Admiralty tug

They were built to meet the Royal Navy's demand for auxiliary vessels and to supplement the civilian tugs requisitioned by the Admiralty for war service.

There was an increased need for boats to act on the salvage and rescue of ships attacked and damaged on the high seas, for which the civilian fleet was not sufficient.

These were to a single design, based on a civilian type, and, as they were built by specialist shipyards, incorporated merchant rather than navy features.

Prior to 1939 the Royal Navy had built four Brigand-class rescue tugs for its own use; at the outbreak of World War II a further 74 civilian tugs were requisitioned, including 16 Saint and five Rollicker class of World War I vintage, and 53 others.

These long-range Rescue Tugs were ocean-going ships which often accompanied convoys and operated in all theatres of the war.

They were largely crewed by experienced Merchant Seamen recruited into the Royal Navy under T124 articles and formed a specialist unit known as His Majesty's Rescue Tug Service (commanded from HMS Minona moored in Campbeltown in Scotland).

Admiralty tugs were built to Navy specifications, and standardized where possible to a single design, though this was based on a civilian type.

They were built by shipyards specializing in tug construction, and thus incorporated merchant rather than navy features, such as an enclosed bridge, and wooden superstructure.