buttheirneedforlogistic support isconstant. However, allshipsneedport facilities fromtimetotimeinordertocarryoutmaintenance andrepairtasks thatcannot beperformed atsea,toundergo longerperiods ofupkeeporoverhaul andtoallowtheircrewSperiods ofoff-duty timeforrelaxation. Itisalso highlyimportant toreduceasfaraspossible passage timebetween theoperating areaandthebase. Forsuchpragmatic reasons asthese,navies withoverseas commitments finditnecessary toestablish navalbasesabroadoratleasttohave access tosupport facilities, quiteapartfromotherreasons thatmayarisefrom political considerations. /...A/40/535 English Page43 134.Onceestablished, inordertobeeffective, considerable financial investment isrequired toprovide thefacilities needed andkeepthemuptodate,forexample alongside berths,jetties, cranes, workshops, stores, fueltanks,buildings and oftenfacilities foraircraft. Thusdeveloped, foreign navalbasesauickly become notonlypractical sources offleetsupport butalsostrongfocalpointsof military presence andpowerinareasfardistant fromthehometerritory ofthe navyconcerned andtheyareoftenperceived byotherStatesasvisible demonstrations oftheproj~tion ofpolitical power. 135.Thenumherofmajornavalbasesabroad hasdiminished sharply inthepast 20years. Whereas thereusedtobeseveral suchbasesinvarious partsofthe world,theyarenowreduced toasmallnumber andintheirplacebilateral arrangements havebeendeveloped between sovereign Statesfortheprovision ofmuch simpler navalsupport facilities. (c)Command, control, communications andintelligence 136.Allnaviesrequire considerable administrative andorganizational infrastructure ashore -headquarters staffs, training facilities, dockyards and maintenance facilities, ammunition depots, refuelling andfuelstorage facilities, foodandgeneral-stores yards. Thesecanbeextensive andcostly. Butnaviesalso reauire effective arrangements tofacilitate control atvarious levelsoverthe navalactivities takingplacefarfromthecentres ofpolitical decision-making in capitals. 137.Knownas"command, control, communications andintelligence" (C3I),the complex websinvolved canberegarded asthenervesystems ofmilitary activities. Thefunctions arethreefold: warning andthreat assessment, command anddecision, andsupporting communications. Thewarning andthreatassessment function requires alargevariety ofsensors suchasradar, sonarandotherdetection eqUipment. Information fromsuchdetections ispassedtocontrol centres, whether ashore, at seaorintheair.Atthesecentres theinformation isassessed, command decisions aretaken, andorders aresentoutasnecessary. Transmitting theinformation and instructions towhatever levelisappropriate isthetaSkofthecommunications function, requiring anextensive network oftransmitting andreceiving equipment andtrained personnel capable ofhandling largeamounts ofurgentsignal anddata traffic, oftenonareal-time basis. Suchanetwork alsohastohaveSUfficient capacity tobeabletoperformitstasksunderconditions ofhighstress andaction damage. 138.Modern C31systems inuseinthelargernaviesinclude theuseofsatellites forgathering intelligence andformaintaining reliable andsecurecommunication channels; air-borne surveillance, warning andcommunications systems; underwater detection andcommunications systems; tactical information andcontrol systems; and anever-growing useofhigh-speed computers. Thecostofachieving thenecessary degreeofco-ordination isveryhighandrepresents anincreasing shareofthe overall defence bUdgets oftheSoviet UnionandtheUnitedStates. Asan illustration oftheimportance giventothisaspect, thetotalcosttotheUnited StatesDepartment ofDefense ofC31inallitsmilitary services hasbeen estimated tocomprise over6percentofthe1984UnitedStatesdefence bUdget. 201 I...A/40/535 English Page44 CHAPTER IV APPLICATIONS ANDUSESOFNAVALCAPABILITIES A.Deployment andmodesofoperation 139.Fromthediscussion sofaritmaybeseenthatnavalforcesvarywidelyin numbers andcapabilities andtherefore intheitability tocarryoutcertain tasks.Itisevident thatthenaviesoftheSoviet UnionandtheUnitedStatesare abletodeploy verypowerful forces composed ofmodernvessels andaircraft
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the capabilities and requirements of naval forces, including logistics, maintenance, and command and control systems. The focus is on the military aspects of naval capabilities, rather than economic development, natural resources, or environmental issues.

**Category**
Transport and communication, Science and technology