New Boats Give Ukraine's Navy Coastal, Riverine Attack Capabilities

Fast and maneuverable attack craft donated by a number of NATO countries have given Ukraine's Navy and Marines additional ability to assault Russian forces in key vulnerable areas. JL

Lauren Frias reports in Business Insider:

Sweden has provided13 CB90s to Ukraine's navy. The Netherlands donated nearly two dozen inflatable and armored boats, including three CB90s. Finland also delivered landing crafts to Ukraine. The 52-foot-long patrol boat is propelled by twin diesel engines that allow it to travel at speeds of up to 40 knots with a range of 240 nautical miles. In addition to its top-mounted guns, the CB90 can deploy Hellfire anti-ship missiles, 2.8-ton sea mines, and depth charges.

Ukraine's navy added three Swedish-made patrol boats to its fleet earlier this month as it continues to hammer Russian naval forces in the Black Sea.

The recent CB90 delivery came after Sweden announced its massive $682 million military aid package to Ukraine in February, which included 10 CB90 vessels and 20 other riverine boats. The Netherlands similarly provided three more CB90s to Ukraine a month later, for a total of at least 16.

Turning the tide in the Black Sea

 

Steel Front, a military-assistance initiative run by the Ukrainian billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, sent Ukraine the new CB90-class fast assault crafts, which are already in operation in waters near Crimea.

Following a six-month effort by Steel Front and the Ukrainian steel giant Metinvest, the three vessels and crew training for Ukrainian forces cost more than $4.1 million.

"There is no doubt the Black Sea is an important front," Oleksandr Vodoviz, an executive at Metinvest, said in a statement, "and our aim is that these powerful boats will make a significant difference to Ukraine's ability to defend itself."

In total, Sweden has provided at least 13 CB90s to Ukraine's navy. The Netherlands donated nearly two dozen inflatable and armored boats, including three CB90s, to Ukraine in March. The Finnish ministry of defense also delivered landing crafts to Ukraine, and while it wasn't immediately clear what type of vessels were sent, Finnish media speculated that they operated similarly to the Swedish CB90.

Inside the CB90

Swedish and US Marines draping a cover over the frame of a Swedish CB90 to conceal it.US Marine Corps photo by MSgt. Robert Brown

Dockstavarvet, a shipyard owned by the Swedish defense manufacturer Saab, originally developed the CB90 for the Swedish Navy.

The 52-foot-long patrol boat is propelled by twin diesel engines that allow it to travel at speeds of up to 40 knots — or 46 miles an hour — with a range of more than 240 nautical miles.

Two partially ducted water jets make the lightweight CB90 highly maneuverable. It can make sharp turns and come to a complete stop in about 130 feet.

Armed to the teeth

US Marines disembarking a CB90 during military exercises.US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb

The combat boat is equipped with a gun mount atop its wheelhouse, which can mount a .50-caliber machine gun, 40mm grenade launcher, or remote-controlled weapons.

In addition to its top-mounted guns, the CB90 can deploy Hellfire anti-ship missiles, 2.8-ton sea mines, and depth charges.

A versatile vessel

A CB90 during exercises in Harstad, Norway.US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb

Designed to patrol and defend coastal waters, the shallow-draught CB90 can be deployed in both open waters and rocky shores for missions such as ferrying troops, mine reconnaissance, or landing troops for amphibious raids.

From gunboat to command post

US Marines preparing to disembark during military exercises.US Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tayler P. Schwamb

The vessel's aft is also configurable; it can accommodate a range of gear, such as remote-controlled weaponry and additional radar and communications equipment.

Armed and armored

The CB90's ballistic protection safeguards the crew and equipment.US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Danielle Serocki

Whether operating as a combat-ready gunboat or a floating command post, the CB90 has a durable hull made of lightweight polyethylene lining and safety glass, offering ballistic protection to shield its personnel and vital components during hostile operations.

"With its armament and ballistic protection, the CB90 can deliver its troops in the face of enemy fire with a degree of survivability for both the craft and embarked troops," Pete Pagano, a retired US Navy officer, wrote in an article for the US Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine.

While the armed and armored CB90 can survive the potentially high-risk delivery, Pagano wrote that the Swedish-built vessel alone "could provide limited supporting firepower for the embarked troops during the vulnerable approach to and landing on the beach," calling for support from other landing craft to bring in heavy equipment.

Transport for troops and cargo

A Norwegian Coastal Ranger commando carrying a simulated casualty to a CB90 during medical evacuation drills.US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Miguel A. Rosales

The boat is typically operated by a crew of two officers and one engineer, with two operator seats and a middle jump seat in an aircraft-style cockpit.

The CB90's midsection has a compartment that can carry 21 combat-ready Marines and up to 4.5 tons of cargo, making it an efficient method to deploy troops or extract casualties.

Deployed by naval forces around the globe

A Marine aboard a CB90 in Stockholm.Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific/DVIDS

Since being commissioned in 1991, more than 200 CB90 boats have been operated by naval forces worldwide. The US Navy even contracted the US boat manufacturer SAFE Boats International to build CB90s as riverine command boats.

The combat boat's design and capabilities have also been modified over the years. Dockstavarvet optimized the boat's design in its next-generation variant, the CB90 HSM, altering the engine position to make it quieter and more efficient.

The CB90 HSM features a new combat management system and surveillance sensors, making it "a whole new breed, ready to take on the coasts of Sweden," according to a press release.

Supporting Ukraine's riverine flotilla

A CB90 sailing down a shallow river.Saab

While the new combat boats are operating near Crimea, CB90 boats supplied by Ukrainian allies have bolstered the country's riverine units, which have been hammered by Russian forces.

Explosive-laden Russian drones and artillery have decimated Ukrainian boat crews defending the Dnipro river in southern Ukraine.

Last October, a Russian ace drone pilot, identified by the call sign "Moisey," struck nearly 400 Ukrainian marines and three dozen vessels.

"We were sitting in the water at night, and we were shelled by everything," a Ukrainian marine named Maksym, who was stationed at the river's east bank, told The New York Times in December. "My comrades were dying in front of my eyes."

Maksym added that Russian aircraft continued to pummel the left bank with glide bombs as the Ukrainian platoon tried to evacuate.

"The left bank was like purgatory," he said. "You are not dead yet, but you don't feel alive."

The Swedish CB90s, among additional donated boats from other allied nations, have been integral to Ukraine's efforts to fend off Russian forces in the region.