CB90-class fast assault craft
Combat Boat 90
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Class overview | |
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Builders | Dockstavarvet, Gotlandsvarvet, |
Operators | See Operators |
Preceded by | Tpbs 200 |
Cost | CB90 HSM: SEK 22.22 million (2017)[1] per unit |
In commission | 1991 |
Completed | 250–300 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 13,000 kg (28,660 lbs) Empty, 15,300 kg (33,730 lbs) Standard, 20,500 kg (45,190 lbs) Full load |
Length |
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Beam | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in) |
Propulsion | 2 × 625 bhp Scania DSI14 V8 Diesel; 2 × Kamewa FF water jets |
Speed | 40 knots (74 km/h) |
Range | 240 nmi (440 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h) |
Complement |
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Armament |
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Stridsbåt 90 H(alv) (Strb 90 H; CB90) is a class of fast military assault craft used by several countries after being originally developed for the
In addition to the many variants in service with the Swedish Navy under the "Stridsbåt 90H" designation, the CB 90 has been adopted by the navies of Norway (as the S90N), Greece, Mexico (as the CB 90 HMN), the United States (as the Riverine Command Boat), and Malaysia.
Development and adoption history
In 1988, Dockstavarvet won a competition to design and manufacture a replacement for the ageing Tpbs 200 class. Two prototypes, with pennant number 801 and 802, were delivered in 1989. After the completion of field trials, the Swedish Navy signed a purchase order for 120 boats in June 1990.
In 2002, the Swedish Navy ordered an additional 27 boats of a slightly different type, designated Stridsbåt 90 HS - where S refers to Skydd (protected)[2] as the Strb 90 HS is armoured and features CBRN protection (the whole boat can be over-pressurized) - intended for use in international peace-keeping operations. Apart from the addition of armour, it sports air-conditioning for deployment in tropical conditions, a fuel cooling system, a 230 V generator and more powerful engines. The manufacturer sometimes refers to the model as the CB 90 HI, where the I probably stands for International.
Several of the tasks carried out by the Strb 90 H-variants, were originally intended for the
The Royal Norwegian Navy evaluated the Strb 90 H in early 1996 and subsequently purchased a total of 20 boats, designated 90 N (for Norsk utgave, literally Norwegian version).
The Mexican Navy acquired 40 units (designated CB 90 HMN) between 1999 and 2001, and obtained a production license in 2002, allowing further units to be manufactured in Mexico. Since then eight additional units have been built.
The
In July 2007 The United States
In June 2009 an unknown buyer from Abu Dhabi bought two civilian luxury versions.[5]
In 2010, Dockstavarvet Shipyard modified two CB90's to be carried in the davits of Dutch and UK Navy Landing Platform Docks. During these six-month trials, the two boats and a full Swedish boat squadron were embarked on a Royal Netherlands Navy LPD as a fully integrated element of the amphibious forces aboard and successfully deployed.
In 2013 JSC Pella Shipyard near St Petersburg launched the first Russian built Raptor-class patrol boat "Raptor",[6] but while the ships are strikingly similar there is no indication Dockstavarvet has been involved or licensed the design to Pella.
Versions
Several Strb 90 H have been converted by the Swedish Navy to fill various roles:
- The Strb 90 L is outfitted for generatorto provide electrical power when the engines are not running. The L stands for ledning (command or leadership).
- The Strb 90 KompL is a plain Strb 90 H in which portable computer and communications equipment have been installed, allowing it to temporarily provide generatorinstalled on the deck.
- The Strb 90 HS is designed for overseas peacekeeping and rescue operations. It is modified to keep its crew comfortable in Mediterranean conditions, with air conditioning, an auxiliary generator, a head, and more comfortable crew stations. More importantly, it is armoured, and its engines have been upgraded to compensate for the added weight.
- At least one Strb 90 H, pennant number 802, is equipped with a decompression chamber.
- The Swedish Police operate one unarmed Strb 90 H equipped with bunks, a pantry and a crew lounge.
- The Swedish Sea Rescue Society operates two unarmed Strb 90 Hs converted for search and rescue.
- Hellenic Coast Guard operate also since 1998 three CB90 under the CB90HCG which is a slightly different version of the Norwegian Navy Version
Norwegian version
The Royal Norwegian Navy operates 20 CB90s under the designation SB90N; the N simply stands for Norsk utgave (Norwegian version). The S90N differs from the Strb 90 H in a few areas:
- It is armed with two Sea PROTECTOR Remote controlled weapon station.[7]
- The anchor winch is motorized, and the anchor is mounted at the stern, allowing a grounded S90N to tow itself afloat rather than risk damage to its impellers.
- It carries an auxiliary generatorwhich provides electrical power to navigation and communications systems even when the engines are not running.
- The troop compartment has a higher deck height, making it possible for most people to stand without crouching.
- It has two water-tight compartments in the bow, having an extra room for toilets and stores.
- It has much more sophisticated navigation equipment based on GPS technology delivered by Kongsberg Seatex AS.[8]
At least one S90N has been reconfigured into a floating ambulance.[9]
In 2004, the Royal Norwegian Navy conducted tests (including a
The CB90s are used by the Coastal Ranger Commando.
Incidents and accidents involving CB90s
In mid-1999, one CB90 (No. 820) belonging to the Swedish Karlskrona Coastal Artillery Regiment (KA2) crashed into a concrete pier at approximately 30 knots (56 km/h). There were eight soldiers on board; seven of them sustained more or less severe injuries, including fractures, while one soldier who was standing in the machine gun ring mount on mid-deck remained physically unhurt.
On June 13, 2004, several Strb 90 H from the Swedish First Marine Regiment (AMF1) were sailing at high speed in convoy formation when one of them abruptly reduced speed (allegedly so its wake would not upset a smaller sailboat). The boat immediately behind it failed to react and rammed it. Two soldiers who were above deck at the time of the accident were hit and thrown into the water; both were killed almost instantly.
On the night of October 23, 2006, a CB90 sank off of Hamnudden, east of
On October 5, 2014, a
On January 12, 2016, two U.S. Navy riverine command boats were "taken into custody" by
Operators
The German Navy has been examining procurement for CB90 since 2023. The BAAINBw is testing the boat; a possible competitor is the patrol boat Watercat M 18 AMC from the Finnish manufacturer Marine Alutech. Up to 15 units are to be procured, which are to be used for port protection tasks and patrols.[12]
- Malaysia
- Malaysian Navy: 5 unit CB90, 12 unit CB90HEX
- Mexico
- Mexican Navy: 48
- Norway
- Royal Norwegian Navy: 20
- Sweden
- Royal Swedish Navy: 147 in service, 18 on order[1]
- Ukraine
- Ukrainian Navy: 10 units to be delivered in 2024[14]
- United Kingdom
- Royal Navy: 4, formerly leased from the Royal Swedish Navy, used to evaluate the option of potential acquisition and returned to the Swedish Navy.[15]
- United States
- Peru
- SIMA Peru will build, on behalf of the Peruvian Navy, in agreement with the N.Sundin Dockstavarvet factory, a subsidiary of the Swedish group SAAB, the first 2 ultra-fast combat boats out of a total of 24 that will be used for maritime interdiction work on the Peruvian coast.[18]
Related development
See also
- G class landing craft
- Uisko class landing craft
- Jurmo class landing craft
- Jehu-class landing craft
- KMC Komando
- Multi-purpose Attack Craft
- Project 03160 "Raptor" High-Speed Patrol Boat
- Cotecmar LPR-40
- Centaur-class fast assault craft
- Mark V Special Operations Craft
References
- ^ a b "Sweden orders additional 18 CB90-class fast assault craft". Naval Today. 10 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Stridsbåt 90 H". Forsvarsmakten (in Swedish). 18 September 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ^ "Svensk stridsbåt stoppade G8-protest" [Swedish patrol boat stopped G8 protest]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 7 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
- ^ "Greenpeace-Boote dringen in G-8-Sperrzone ein" [Greenpeace boats enter G-8 Exclusion Zone]. Der Spiegel (in German). 7 June 2007.
- ^ "BilMotor". Dagens industri (in Swedish). 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009.
- ^ "Завершаются испытания быстроходного катера специального назначения РМ-15 проекта 03160 "Раптор"" [Testing of the RM-15 special-purpose high-speed boat of project 03160 "Raptor" is being completed]. Military Observer (in Russian). 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013.
- ^ Dalløkken, Per Erlien (30 October 2014). "Norske stridsbåter blir åtte knop raskere og treffer med første skudd" [Norwegian patrol boats are eight knots faster and hit with the first shot]. Teknisk Ukeblad (in Norwegian).
- ^ "The Royal Norwegian Navy is acquiring Navigation Equipment Package for Combat Boat 90". Navy Recognition. 23 November 2013.
- ^ Oftedahl, Live (3 July 2019). "Kriseplanen for luftambulanse-overgangen. Forsvaret: Har ingen ekstra beredskap" [The emergency plan for the air ambulance transition. The Armed Forces has no extra readiness]. Ambulanseforum.no (in Norwegian).
- ^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (12 January 2016). "These are the U.S. Navy riverine command boats that Iran just 'took into custody'". The Washington Post.
- ^ Copp, Tara (13 January 2016). "Iran releases US sailors one day after detention at Farsi Island". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016.
- ^ MarineForum (27 June 2023). "Kampfboote, es ist soweit..." marineforum (in German). Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Aποκλειστικό: Ο Στρατός Ξηράς σχεδιάζει την απόκτηση νέων ταχυπλόων με επίκεντρο το CB-90". defencereview.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Sweden sends combat boats to Ukraine". 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Royal Marines host Swedish colleagues at new amphibious centre". Royal Navy. 20 February 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ Scutro, Andrew (2 August 2007). "New riverine boats are fast, lethal, flexible". Navy Times. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ^ "Sailors assigned to Riverine Group 1 conduct maneuver training aboard a riverine command boat at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek". US Navy News. 25 September 2009. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
- ^ "SIMA recibe los planos de las lanchas CB 90 para su ensamblaje en Perú" [SIMA receives the plans for the CB 90 boats for assembly in Peru]. Infodefensa (in Spanish). 28 November 2020.
- (in Swedish) Stridsbåt 90H at SoldF.com, an unofficial site dedicated to information about Swedish military materiel.
- (in Norwegian) Et fremtidsrettet prosjekt, an article about the Hellfire experiment on the official web site of the Norwegian military.
- (in English) A series of pictures of a Norwegian S90N
External links
- Media related to CB90-class fast assault craft at Wikimedia Commons
- Video of CB90 in action on the Amazon River (Windows Media Player) Note: Commercial video, but shows the boat's capabilities.
- (YouTube) CB 90 Hellfire Trials.
- SoldF about Strb 90H, in Swedish