1. COMBAT BOAT 90 (CB90) FAST MILITARY ASSAULT CRAFT OF
SWEDEN
2. Introduction Combat Boat 90 (CB90) is a fast military
assault craft developed by Dockstavarvet. It was originally built
to replace the Swedish Navy's aging Tpbs 200 class. The ship was
commissioned in 1991. The vessel can function as a fast assault and
coastal defence boat, a patrol boat or as a special operations
support vessel. It can also be used for reconnaissance,
surveillance and intelligence gathering operations. The series of
CB90 boats are currently in use by the naval forces of multiple
countries including Norway (as the S90N), Greece, Mexico (as the
CB90 HMN) Malaysia and Brazil.
3. Design Constructed from aluminium, CB90 is lightweight with
an overall length of 14.9m. The ship has a displacement of 18t,
3.85m maximum beam and a shallow draught. The vessel can
accommodate 21 fully armed soldiers and load up to 4.5t of
cargo.
4. Variants The CB90HI is the export version of the Strb HS 90,
where S refers to 'Skyddad' (swedish for protected). The CB90 HEX
is a hybrid between the CB90 H and the CB90N, referred to as the
Stridsbt 90N (SB90N) by the Norwegian navy. The CB90 HEX has been
customised for the Royal Malaysian Navy, Mexican Navy, the Royal
Swedish Navy (RSwN) Amphibious Corps and the Hellenic Coast Guard.
The CB90 NL is fitted with battalion-level command and control,
computer and communications equipment and a back-up generator to
supply power when the engines are not operating.
5. Armaments The vehicle is armed with three browning M2HB
machine guns. A 12.7mm machine gun (or a 40mm grenade launcher) is
fixed on a ring mount aft of the wheelhouse. The twin 12.7mm is
installed in front of the helmsman's position in traverse. The boat
is also mounted with one Mk 19 grenade launcher and a modified
Hellfire-type RBS 17 SSM system. Four 2.8t naval mines or six depth
charges can also be carried.
6. Propulsion The CB90 is powered by two 600kW diesel engines
that can cruise at speeds of up to 45kt with high manoeuvrability
in shallow coastal waters. The non-military patrol craft version of
the ship can be equipped with two 550kW diesels engines, providing
maximum speeds of up to 45kt. The vessel has two Kamewa FF water
jets that are partially ducted. This feature of the water jets,
along with the underwater control surfaces, allows the vessel to
take extremely sharp turns even at high speeds. The maximum range
is 440km at 20 kts (37km/h) speed.