Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:51:39-1:52:52

CB90 boats could support forward raiding forces

CB90 patrol boats offered useful local, landing-support, and raiding capabilities, but their acquisition and sustainment competed with existing options.

Amphibious WarfareCB90RaidingRoyal Marines
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Question

Why did the Royal Navy not retain the leased CB90 patrol boats?

Short answer

The boats were useful, but money, sustainment, and the existence of other partial solutions made retention difficult to justify.

Notes

The leased CB90 boats were valuable for local security, landing-craft support, and raiding work. Keeping them would have required the Royal Navy to buy, maintain, and crew another specialized system. Existing craft already provided partial solutions to the same needs. The case becomes stronger if a forward-deployed ship carries a company intended for rapid reaction around the world.