Riverine Crafts & Warfare

[Distiller]

What is today's state-of-the-art in riverine fighting crafts?
Came a long way since river gun boats and Viet-Nam era SWIFT boats, I guess.

# "Compact Class" -- RIBs like the Zodiac Hurricanes.
http://www.zodiacmilpro.com/product/military/index.html
Not sure I'd like to sit in such a thingy if shot at.

# "Economy Class" -- The USN now uses USMI vessels in Iraq.
www.usmi.com
www.seaark.com
Quite small (but at least can't be sunk by an old lady with a needle ...), not sure if "Economy" - see below - isn't a better solution.

# "Business Class" -- Sweden has very interesting Dockstavarvet CB90 boats
www.dockstavarvet.se
High performance and they look good. Closests to the SWIFTs.

# "Full Size" -- like the IAI Super Dvoras, for really big rivers, big lakes, and coastal waters.
http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/naval/super_dvora3/SuperDvora3.html
Like a Stryker-IFV-on-water.

Does anybody here know anything about state of affairs in crafts and missions?

 

[Tasman]

I can't add any additional info to what you have provided Distiller but I found the links very interesting. RHIBs seem to be the go in Australia where they are used extensively by police as well as military units. I do like the look of the ISN's new Super Dvora Mk. III.

The thing that astounded me about the riverine force in Vietnam was the speed with which it grew from nothing and then the way it disappeared almost as quickly. I guess this is the lot of light coastal or riverine forces. They are needed in war but are largely unwanted in the major western navies in peacetime.

Cheers