CB90 - class fast assault craft Combat Boat 90 ( CB90 ) is a class of fast military assault craft originally developed for the Swedish Navy by Dockstavarvet . In addition to the many variants in service with the Swedish Navy under the " Stridsbåt 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 ) , 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 jet s allow it to operate at speeds of up to in shallow coastal waters . The water jets are partially ducted , which , along with underwater control surfaces similar to a submarine ' s diving plane s , 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 . History . In 1988 , Dockstavarvet won a competition to design and manufacture a replacement for the aging Tpbs 200 class . Two prototypes , with pennant number 801 and 802 , were delivered in 1989 . After completion of field trials , the Swedish Navy signed a purchase order for 120 boats in June 1990 . The official Swedish Navy designation is 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 2002 , the Swedish Navy ordered an additional 27 boats of a slightly different type , designated Strb 90 HS , and intended for deployment in overseas peace - keeping operations . It is unclear what the S refers to ; it may be short for " Skyddad " ( " protected " ) , as the Strb 90 HS is armored . Apart from the addition of armor , the HS model features NBC warfare protection ( the whole boat can be over - pressurized ) , air - condition for deployment in tropical conditions , fuel cooling system , 220V generator and more powerful engines . The factory sometimes refers to it as the CB 90 HI , where the I probably stands for International . Several of the tasks carried out by the Strb 90 H - variants , were originally intended for the Strb 90 E , which is now almost completely phased out . The Royal Norwegian Navy evaluated the Strb 90 H in early 1996 , and subsequently purchased a total of 20 boats , designated 90 N ( for " Norsk utgave " , literally " Norwegian version " ) . The Mexican Navy acquired 40 units ( designated CB 90 HMN ) between 1999 and 2001 , and obtained a production license in 2002 , allowing further units to be manufactured in Mexico . Since then eight additional units have been built . The German Water Police rented a Combat Boat 90H from the manufacturer Dockstavarvet for the 33rd G8 summit in Heiligendamm , Germany . This boat was involved in a high speed chase with three Greenpeace RIB s which were trying to enter the restricted area near the hotel where the meeting was being held . A video clip of the incident was later widely spread around the internet . 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 US $ 2 . 8 million contract to produce one prototype . In June 2009 an unknown buyer from Abu Dhabi bought two civilian luxury versions . In 2010 , Dockstavarvet Shipyard modified two CB90 ' s to be carried in the davits of Dutch and UK Navy LPD ' s . During these six months trials , the two boats and a full Swedish boat squadron will be embarked on a Royal Netherlands Navy LPD as a fully integrated element of the amphibious forces aboard and be deployed . In 2013 JSC Pella Shiyard near St Petersburg launched the first Russian built CB90 , Project 03160 for the Russian Navy . The Russian Border Patrol ( FSB ) operate 11 CB90 ' s . Versions . Several Strb 90 H have been converted by the Swedish Navy to fill various roles : The Royal Norwegian Navy operates 20 CB90s under the designation SB90N ; the N simply stands for " Norsk utgave " ( " Norwegian version " ) . The S90N differs from the Strb 90 H in a few areas : At least one S90N has been reconfigured into a floating ambulance . In 2004 , the Royal Norwegian Navy conducted tests ( including a live fire exercise ) to evaluate the effectiveness of the SB90N as an aiming and launching platform for the Hellfire missile . One SB90N was equipped with stabilized Hellfire - launcher based on the Protector ( RWS ) , 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 . Accidents involving CB90s . On the night of October 23 , 2006 , a CB90 sank off of Hamnudden , east of Utö in the Stockholm archipelago . The boat was traveling at due to the bad weather when it suddenly began to take on water from the bow . It then sank in less than ten minutes . All of the crew of 16 were quickly picked up by other ships that were nearby . No one was physically injured , but the crew suffered from shock and hypothermia when picked up . On June 13 , 2004 , several Strb 90 H from the Swedish Navy ' s first amphibious regiment ( AMF1 ) were sailing at high speed in convoy formation when one of them abruptly reduced speed ( allegedly so its wake would not upset a smaller sailboat ) . The boat immediately behind it failed to react and rammed it . Two soldiers who were above deck at the time of the accident were thrown in the water ; one was killed instantly , and the other sustained severe injuries from which he died later the same day . In mid - 1999 , one CB90 ( No . 820 ) belonging to the 2nd Coastal Artillery Regiment ( KA2 ) of the Swedish Navy crashed into a concrete pier at approximately . There were eight soldiers on board ; seven of these men sustained more or less severe injuries , including fractures , while one soldier who remained physically unhurt was standing in the machine gun ring - mount on mid - deck .