Why fleet tugs stay near the fighting force

How often were tugboats used, and where were they kept relative to operational areas?

Fleet tugs were normally kept in the nearby support force so a purpose-built vessel could recover damaged ships when required.

Cruisers and destroyers can tow a damaged vessel in a crisis, but their hulls, engines, and fittings are not optimized for the load. A fleet tug supplies the horsepower and towing gear needed to recover a disabled ship without diverting a combatant from its primary role. Pacific fleets historically kept tugs within the wider support force rather than in the battle line itself. Modern peacetime deployments rarely place a tug in every formation, although Russian groups often carry one to avoid the diplomatic and practical embarrassment of hiring foreign commercial assistance. Recovery capacity is therefore part of operational planning rather than an afterthought once a ship breaks down.