Gay-class patrol boat

They were developments of the MTB 538/539 class that had served during the Second World War, and were intended to be an interim measure until the diesel-powered Dark-class fast patrol boats could be introduced.[1][2] The vessels were to be powered by three V12 Packard 4M-2500 engines, each providing 1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) and a speed of 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph).[1][2] The Gays were the last petrol powered warships to be built for the Royal Navy.[1] Those fitted as Motor Torpedo Boats received two 40-millimetre (1.6 in) guns and two 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes, while those classified as Motor Gun Boats received a single 4.5 in (114 mm) gun and a 40 mm gun.[1]

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.[1] Four were built by Vosper & Company, two by Thornycroft, two by Morgan Giles, of Teignmouth, two by Taylor, of Chertsey and two by McGruer & Co Ltd, of Clynder.[3] They were launched between 1952 and 1954, with the last of the class, Gay Forester, being launched in March 1954.[3]

Most of the vessels served for a decade before being retired and sold off, though the longest-lived, Gay Charioteer, was only sold off in 1971, after nearly 20 years in service.[3] She had been a High Speed Target Towing vessel at HMNB Devonport since 1959, until being put into reserve in 1964.[2] HMS Gay Charger was commanded by Nigel Lawson during his National Service. Gay Dragoon appeared as 1087 in The Ship That Died of Shame, a film based on a book by Nicholas Monsarrat and starring Richard Attenborough.[1][2] Gay Fencer became a target vessel and was sunk off Portland in 1968, while Gay Archer 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.[2][4]

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.