Auxiliary Ships.

Backing up and supporting the Navy.

Warships, aircraft carriers and submarines may be the front line of many of the worlds great navies, but it is the auxiliary fleet that is the key to keep them going. Even with nuclear powered vessels, we still need some support at sea!

The Internet and skype may have replaced the post, but in hostile conditions even carriers need to change equipment, aircraft and helicopters. Re-armament is another role and the evacuation of the injured, many vessels need to be refuelled at sea and the change over of crew.

Over the years with N.A.T.O. deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq and possible soon Syria, much needed armour, artillery, tanks and missile systems were brought in by transport ships. 

Another role for the auxiliary fleet is training from sail ships to tenders to combat simulations and actual war games action.

Terrorism. Part-One.

Improvisation.

Terrorists usually operate with light arms, RPG's (Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers), SAM's (Surface to Air Missiles) and occasional Cannons up to 23mm calibre. But some are more than a small group and could be described as a little army. 

ISIS/ISIL Now come into to join the PLO, Hezbollah, FARC and the Al-Quida/Mujaheddin-Taliban.

Many of these groups have commandeered existing occupation military equipment and have adapted it to suit their own environments such as Libya, Somalia and Iraq/Syria. From Toyota pickups to heavy armour are being converted or worked down, rather than reinforced.