SHAH ALAM: The RMN, it appears, has decided that its fast combat boat fleet will from now on be painted in a camouflage scheme. Two of the Combat Boat 90 HEX (CB90) which had undergone the refit and repowering programme, recently, has been in a green and grey camouflage scheme. The CB90s were previously painted in an all-grey finish.
The first one to be delivered back to the RMN was CB90 -212 – had undergone a routine refit and repowering at the Kinabalu North Shipyard and Maritime Sdn Bhd, in Kota Kinabalu where she was painted in the new camouflage. The second was CB90 -214- which underwent the same work at the Sandakan Jaya Teknik Sdn Bhd, Sandakan.
According to the RMN Eastern Command’s Maintenance Supervision Unit, the camouflage scheme will give a more aggressive (lebih garang) look to the combat boats which are used for variety of roles from interception operations as well as search and rescue; patrol; medical evacuation; transport and utility work.
To me at least, the camouflage paint does not make them more aggresive than before. To me the best way to make the CB90s or other FICs look aggresive, is to mount as many guns as possible on them. This “dont thread on me” aggresive look are the image of the heavily armed riverine boats of the US military – which are also variants of the CB90s.
It is likely that all CB90s will also be painted in the new camouflage scheme when they undergo their routine refit programme. I have been told the second batch of the Gading Marine Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) will also be painted in a camouflage scheme.
The FICs which were delivered courtesy of Ops Benteng will also be painted in camouflage when they undergo their refit.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (21)
Nope on both counts. I think it will be delayed as the Turkish election is set for May 14. Don't quote me on this of course
We had previously for a brief period in the 1980's painted the locally made RCPs and a class of FACs in a camo scheme.
A navy that paints its ships in a camo scheme to blend in with the coastline is the Swedish navy.
Gading marine FIC is not a variant of the CB90
Sultan of Johore personal CB90 is painted in a distinctive splinter camo scheme too.
Yes, I know, just an editing error.
pretty sure polis marin also had their boats in blue camo before
Also for the firepower thing unless we're doing routine river patrol on communist infested rainforest like the american did in vietnam war A HMG with a couple of GPMG at the aft is enough
Yes, I know about the polis marin boat camo
Hulubalang ... "Gading marine FIC is not a variant of the CB90"
Interesting to speculate as to whether Gading Marine used the CB-90 as the basis for the FIC's design.
I would also be very interested to know how the FICs compare in performance and maintenance compared to the CB-90s.
Unfortunately the few RMN people I'm still in touch with are unfamiliar with the FICs or are not in position where they would know. From talks with friends/acquaintances who had personal experience with the CB-90: there were no major complaints about it. A reliable jack of all trades so to speak.
As I replied, I didn't say it was a variant of the CB90. I don't think LomoOcean had the CB90 design in mind when they built the boat. Otherwise, it will have a ramp for beach landing. RMN had that capability in mind when they specified the FIC, but somehow, that was lost when they selected the Gading boat.
They should fit those CB90s with at least a single RCWS during refit...t think
They used to have a forward firing 12.7mm gun but most of them have been taken out
Nazem,
They should and there were such plans years ago but alas won't happen with the CB-90s. A OWS is also useful in that it has a stabilised day/night sight which can be used for surveillance. Also won't happen but lightweight ballistic panels up to 7.62mm would be useful given that boats might come under direct small arms fire.
I believed the CB90s are uparmoured with a ballistic cabin glass as it is a standard design. But how much of that remains after the all refits is beyond me
That boat looks incredibly flimsy and barebones. I agree with Marhalim, this doesn't look intimidated at all. I'm ashamed to be even call this a combat boats for our NAVY.
I hope this nelayan boat serves them well nonetheless...
Many years ago, due to the seriousness of attacks on watercrafts including against both marine Polic3 n Navy patrol crafts, the Navy bought 4 if I am not mistaken armoured crafts from Lurssen Werft, Butterworth. These were armoured to survive a riverine ambush conducted by the SARAWAK insurgents.