1. A bit vector array apparatus for enhancing the performance of a control processor by providing special-purpose processing functions for a plurality of data structures, wherein each data structure is represented by a unique single bit referred to as a bit vector element, said bit vector array apparatus comprising: a processor memory means for storing instructions, data, and tables for said control processor; an assembly means for assembling a plurality of said bit vector elements into a composite bit vector; a plurality of vector registers, each vector register for temporarily storing one said bit vector; a plurality of combinational means, wherein each combinational means combines two or more said vector registers using logical AND/OR type functions to generate a logical vector which is derived from the said two or more vector registers; a plurality of bit processing functional units for performing bit-by-bit operations on said vector registers and said logical vectors; and a selection means for routing any of said vector registers or said logical vectors to said plurality of bit processing functional units.