[Wanderer]

The way I see it, weapons and defences reduce the efficiency of a support ship, whilst support items reduce the efficiency of warships.

If I don't arm my support ships, they won't get blown up trying to fight, leaving any survivors low on supply and with no repair crews!

I tend to keep them the same size as the warships they are supporting, so in an emergency I can retro-fit them into extra warships.