Originally intended to be HMMGB 506, the vessel was instead completed as a blockade runner for the Merchant Navy and named Gay Viking.

Gay Viking was built by Camper and Nicholson as part of an order of eight Motor Gun Boats placed by the Turkish Navy.

[2] The objective of Operation Bridford was to bring back to Britain quantities of ball bearings manufactured by Sweden's SKF.

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.

[1] The operation was organised and led by a civilian steel expert and former Arctic explorer, Sir George Binney, who was given the rank of Commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve to give him the required legal status in case he were captured.

To minimise the risk of detection, the Navy timed the voyages to pass areas of greatest danger during the hours of darkness.

[1] This meant that the 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.

Gay Viking was the only vessel to make a successful round trip, returning to Britain on 30 October carrying 40 tons of cargo.

The voyages were resumed in September 1944 under the name of Operation Moonshine, and involved carrying supplies and munitions to elements of the Danish resistance.