Maximum sustained wind 50% of the geostrophic wind speed aloft; while over open water or ice, the reduction is between 10% and 30%. In most basins, maximum sustained winds are used to define their category. In the Atlantic and northeast Pacific oceans, the Saffir–Simpson scale is used. This scale can be used to determine possible storm surge and damage impact on land. In most basins, the category of the tropical cyclone (for example, tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane/typhoon, super typhoon, depression, deep depression, intense tropical cyclone) is determined from the cyclone's maximum sustained wind. Only in Australia is this quantity not used to
USS Beaufort (ATS-2) towing to Ream, Cambodia. Beaufort departed Naha on August first and shaped a course for Ream, however Beaufort encountered a storm and all three barges broke their tow lines so Beaufort Gunnersmates sank all three barges so they were not floating around the open ocean. While in Ream Beaufort came under attack from the jungle. Gunnersmates Day, Kelley Reed, and Seabo returned fire with the 50 caliber machine guns. At the time there was a disabled Cambodian ship so the Captain of the Beaufort directed the Captain of the Cambodian ship, and a minor argument ensued the Captain of the