(Click this Combat Boat 90 Bow text link to see the largest size)
Soon after the shot was taken, two Royal Marines (1) arrived and were taken onboard by a member of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps (2).
The Dutch boat can carry 18 amphibious troops and has rails fitted on the stern deck to hold a vehicle.
This Dover Harbour photo was taken during a cycle ride (3) at 2.18 pm on Thursday, 3rd of February, 2011, from in front of Dover Lifeboat Station (home to the Dover Lifeboat, RNLB City of London II).
The caption to the second photo of the vessel, Stern view of Netherlands Combat Boat 90 Assault Craft in Dover Harbour, has a different video and secondary photo to those below.
In 2010, Sweden's Dokstavarvet Shipyard successfully modified 2 Combat Boat 90's to be lifted into davits of LPD's ("landing platform dock") of the Royal Netherlands Navy (4) and the UK's Royal Navy (5).
During trials scheduled to last 6 months, the two boats and a full Swedish boat squadron were embarked on, and deployed from, a Dutch Navy LPD as a fully integrated element of the amphibious forces (6) aboard.
On the 9th of May, 2011, the Royal Navy subsequently announced (7):
1 Assault Group Royal Marines (1AGRM) has taken possession of two Combat Boat 90s being loaned by the Swedish Armed Forces; the UK is to receive four craft in total.
As part of the loan and exchange programme, the Swedes are taking on two of the UK’s Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC).
The scheme is a 12 month agreement between the two states which has been organised and worked out on behalf of the UK by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and Försvarets Materielverk for Sweden. FMV is the Swedish Defence Material Administration.
Video - Promotional film from Dockstavarvet (manufacturer) showing the CB90 in a number of roles:
The Combat Boat 90 (CB90) is a class of fast military assault craft originally developed for the Swedish Navy by Dockstavarvet with an official designation of Strb 90 H (Stridsbåt 1990 Halv pluton, literally: Combat Boat 1990 Half platoon); the H refers to the fact that it can carry and deploy a half platoon of amphibious infantry (21 men) fully equipped.
In addition to the many variants in service with the Swedish Navy under the Strb 90 H designation, the CB90 has been adopted by the navies of several countries, including Norway (as the SB90N), Greece, Mexico (as the CB90 HMN), and Malaysia. Also the German Navy plans to equip the Berlin-class replenishment ships with the CB90.
The CB90 is an exceptionally fast and agile boat. 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. The water jets are partially ducted, which, along with underwater control surfaces similar to a submarine's diving planes, allows the CB90 to execute extremely sharp turns at high speed, decelerate from top speed to a full stop in 2.5 boat lengths, and adjust its pitch and roll angle while under way.
Following an invitation from the Brazilian Army, Dockstavarvet shipped a CB90 to Brazil in the spring of 2004 for trials on the Amazon River with the 1st Jungle Infantry Battalion: see the Combat Boat 90 in the Amazon video.
Also in 2004, the Royal Norwegian Navy conducted tests (including a live fire exercise) to evaluate the effectiveness of their SB90N version as an aiming and launching platform for the Hellfire missile. One SB90N was equipped with stabilized Hellfire launcher based on the PROTECTOR M151, and its machine gun was replaced with a gimbal-mounted sensor package containing visible-light and infrared cameras and a laser designator.
Although the tests were successful, there is currently no indication that the Royal Norwegian Navy will actually deploy SB90Ns armed with Hellfire missiles in regular service. The Hellfire can still be carried on the boats without launching platforms and be fired from shore with the Portable Ground Launch System.
In 2005, the UK-led Exercise Green Osprey (an amphibious forces-based exercise in Senegal) ran concurrent with West African Training Cruise 2006 (WATC '06): see the Norwegian Royal Navy (RNoN) S90N and USS Gunston Hall LSD-44 photo.
The German Water Police (the Wasserschutzpolizei WSP - literally translated "Water Protection Police") rented a Combat Boat 90H from the manufacturer Dockstavarvet for the 33rd G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany (6 June to 8 June 2007). This boat was involved in a high speed chase with three Greenpeace RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) which were trying to enter the restricted area near the Kempinski Grand Hotel where the meeting was being held. A video clip of the incident was later widely spread around the internet and can also be seen on a Der Spiegel webpage.
In July 2007 The United States Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) specified the CB90 for testing as its Riverine Command Boat. Safeboat International of Port Orchard, Washington, was given a 2.8 million US dollar contract to produce one prototype.
On August 1st, 2007, the US Navy Times reported (9):
If the Stryker armored combat vehicle were a boat, it might be the CB90, a Swedish-designed shallow-water vessel that’s fast, lethal and flexible enough to be an ambulance or a fast-attack craft.
The United States Navy has decided to buy two of the boats, now known in certain Navy circles as the Riverine Command Boat (RCB), for use by the newest incarnation of the brown-water navy, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s riverine group.
Already in use with navies around the world, the CB90 originally was a product of the Swedish boatmaker Dockstavarvet. SAFE Boats International, based in Washington state, bought the licenses required to build the same boat for the US Navy. (Abridged)
In June 2009 an unknown buyer from Abu Dhabi bought two civilian luxury versions.
On August 18th, 2011, DVIDS reported (10):
VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (Va, USA): Navy Expeditionary Combat Command hosted the Commander of Colombian naval forces, Admiral Alvaro Echandia Duran, in an effort to strengthen relationships between partner nations and provide a first-hand look at NECC capabilities and how expeditionary sailors operate.
The visit included a live demonstration of riverine boat capabilities from Riverine Group 1, and hands on displays from Maritime Expeditionary Security Force, Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command and Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command.
NECC sailors deploy and operate around the globe, building partnerships and helping to increase partner navies’ capacity and capability to promote peace and prevent war.
Sailors assigned to Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1 use a riverine patrol boat, left, and a riverine command boat to perform a live boat demonstration for Colombia Chief of Navy, Admiral Alvaro Echandia Duran, during his visit to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command on August 18th, 2011.
CB90-class overview
Builders: Dockstavarvet (Docksta shipyard), Gotlandsvarvet (Gotlands shipyard)
Operators: Swedish Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy, Mexican Navy, Malaysian Navy, Brazilian Army
Preceded by: Tpbs 200
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: 15.9 m (52') Overall, 14.9 (48') Waterline
Beam: 3.8 m (12'6")
Draught: 0.8 m (2'8")
Propulsion: 2 x 625 bhp Scania DSI14 V8 Diesel; 2 x Kamewa FF water jets
Speed: 40 knots (74 km/h)
Range: 240 nmi (440 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Complement: 3 (two officers and one engineer)
Up to 21 amphibious troops with full equipment
Armament: 3 × Browning M2HB machine guns, 1 × Mk 19 grenade launcher, 4 naval mines or 6 depth charges
Docksta varvet (Docksta yard) website: Combat Boat CB 90 H - Fast Assault Craft
(1) Royal Marines: The Royal Marines' 3 Commando Brigade is the Royal Navy's amphibious infantry on permanent readiness to deploy across the globe, and is a core component of the UK's Joint Rapid Reaction Force. Together the Royal Navy's amphibious ships and the Brigade represent a highly mobile, self-sustained and versatile organisation, with a strategic power projection capability that is unique among the British armed services. The Royal Marines are the cold weather experts of the Services.
(2) Netherlands Marine Corps: The Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to a given location within 48 hours. Their motto is Qua Patet Orbis ("As Far As The World Extends").
Robsons Yard Flats
(3) On a cycle ride beginning at Robsons Yard Flats in the Tower Hamlets area of Dover, then: Athol Terrace (Eastern Docks) - Seafront Promenade - Prince of Wales Pier (Western Docks) - Robsons Yard.
This is where I do my Evolution and Psychology research! (archive)
(4) The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy) is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In recent times the Royal Netherlands Navy takes part in expeditionary peacekeeping and peace enforcing operations (Maritime Expeditionary Capability). Royal Netherlands Navy website.
(5) The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service. From the end of the 17th century until well into the 20th century it was the most powerful navy in the world, playing a key part in establishing the British Empire as the dominant world power. Royal Navy website.
(6) Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain. In this modern era amphibious warfare persists in the form of commando insertion by fast patrol boats, zodiacs and mini-submersibles.
(7) From Landing Craft exchange for UK and Sweden
(8) Abridged from CB90-class fast assault craft
(9) From the US Navy Times website: New riverine boats are fast, lethal, flexible
(10) From the DVIDS website: Colombian military leadership visits NECC, by Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul D. Williams of the United States Navy (USN).
The main photo first appeared at:
Netherlands 918 Combat Boat 90 Fast Assault Craft Bow in Dover Harbour
Of related interest (not yet uploaded):
LCU Mark 10 Royal Marines/Royal Navy Landing Craft, Dover Harbour
P165 HMS Example Fast Training Boat, Tidal Harbour, Dover Marina
P164 HMS Explorer Fast Training Boat and HMS Wasp, Dover Marina
P275 HMS Raider Fast Training Boat, Tidal Harbour, Dover Marina
Click to see all Dover Boat, Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Navy photos.
A Port of Dover Tidal Harbour, Marina, and Western Docks photo.
Clickable thumbnails of all harbour-related photos on the main Panoramio Images of Dover website are available on this blog on the Port of Dover Page (also linked to below the blog title).
The Panoramio photos are each accompanied by a Google Earth satellite map. However, the images are smaller than those on the Images of Dover Blog and the captions are less well formatted.
John Latter / Jorolat
Dover Blog: The Psychology of a Small Town
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