Many of the world's navies, including a large number without any claim to a long-standing naval or even maritime tradition, now operate forces of small but comparatively heavily armed fast combat craft. These can be defined as vessels possessing a displacement of up to 6(X) tons and a top speed of 25 knots or more, and fall into two basic categories: the fast patrol boat (FPB) and the fast attack craft (FAC). The FPB is generally fitted with only a light armament (generally machine-guns and cannon of up to 40mm calibre) together with minimal sensor and fire-control suites. The FAC is a considerably more formidable type, usually capable of higher speeds and carrying a heavier, longer-ranged armament that can include anti-ship guided missiles, guns of up to 3in (76mm) calibre, heavyweight anti-ship torpedoes of up to 21in (533mm) calibre and anti-submarine weapons such as lightweight homing torpedoes, rocket-propelled grenades and depth-charges, all controlled with the aid of considerably more sophisticated sensor and fire-control suites. The nature of the primary armament is generally indicated by a suffixed letter: thus the FAC(G) carries a medium-calibre gun, the FAC(M) carries anti-ship missiles, the FAC(T) carries anti-ship torpedoes, etc.
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