Question:
Does NGS make units supported? The rule about NGS would seem to imply so (“each point of NGS counts as 1/4 for purpose of artillery and support”, but I would like an explicit statement. If it makes units supported, is there some minimum requirement for NGS points?

Answer:
Yes, per Rule 33A, each naval strength point is treated as 1/4 RE of artillery for purposes of Rules 11 and 14B. Since one RE of artillery will support all units stacked with it, you require 4 points of NGS, 1 REs worth of artillery, to provide support.

Now for some further thoughts on this…

As an unofficial option, allow NGS to support units, even if the naval units are not stacked with the units, if the NGS fire can assist the combat. Because of the two hex range, it is possible for naval units to fire NGS into hexes that they could not enter through movement, but it seems strange to require them to abide by a strict reading of Rule 11, in that they should have to be stacked with the units they are supporting.

In a similar unofficial manner, exempt NGS from the “being stacked with…” requirements of Rule 14B, that is, naval units firing NGS defensively do not have to be stacked with the units they are supporting. RE requirements, for all cases, are still in effect (one defending RE may only be assisted by four points of NGS at full strength; any excess NGS would add a total of one factor, regardless of the total present). Example: Two Inf lll are invading a beach and have 10 points of NGS. As each point of NGS is 1/4 of an RE, per Rule 14B 8 points of NGS (2-REs worth) have full effect and the remaining 2 points of NGS have a strength of 1 (so the 10 points of NGS provide 9 attack strength points). Since there is more than one REs of field artillery equivalents present, the ground units are supported.

The difference between this option and RAW is that these units will be supported regardless of the location of the naval units firing the NGS.

Source:
TEM 54