morethan2,000ofsuchcraftinservice inthenaviesoftheworld. Separate from thesevessels, therearealsosome2,500othercoastal andpatrolcraftwhich, although armed,cannot beconsidered asFastAttackCraft. 5.Support services (a)Seagoing logistic support 130.Extended operations atseademandefficient andreliable logistic support. Navies whicharesufficiently largeandwellorganized tobeabletocontemplate suchoperations require supplies offuelofvarious kinds,ammunition, foodand general supplies, andtheshipscarrying them,inturn,havetobedefended. The resultisthatthenaviesoftheUnitedStates andtheSovietUnion, andsomeof theblue-water naviesmentioned earlier, havedeveloped considerable numbers of seagoing replenishment ships,tankers, specialized repair andmaintenance vesselS, missile support shipsandmiscellaneous craft. Thelargerthenavyandthemore itslong-range commitments, thegreater -andmorecostly -itssupport orqanization mustbe.Indeed, anynavywhichseekstobecome ablue-water navyhas todevelop suchlogistic support capabilities. 131.Merchant shipsincommercial usearenotpartofnavalstrength, butsome States haveanintegrated command structure controlling allmerchant ship actiVities, withcloseassociation, atthetimeofshipdesign andconstruction, between fleetrequirements andtheability oftheclassofshipconcerned tomeet someofthoseorotherdemands ifandwhensorequired. ThUS,theprovision of cargo-hatch sizesotcertain dimensions, aspecific cranecapacity, repair facilities orhelicopter landingtacilities mayhavemoretodowithpotential military usethanwithnormal commercial operation. Itisalsopossible todesign containers ofweapons systems ormaintenance equipment thatcanbeplaced onboard merchant shipsatveryshortnotice. Theability quickly todivert merchant ships tonaval-support activities intimeofwarisanavalassetofverygreatvalueand onethatisreallyavailable onlytoStatespossessing aflagmerchant fleetof substantial size.· 132.LargeOrmedium-sized naviesalsohavetheservices ofcertain specialist ships. Theimportance ofanti-submarine warfare (ASW),particularly strategic ASW (i.e.thedetection andtracking OfSSBNs)hasledtoaconsiderable needfor better knowledge ofthecontours ofthesea-bed, thedirection andspeedofocean currents, thesalinity andtemperature oftheseaatvarious depths, themovements ofsea-ice andotheroceanographic details. Separately, therearerequirements for powerful ice-breakers, missile-range instrumentation ships,salvage vessels, deep-sea reScuevessels, ocean-going tugs,intelligence-gathering vessels, cable-repair ships, submarine tenders andalargenumberofauxiliaries andharbour craft. Allthesearepartoftheseagoing "tail"thatliesbehindthe effectiveness ofthe"teeth" ofthewarships themselves. Table3givessome impression oftheextentofcertain afloatsupport forces. I...A/40/535 English Page42 Table3.Support shipsandcraft Survey research Depotrepair ships Supply Tankers Miscellaneous Brazil 2 15 1 4 76 Canada 1 3 3 1 46 China 16 39 22 34 450plus France 6 7 2 6 190 Indonesia 4 4 5 35 Italy 7 3 1 9 103 Japan 3 6 1 25 80 Spain 6 13 125 UnionofSoviet Socialist Republics 80 144 7 59 360plus United Kingdom 3 13 5 20 191 UnitedStatesof America 25 15 33 47 1300plus Source: Extracted fromJane'sFighting Ships1984-85, pp.150-151. (b)support facilities abroad 133.Inaddition toseagoing logistic support, warships operating farfromhome watersrequire extensive andreliable logistic support fromshoreinoneformor another. Aircraft-carriers andothershipsmaynothavetoenterportveryoften,
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the naval capabilities and logistics of various countries, including the organization, equipment, and resources required to maintain a strong naval presence. It highlights the importance of seagoing logistic support, including replenishment ships, tankers, and specialized repair vessels, as well as the need for support facilities abroad. The text also touches on the role of merchant ships in supporting naval operations.

**Category**
Transport, Industry