| abstract | - At the outbreak of the First World War the RN owned seven tugs, all civilian vessels purchased as required, employed in normal tug duties at naval ports. When war commenced the Admiralty put in train plans to requisition civilian tugs to meet the need for vessels to work as patrol vessels, minesweepers, anti-submarine warfare vessels and a host of routine duties. In all, over 100 civilian tugs were requisitioned in this way. 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. To meet this need the Admiralty placed an order for 64 sea-going tugs to operate in this capacity. 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. However it was specified they be armed and equipped with radio. The main class of Admiralty Tug was the Saint class. Of 64 ordered, 46 were completed and commissioned before the end of hostilities. The second class was the Resolve (also called Rollicker) class, 5 large ocean-going tugs for duty on the high seas, but these were incomplete at the war’s end. In addition the Admiralty built several classes of small tugs, including 10 Robust class paddle tugs, and 6 West class harbour tugs, and several classes of tugs for special duties. 15 vessels were built to tugboat design for use as boarding vessels in the Thames estuary and another 13 for use in the Mersey. They also built 24 tugs (the Concrete class) employed towing ferro-concrete barges between England and France.
- Many of the tugs served into the Second World War and then saw an extended life after being sold off by the navy into private service.
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