Combat Boat 90 H (CB90 H) is a fast military assault craft developed by Dockstavarvet. It was originally built to replace the Swedish Navy’s aging Tpbs 200 class. In addition to the many variants in service with the Swedish Navy under the “StridsbÃ¥t 90H” designation, the CB 90 has been adopted by the navies of several countries, including Norway (as the S90N), Greece, Mexico (as the CB 90 HMN), the United States (as the Riverine Command Boat) and Malaysia. It represents the export version of Strp 90H, the 90 refers to the year of acceptance and H (Half) refers to the fact that it can carry and deploy a half platoon of amphibious infantry (18 men) fully equipped. Several variants of the CB90 have been built to suit specific roles. The CB90HI is the export version of the Strb HS 90, where S refers to ‘Skyddad’ (swedish for protected).
The general arrangement shows a typical high-speed chine form hull, with reverse sheer and a narrow 1-man landing ramp forward. The aft 25% of the hull, behind an insulated watertight bulkhead, is dedicated to the machinery consisting of two 460 kW Scania DSI 14 diesel engines driving KaMeWa FF water jets. A cabin with seating for 20 troops, together with their equipment, occupies the mid-body of the craft. The wheelhouse “module” is splinter protected and located between the troop compartment and the bow ramp landing area. The space accommodates the helmsman to starboard and the CO/navigator to port in a compact, cockpit type, layout with an extra chair in the center line for an instructor/troop commander.
The weapon fit comprises a 12.7 mm machine gun (or a 40 mm grenade launcher) carried on a ring mount aft of the wheelhouse and a double 12.7 mm mounted in front of the helmsman’s position. The standard manually operated 12.7 mm MG can be replaced with stabilized remote controlled weapons for the ring mount gun position, even of a higher caliber. The twin mount is fixed in traverse and aimed by pointing the craft – hence the elevation and fire controls are incorporated in the maneuvering levers at the helmsman’s position. Additionally, the CB 90 H can also carry 2.8 ton of mines or the modified Hellfire-type RBS 17 SSM system.
The CB90 H is an exceptionally fast and agile boat that can execute extremely sharp turns at high speed, decelerate from top speed to a full stop in 2.5 boat lengths, and adjust both its pitch and roll angle while under way. Its light weight, shallow draught, and twin water jets allow it to operate at speeds of up to 40 knots (74 km/h) in shallow coastal waters. One of the very important characteristics of the CB90 H is its low profile. Not only does it project a small target area and a low radar signature, when loaded on a standard low loader the boat, with a total height of less than 4.5 meters, can be transported anywhere over land, on RoRo vessels and even by air!
