was started two years later.

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".