RMAS Typhoon (A95) was an ocean-going tug of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service

Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service

The Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service was a British Government agency which ran a variety of non-combat support vessels for the Royal Navy.-Organisation:...

 (RMAS). It was designed for ocean towing, rescue, salvage and fire-fighting. It is notable as being the first ship to leave the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 ahead of the task force for the South Atlantic during the 1982 Falklands War

Falklands War

The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...

, and for its fishery protection role in the Cod War

Cod War

The Cod Wars, also called the Icelandic Cod Wars , were a series of confrontations in the 1950s and 1970s between the United Kingdom and Iceland regarding fishing rights in the North Atlantic....

s.

History

The ship was repaired at Falmouth ship repair yard on 19 October 1979, and was also involved in the rescue of the Spanish butane tanker, MV Butaseis, which was aflame and drifting towards the village of Brixton, Devon

Brixton, Devon

Brixton is a village near Plymouth in England. It is located on the A379 Plymouth to Kingsbridge road and is about from Plymouth. Its population is 1207.It has views of the River Yealm. The church is 15th century, with a tower arch 200 years older.**...

. The tug stayed as part of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...

 until included in the RMAS.

Typhoon saw service in the Falklands War

Falklands War

The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...

 until May 1987 under Captain J N Morris with an all-civilian crew from Portland Harbour

Portland Harbour

Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, off Dorset, on the south coast of England. It is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. Grid reference: .-History:...

. It was the first ship – albeit a civilian vessel – to leave the UK ahead of the task force, and a member of the crew placed the Welsh flag on board RFA Sir Galahad just before Typhoon towed it out to sea to be scuttled by a submarine. During the war, the ship was heavily involved in logistic duties, transferring fresh water to the task force at a rate of 18 tons per trip, and loading part of 17 Brigade onto the MV Norland in preparation for the San Carlos landings.