40:
1379:
1362:
1374:
1354:
322:
as part of an order of eight Motor Gun Boats placed by the
Turkish Navy. The outbreak of the Second World War led to the Royal Navy taking over the eight vessels giving them numbers (502–509). The Navy then completed 504, 505, 506, 507 and 508 as merchant vessels to take part in Operation Bridford.
341:
The Navy modified five of the boats from Camper and
Nicholson to accommodate cargo: most of the armament were removed, and the bridge moved aft, to make way for an internal cargo bay amidships. The need to conform to Sweden's neutrality meant that the Navy also had to implement a number of other
393:
Their mission required the vessels to pass between German-occupied territories in waters habitually patrolled by German aircraft and surface vessels. To minimise the risk of detection, the Navy timed the voyages to pass areas of greatest danger during the hours of darkness. This meant that the
338:. Once there, the vessels would load the ball bearings and return to Britain. British engineering plants needed the ball bearings, and other specialist equipment manufactured in Sweden and while some supplies were being flown in, the volumes were not sufficient to meet the demand.
436:
eventually made three trips, despite damaging her port engine crankshaft on 17 March 1944. The operation was considered a success, but the trips were brought to an end with the return of the shorter nights in 1944. The voyages were resumed in
September 1944 under the name of
306:
countries. She was one of the more successful of her group, but was lost in a collision while returning from one of these operations. Reports indicate that she may have been salvaged after this and gone on to sail for a considerable number of years as a civilian vessel.
500:
were taken off and she subsequently sank. However she appears to have subsequently been re-floated and returned to service as a civilian vessel. She was sailed under a variety of names and eventually purchased for conversion as a pleasure craft for operation in
463:
all dropped their civilian names and returned to their official designation in 1944. By 1945 the Navy had advanced their numbers to the new numbering scheme and they became No. 2004, 2005 and 2007 respectively. For some reason,
417:
The first attempt was planned for 23 September, but had to be postponed after problems developed with the boats' engines. It instead took place on 26 October, but was plagued with mechanical problems and bad weather.
422:
was the only vessel to make a successful round trip, returning to
Britain on 30 October carrying 40 tons of cargo. Further attempts were made, many of them successfully, despite the loss of
394:
vessels could only make their journeys during the winter months when the duration of darkness was sufficient to give the ships the time they needed to traverse the patrolled areas.
26:
1408:
438:
509:, although the vessel remained in Denmark as late as 1973. The vessel subsequently sank at wharf in Copenhagen, and was broken up for salvage in the 1990s.
766:
1428:
927:
603:
759:
695:
1403:
781:
1373:
1369:
1313:
1108:
1433:
855:
752:
714:
1382:
1378:
430:
being rendered inoperable by continuing engine problems that limited her to making only one successful round trip.
283:
1413:
1120:
861:
1423:
367:
387:
39:
1365:
1361:
1357:
1353:
1349:
1031:
980:
932:
919:
903:
791:
744:
488:
were deployed on one
Moonshine run in early 1945. While making the return voyage on 5 February 1945,
445:. Many of these attempts had to be canceled due to poor weather, or recurring difficulties with the
1187:
1181:
1175:
1135:
1037:
406:, were first deployed in September 1943. The plan was that having arrived at the Swedish port of
1336:
1215:
1210:
1160:
1154:
1050:
1021:
997:
992:
953:
819:
802:
686:
378:. The operation was organised and led by a civilian steel expert and former Arctic explorer, Sir
1242:
1236:
1204:
1148:
1142:
1125:
1098:
986:
963:
943:
910:
888:
878:
872:
383:
211:
205:
319:
235:
217:
66:
653:
1294:
1283:
1272:
1169:
334:. To do this, the vessels would have to reach Sweden by evading the German blockade of the
294:
506, the vessel was instead completed as a blockade runner for the
Merchant Navy and named
8:
1418:
811:
242:
972:
845:
614:
371:
299:
897:
836:
710:
691:
442:
1262:
687:
Ships of the Royal Navy: The
Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy
664:
1323:
1226:
1197:
1073:
1014:
518:
446:
287:
142:
1090:
259:
1113:
1003:
725:
681:
562:
375:
326:
The objective of
Operation Bridford was to bring back to Britain quantities of
267:
44:
1397:
379:
263:
97:
1301:
1080:
327:
275:
224:
1042:
502:
303:
168:
161:
1328:
363:
279:
774:
335:
1062:
1055:
441:, and involved carrying supplies and munitions to elements of the
407:
181:
2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km) at 11 kn (20 km/h)
25:
390:
to give him the required legal status in case he were captured.
411:
81:
May have been re-floated and used as civilian vessel until 1973
370:. Third, their crews consisted of civilian sailors drawn from
291:
410:
they would load their cargoes, before sailing back to the
331:
342:
measures. First, it gave the boats names: 504 became
775:Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in February 1945
274:was one of eight vessels that were ordered by the
707:Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946
1395:
704:
414:. Each leg of the journey would take two days.
680:
468:apparently continued to sail under that name.
1409:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
760:
690:(Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing.
611:The Coastal Forces Heritage Trust Newsletter
16:Blockade runner of the British Merchant Navy
586:
767:
753:
601:
632:
589:Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships
556:
554:
1396:
580:
552:
550:
548:
546:
544:
542:
540:
538:
536:
534:
78:Sunk in a collision on 5 February 1945
748:
266:. Originally under construction as a
37:
730:Davey, Paxman & Co of Colchester
723:
638:
567:Davey, Paxman & Co of Colchester
560:
1429:Maritime incidents in February 1945
665:landskronaoverfarten.se: Gay Viking
531:
13:
426:to the Germans on 2 November, and
302:on two separate operations to the
123:20 ft 3 in (6.17 m)
14:
1445:
131:4 ft 1 in (1.24 m)
1377:
1372:
1360:
1352:
362:. Second, they sailed under the
278:, but were requisitioned by the
38:
24:
654:ShipSpotting.com: Bahama Viking
310:
658:
647:
595:
148:3 × 800 hp = 2400 hp
1:
705:Robert Gardiner, ed. (1980).
673:
397:
388:Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
374:trawlermen and officers from
602:Reynolds, Brian (May 2010).
496:collided. The seamen of the
382:, who was given the rank of
290:. Originally intended to be
7:
512:
10:
1450:
1404:Gunboats of the Royal Navy
402:The five boats, including
1347:
1253:
780:
709:. Conway Maritime Press.
330:manufactured by Sweden's
171:(46 km/h) (cruising)
87:
32:
23:
1434:Ships sunk in collisions
613:(6): 7–9. Archived from
524:
107:95 long tons (97 t)
684:; Warlow, Ben (2006) .
641:Ships of the Royal Navy
587:Robert Gardiner (ed.).
471:
115:117 ft (36 m)
88:General characteristics
1414:Ships built in England
726:"The Blockade Runners"
724:Carr, Richard (2008).
604:"The Ball Bearing Run"
563:"The Blockade Runners"
561:Carr, Richard (2008).
476:Three of the vessels,
298:. She operated out of
236:20 mm Oerlikon cannons
218:20 mm Oerlikon cannons
67:Camper & Nicholson
1424:Royal Navy ship names
245:(1 quadruple, 2 twin)
164:(52 km/h) (max.)
320:Camper and Nicholson
212:2 pounder autocannon
1127:Point Pleasant Park
439:Operation Moonshine
243:.303 in Vickers MGs
230:after modification:
206:6 pounder Hotchkiss
620:on 2 December 2013
1389:
1388:
1297:Charles F. Amidon
697:978-1-86176-281-8
505:, under the name
443:Danish resistance
251:
250:
1441:
1381:
1376:
1364:
1356:
1340:
1317:
1307:
1289:
1278:
1267:
1246:
1230:
1220:
1192:
1164:
1130:
1102:
1085:
1068:
1025:
1016:Sperrbrecher 139
1009:
967:
957:
947:
937:
914:
892:
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866:
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619:
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519:Operation Rubble
449:diesel engines.
424:Master Standfast
360:Master Standfast
288:Second World War
47:
42:
28:
21:
20:
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1385:
1368:
1343:
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1314:Conte di Cavour
1310:
1292:
1281:
1270:
1260:
1254:Other incidents
1249:
1233:
1223:
1195:
1167:
1133:
1109:Conte di Cavour
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1028:
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917:
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847:Peter Silvester
843:
826:
809:
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773:
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682:Colledge, J. J.
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621:
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571:
569:
559:
532:
527:
515:
484:(No. 2005) and
474:
400:
368:merchant marine
358:and 508 became
313:
262:of the British
260:blockade runner
43:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1447:
1437:
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1431:
1426:
1421:
1416:
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1324:Empire Duchess
1318:
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1250:
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1247:
1234:Unknown date:
1231:
1221:
1193:
1165:
1131:
1121:La Combattante
1103:
1086:
1069:
1026:
1010:
968:
958:
948:
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922:Denbigh Castle
915:
893:
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841:
824:
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797:
786:
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764:
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749:
742:
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646:
643:. p. 139.
631:
594:
579:
529:
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522:
521:
514:
511:
473:
470:
399:
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376:Ellerman Lines
312:
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284:Coastal Forces
282:to serve with
268:Motor Gun Boat
249:
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227:
221:
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208:
202:
195:
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190:
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183:
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175:
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173:
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145:VEE RB engines
137:
133:
132:
129:
125:
124:
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117:
116:
113:
109:
108:
105:
101:
100:
94:
93:Class and type
90:
89:
85:
84:
83:
82:
79:
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69:
64:
60:
59:
53:
49:
48:
45:United Kingdom
35:
34:
30:
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15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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1435:
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1027:
1024:
1023:
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1007:
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989:
988:
983:
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977:
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949:
946:
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916:
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891:
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874:
868:
865:
864:
859:
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849:
848:
842:
839:
838:
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832:
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822:
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804:
798:
795:
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779:
770:
765:
763:
758:
756:
751:
750:
747:
731:
727:
722:
718:
716:0-85177-146-7
712:
708:
703:
699:
693:
689:
688:
683:
679:
678:
666:
661:
655:
650:
642:
635:
616:
612:
605:
598:
591:. p. 70.
590:
583:
568:
564:
557:
555:
553:
551:
549:
547:
545:
543:
541:
539:
537:
535:
530:
520:
517:
516:
510:
508:
507:Bahama Viking
504:
499:
495:
491:
487:
483:
479:
469:
467:
462:
458:
454:
450:
448:
444:
440:
435:
431:
429:
425:
421:
415:
413:
409:
405:
395:
391:
389:
385:
381:
380:George Binney
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
357:
354:, 507 became
353:
350:, 506 became
349:
346:, 505 became
345:
339:
337:
333:
329:
328:ball bearings
324:
321:
318:was built by
317:
308:
305:
301:
297:
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
264:Merchant Navy
261:
257:
256:
244:
240:
237:
233:
231:
228:
226:
225:depth charges
222:
219:
215:
213:
209:
207:
203:
201:
198:
197:
196:
193:
192:
188:
185:
184:
180:
177:
176:
170:
166:
163:
159:
158:
157:
154:
153:
147:
144:
140:
139:
138:
135:
134:
130:
127:
126:
122:
119:
118:
114:
111:
110:
106:
103:
102:
99:
98:Motor gunboat
95:
92:
91:
86:
80:
77:
76:
75:
72:
71:
68:
65:
62:
61:
58:
54:
51:
50:
46:
41:
36:
31:
27:
22:
19:
1391:
1370:January 1945
1335:
1330:
1322:
1312:
1303:
1296:
1285:
1274:
1263:
1241:
1235:
1225:
1216:
1209:
1203:
1198:
1188:
1182:
1176:
1170:
1159:
1153:
1147:
1141:
1136:
1126:
1119:
1114:
1107:
1097:
1092:
1081:
1076:Bismarck Sea
1075:
1064:
1057:
1049:
1044:
1036:
1030:
1020:
1015:
1005:
998:
991:
985:
979:
974:
962:
952:
942:
933:
926:
921:
909:
904:
898:
887:
877:
871:
862:
856:
846:
835:
830:
828:
818:
813:
801:
792:
733:. Retrieved
729:
706:
685:
660:
649:
640:
634:
622:. Retrieved
615:the original
610:
597:
588:
582:
570:. Retrieved
566:
506:
497:
493:
489:
485:
481:
480:(No. 2004),
477:
475:
465:
460:
456:
452:
451:
433:
432:
427:
423:
419:
416:
403:
401:
392:
359:
355:
351:
347:
343:
340:
325:
315:
314:
311:Construction
304:Scandinavian
295:
276:Turkish Navy
271:
254:
253:
252:
229:
200:as intended:
199:
104:Displacement
56:
18:
1264:Kommandøren
1115:Henry Bacon
503:The Bahamas
461:Gay Corsair
356:Gay Corsair
286:during the
1419:1943 ships
1398:Categories
1383:March 1945
1286:Pathfinder
1171:Arsterturm
1093:Trentonian
1091:HMCS
831:Gay Viking
782:Shipwrecks
674:References
639:Colledge.
498:Gay Viking
490:Gay Viking
486:Gay Viking
466:Gay Viking
434:Gay Viking
420:Gay Viking
404:Gay Viking
398:Operations
364:red ensign
352:Gay Viking
316:Gay Viking
296:Gay Viking
280:Royal Navy
272:Gay Viking
255:Gay Viking
186:Complement
136:Propulsion
57:Gay Viking
1329:USS
1302:USS
1284:HMS
1273:USS
1082:Dettifoss
1074:USS
1063:USS
1056:USS
1043:HMS
973:HMS
920:HMS
812:USS
624:1 January
384:Commander
336:Skagerrak
1321:18 Feb:
1311:17 Feb:
1304:Crevalle
1295:SS
1293:15 Feb:
1282:11 Feb:
1271:10 Feb:
1224:28 Feb:
1196:27 Feb:
1168:26 Feb:
1134:24 Feb:
1106:23 Feb:
1089:22 Feb:
1072:21 Feb:
1029:20 Feb:
1013:18 Feb:
975:Bluebell
971:17 Feb:
961:16 Feb:
951:15 Feb:
941:14 Feb:
918:13 Feb:
896:11 Feb:
886:10 Feb:
829:MV
735:22 April
572:22 April
513:See also
494:Hopewell
478:Hopewell
453:Hopewell
344:Hopewell
238:(2 twin)
220:(2 twin)
194:Armament
96:MGB 502
1275:Batfish
1261:9 Feb:
1227:Lautaro
1045:Vervain
899:Persier
889:Steuben
870:9 Feb:
854:7 Feb:
844:6 Feb:
837:Karatsu
827:5 Feb:
810:4 Feb:
800:3 Feb:
790:1 Feb:
482:Nonsuch
457:Nonsuch
428:Nonsuch
408:Lysekil
386:in the
366:of the
348:Nonsuch
128:Draught
63:Builder
33:History
1337:U-2336
1331:Gamble
1217:U-1279
1211:U-1018
1199:Corvus
1161:U-3007
1155:U-1208
1051:U-1276
1032:Nokaze
1022:U-2344
999:U-1278
993:U-1273
981:Impero
954:U-1053
934:Ro-113
905:Ro-112
820:U-1014
814:Barbel
803:U-1279
793:Ro-115
713:
694:
447:Paxman
412:Humber
258:was a
143:Paxman
112:Length
1243:U-683
1237:U-676
1205:U-327
1189:Ro-43
1183:I-370
1177:I-368
1149:U-927
1143:U-713
1137:I-371
1099:U-300
1038:TA 48
987:U-425
964:U-309
944:U-989
928:Ha-76
911:U-869
879:U-923
873:U-864
863:Ro-55
857:CD-53
618:(PDF)
607:(PDF)
525:Notes
292:HMMGB
178:Range
169:knots
162:knots
155:Speed
1366:1946
1358:1945
1350:1944
1065:S-38
1058:S-37
1006:Lark
1004:HMS
737:2009
711:ISBN
692:ISBN
626:2022
574:2009
492:and
472:Loss
459:and
372:Hull
300:Hull
241:8 ×
234:4 ×
223:2 ×
216:4 ×
210:1 ×
204:1 ×
141:3 ×
120:Beam
73:Fate
52:Name
332:SKF
167:25
160:28
55:MV
1400::
1334:,
1327:,
1300:,
1240:,
1214:,
1208:,
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