Auxiliary Vessels

in the navy, the group of ships designed to ensure the deployment and combat activity of sub-marines, surface ships, and maritime aviation. Auxiliary vessels are divided into the following classes: tenders, repair ships, transports for hauling ammunition and different types of supply, training and trials ships, oceanographic and hydrographic ships, rescue ships, and hospital ships. The water displacement of auxiliary vessels is between 200 tons and 50,000 tons; their speed is from 12 to 30 knots (from 22 to 55 km per h). In the postwar period there has been a tendency toward a narrow specialization of auxiliary vessels. Thus, the US Navy uses specially designed tenders and floating docks for squadrons of atomic missile-launching submarines, missile transports, and nuclear ammunition transports.