Gay-class fast patrol boat

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 boats or motor torpedo boats, depending on the type of armament they carried.
Design
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 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 knots (46 mph; 74 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...