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The Morgan Giles yard had a history of building boats for the Admiralty producing, amongst others, 8 MTB's during World War 2 (see World War 2 section) and carrying out refit and modifications to many other MTB's. It is not surprising therefore that the yard was approached to build two more in 1951. The Admiralty ordered 12 Type "B" "Short" Interchangeable Fast Attack Craft under contract No BR 8E 52143/51 from Messrs Vosper Ltd of Porchester. Known as the 'Gay' class these vessels were a natural development from the MTB design of WW2 and were ordered as an interim measure until the Type "A" (Dark Class) became operationally available, of which Morgan Giles built two.

Destined to be the last of the petrol engine craft for the Royal Navy, they were powered by three Packard 4M-2500 marine engines delivering 1500 BHP each giving a capability of 40 knots (dependant on the armament fitted).

Contrary to popular belief these engines were developed from an original Packard design (M-2500) and not the Rolls Royce "Merlin". However, in the early development to that original design, certain modifications were made in the carburation, supercharging and crankcase design etc, (as per the RR "Merlin"), and the engines became commonly known (This side of the Atlantic at least!) as Packard "Merlins". The craft also had a Ford V8 powering the main generator, situated on the Starboard side of the engine room.

The 'Gay' class had a standard displacement of 50 tons with a full load displacement of 65tons. They measured 75ft 2ins in length, 20ft 1ins in the beam and had a light load draught of 4ft 2ins. Their normal compliment was 13. Main armament as a Torpedo Boat originally was 2 x 21in Torpedo Tubes with Twin Oerlikons mounted on the Fore mount, this later changed to 40mm Bofors. As a Gun Boat, they carried a forward gun with Twin Oerlikons on the aft mounting with no torpedo tubes. (There is an image of HMS Gay Charioteer with Tubes and 40mm Bofors mounted both fore and aft, but tests proved that this craft was 'overloaded' and could not be used operationally as such).

Morgan Giles Ltd built two of the class:
P1048 GAY CHARGER. The right honourable Nigel Lawson, former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer, was a commanding officer of this aptly named vessel.
Eventual fate unknown.

P1049 GAY CHARIOTEER. This boat was converted to a high speed target towing vessel in 1959. Based at Devonport she finally entered 'reserve' in 1964 and was sold off in 1972.
Eventual fate unknown.