Gay Class Boats - Unknown Gay

Unknown Gay

Printed From: BMPT Forum
Category: Boats (In alphabetical order)
Forum Name: Gay Class Boats
Forum Description: Discussion on Gay Class Boats
URL: http://www.bmpt.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=251
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 5:17pm

Topic: Unknown Gay

Posted By: tonclass
Subject: Unknown Gay
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 9:19am

Can anyone identify this 'Gay' ?

Replies:

Posted By: Pioneer
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 10:34am

Hello Rik

Now you have started something here I hope.

Do you have any information as to where the shot was taken? It is, as you say, definately a 'Gay' Hull - it is certainly not Gay Archer as I do have shots of her with the cabin structures as built by Mr Frank Lunt after purchase from the Admiralty - It may just be 'Bombardier that was captured for smuggling by the Italian Customs - but certainly is not the Gay that became Nebli II as we have shots of her arrest with the slightly modified military Bridge - I am hoping, against the odds I admit, that it could be ex 'Dragoon - any ideas as to when the shot was taken?

Regards Ted

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Pioneer - Forum Moderator

Posted By: tonclass
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 11:31am

Not as yet Ted. Still trying, hence the reason for posting the pic.

Hopefully I might get some more info later this week.

Posted By: tonclass
Date Posted: 14 December 2006 at 3:31pm

Update from Dave Fricker:

"This was a Gay-Class MTB, as later privately refitted with Gas Turbines, the original photo came from the truly amazing James Taylor (Shoreham & Chertsey) Archive - (later to become Watercraft's Yard, at Shoreham). Was most fortunate to have had the Archive on loan for a period.

The photo no. is 24911 & is understood to be one of the 4 Wessex Power Units' Gay-Class conversions.

Faded legend "Solent Slipways" could be made out in the background of the original photo, above door on brick building.

(Plse note a WPU advert, dated 05.67, shows an identically converted example, with the same modern-style enclosed wheelhouse.)

(NB: A separate photo 24289 from Taylor's archive, shows an interior view of this craft's triple shafted GT installation, hence how we know this to be a GT conversion.)

P.1043 G. Bowman & 1046 G. Centurion both at WPU Hythe 1961-63. Additionally, 1044 G. Bruiser & 1049

G. Cavalier are noted as having received triple Gas Turbines, both refitted by WPU (latter to Italian Govt as P.2 & P.1 resp.)

A theory : As this view was actually sourced from Taylor's, to be relevant to their Collection, could she possibly be the only Taylor-built craft amongst this batch handled by WPU, i.e Gay Cavalier? But only a guess!"

Regards

Rik