Ukraine is getting all kinds of weapons systems from its Western allies. Tanks, howitzers, infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel transporters – these and many other weapons are flowing into Ukraine. However, one type of vehicle is rarely talked about – Ukraine is patiently waiting for Swedish speedboats.
Swedish CB90. Boats of this class were first commissioned in 1991. Image credit: Arco Ardon via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)
The Stridsbåt 90 H(alv), better known as the CB90, is a Swedish fast assault craft. Essentially, it is a speedboat with an edge. That edge is three Browning M2HB machine guns, a grenade launcher, a set of naval mines and other weapons. CB90-class fast assault crafts have been in service since 1991 and are used by a bunch of countries, including Greece, Norway, the United States, the United Kingdom and, of course, Sweden. This list will soon include Ukraine.
This year already Ukraine will receive 10-13 CB90s (different sources cite different numbers) and that will be a great aid to Ukraine’s defensive effort. These boats really are amazing. Just look at them in the Norwegian Arctic at NATO’s exercise Nordic Response 24:
New footage from NATO’s exercise Nordic Response 24, showing Swedish and Finnish marines conducting maritime operations in the Norwegian Arctic on CB-90 fast attack boats.
Ukraine will receive 13 CB-90s in the near future, supplied by Sweden and the Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/4sWqdDXdB4
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 6, 2024
What makes the CB90 special? Well, there are several impressive features.
First of all, speed. The maximum speed of the CB90 is 40 knots (74 km/h). This is extremely fast for a boat. That is actually faster than some jet skis. The CB90 is 15.9 metres long, has a crew of 3, and can carry up to 21 amphibious troops with full equipment.
The speed comes from two Scania diesel V8s and partially ducted Kamewa FF water jets, which allow the CB90 to confidently sail through relatively shallow waters. How shallow? Very – it can go through just 0.8 metres of water. There are SUV’s that would be fording depths that this boat can sail through. This is because of those jets and an innovative hull design – a normal screw would be hanging lower.
The CB90 is not just speedy, but also extremely maneuverable. It adjusts both its pitch and roll angle on the fly and has submarine-like underwater diving planes, which means that it can execute extremely sharp turns at high speed. Again, while being in very shallow water. It is almost even more impressive that the CB90 has a braking distance of just 2.5 boat lengths from top speed.
Some of the CB90 versions are armoured. They have a great crew and passenger compartment, which has air conditioning and allows for quick disembarking for amphibious assault operations.
What will Ukraine use its CB90s for? Well, this will take some creativity. Maybe they will patrol the Dnipro River launching amphibious assaults to the occupied left bank, maybe they will take some shorter adventurous rides to the Black Sea. Or maybe they will keep them for the future when they have a better opportunity to use them.
Written by Povilas M.
Sources: OSINTtechnical Twitter, Wikipedia