Gay class fast patrol boat
Encyclopedia
The Gay class were a class of twelve fast patrol boats
that served with the Royal Navy
from the early 1950s. All were named after types of soldiers or military or related figures, prefixed with 'Gay'. The class could be fitted as either motor gun boat
s or motor torpedo boat
s, depending on the type of armament they carried.
538/539 class that had served during the Second World War, and were intended to be an interim measure until the Dark-class fast patrol boats
could be introduced. The vessels were to be powered by three V12 Packard engines, each providing 1,500 horsepower and a speed of 40 kn (48.7 mph; 78.4 km/h). The Gays were the last petrol powered warships to be built for the Royal Navy. Those fitted as Motor Torpedo Boats received two 40mm guns and two 21-inch torpedoes, while those classified as Motor Gun Boats received a single 4.5-inch gun and a 40mm gun.
, two by Thornycroft
, two by Morgan Giles, of Teignmouth
, two by Taylor, of Chertsey
and two by McGruer & Co Ltd, of Clynder. They were launched between 1952 and 1954, with the last of the class, , being launched in March 1954.
since 1959, until being put into reserve in 1964. appeared as 1087 in The Ship That Died of Shame
, a film based on a book by Nicholas Monsarrat
and starring Richard Attenborough
. became a target vessel and was sunk off Portland
in 1968, while was damaged while being delivered to the Navy, and then damaged when a vessel she was moored next to exploded. She then struck a submerged boom and nearly sank off Southsea Pier. She was sold out of the navy in 1963, but survived to be restored as the only remaining member of her class.
During the Second World War the Royal Navy also sailed HMS Gay Viking
and HMS Gay Corsair, a pair of motor gun boats
. These were superficially similar to the later Gay-class, although their primary armament was a mixture of QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss
, Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
, and depth charges. Both had left service by the top of the Gay-class' introduction.
Patrol boat
A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...
that served with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
from the early 1950s. All were named after types of soldiers or military or related figures, prefixed with 'Gay'. The class could be fitted as either motor gun boat
Motor Gun Boat
Motor Gun Boat was a Royal Navy term for a small military vessel of the Second World War. They were physically similar to the Motor Torpedo Boats but equipped with a mix of guns instead of torpedoes. Their small size and high speed made them difficult targets for E-boats or torpedo bombers, but...
s or motor torpedo boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s, depending on the type of armament they carried.
Design
They were developments of the MTBMotor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
538/539 class that had served during the Second World War, and were intended to be an interim measure until the Dark-class fast patrol boats
Dark class fast patrol boat
The Dark class, or Admiralty "Type A", were a class of eighteen fast patrol boats that served with the United Kingdom's Royal Navy starting in 1954. All were named with a prefix of 'Dark'. The class could be fitted as either motor gun boats or motor torpedo boats, depending on the type of armament...
could be introduced. The vessels were to be powered by three V12 Packard engines, each providing 1,500 horsepower and a speed of 40 kn (48.7 mph; 78.4 km/h). The Gays were the last petrol powered warships to be built for the Royal Navy. Those fitted as Motor Torpedo Boats received two 40mm guns and two 21-inch torpedoes, while those classified as Motor Gun Boats received a single 4.5-inch gun and a 40mm gun.
Construction
The class was ordered between February and May 1951 from a number of shipyards across Britain, many of whom had built similar ships for the navy during the Second World War. Four were built by Vosper & CompanyVosper & Company
Vosper & Company, often referred to simply as Vospers, was a British shipbuilding company based in Portsmouth, England.-History:The Company was established in 1871 by Herbert Edward Vosper, concentrating on ship repair and refitting work....
, two by Thornycroft
John I. Thornycroft & Company
John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
, two by Morgan Giles, of Teignmouth
Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
, two by Taylor, of Chertsey
Chertsey
Chertsey is a town in Surrey, England, on the River Thames and its tributary rivers such as the River Bourne. It can be accessed by road from junction 11 of the M25 London orbital motorway. It shares borders with Staines, Laleham, Shepperton, Addlestone, Woking, Thorpe and Egham...
and two by McGruer & Co Ltd, of Clynder. They were launched between 1952 and 1954, with the last of the class, , being launched in March 1954.
Careers
Most of the vessels served for a decade before being retired and sold off, though the longest-lived, , was only sold off in 1971, after nearly 20 years in service. She had been a High Speed Target Towing vessel at HMNB DevonportHMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
since 1959, until being put into reserve in 1964. appeared as 1087 in The Ship That Died of Shame
The Ship That Died of Shame
The Ship That Died of Shame released in the United States as PT Raiders is a black-and-white 1955 Ealing Studios crime film starring George Baker, Richard Attenborough and Bill Owen....
, a film based on a book by Nicholas Monsarrat
Nicholas Monsarrat
Commander Nicholas John Turney Monsarrat RNVR was a British novelist known today for his sea stories, particularly The Cruel Sea and Three Corvettes , but perhaps best known internationally for his novels, The Tribe That Lost Its Head and its sequel, Richer Than All His Tribe.- Early life :Born...
and starring Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
. became a target vessel and was sunk off Portland
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:...
in 1968, while was damaged while being delivered to the Navy, and then damaged when a vessel she was moored next to exploded. She then struck a submerged boom and nearly sank off Southsea Pier. She was sold out of the navy in 1963, but survived to be restored as the only remaining member of her class.
Ships
| Name | Pennant | Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1041 | Vosper Vosper & Company Vosper & Company, often referred to simply as Vospers, was a British shipbuilding company based in Portsmouth, England.-History:The Company was established in 1871 by Herbert Edward Vosper, concentrating on ship repair and refitting work.... |
20 August 1952 | Sold on 24 July 1963 | |
| P1042 | Vosper | 28 August 1952 | Sold on 26 July 1963 | |
| P1043 | Vosper | 6 November 1952 | Sold on 24 July 1963 | |
| P1044 | Vosper | 19 December 1952 | Sold on 31 January 1962 | |
| P1045 | Thornycroft John I. Thornycroft & Company John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:... |
22 January 1953 | Sold on 31 July 1963 | |
| P1046 | Taylor | 23 January 1953 | Sold on 25 July 1963 | |
| P1047 | Thornycroft | 3 September 1952 | Sold on 31 January 1962 | |
| P1048 | Morgan Giles | 12 January 1953 | Sold in January 1967 | |
| P1049 | Morgan Giles | 12 June 1953 | For disposal on 14 November 1971 | |
| P1050 | Taylor | 28 January 1953 | Sold on 31 January 1962 | |
| P1051 | McGruer & Co Ltd | 18 February 1953 | Sunk on 10 April 1968 | |
| P1052 | McGruer & Co Ltd | 23 March 1954 | Sold on 31 January 1962 | |
During the Second World War the Royal Navy also sailed HMS Gay Viking
HMS Gay Viking
HMS Gay Viking was a Motor Gun Boat of the Royal Navy, serving with Coastal Forces during the Second World War. Gay Viking was one of eight vessels that were ordered by the Turkish Navy, but were taken over by the Royal Navy during the Second World War to serve as a flotilla of blockade runners...
and HMS Gay Corsair, a pair of motor gun boats
Motor Gun Boat
Motor Gun Boat was a Royal Navy term for a small military vessel of the Second World War. They were physically similar to the Motor Torpedo Boats but equipped with a mix of guns instead of torpedoes. Their small size and high speed made them difficult targets for E-boats or torpedo bombers, but...
. These were superficially similar to the later Gay-class, although their primary armament was a mixture of QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss
QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss
The QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss was a light 57 mm naval gun and coast defence gun of the late 19th century used by many countries, and was adapted for use in the early British tanks in World War I.- Canada History :...
, Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
, and depth charges. Both had left service by the top of the Gay-class' introduction.