The Bass

[salty]

No mooring at all this year.

 

[Riwrecker]

No mooring at all this year.

How hard was it to hook into the bass and how much line where you using.

 

[MSDT Mark]

Any one dive the Bass this year. Id love to hear some first hand stories about this sub. Its one of my goals to dive this wreck.

Hi divers,

I realize this thread has been inactive for awhile. However, I have a great interest in the USS Bass. My uncle lost his life 17 August 1942 on the Bass. I plan on making dives on the Bass this year. Any dive information information charters, etc. that you could share is greatly appreciated. Listed below is information on the Bass.

Thanks, Mark

Originally designated V-2, Bass was launched on 27 December 1924 at Portsmouth Navy Yard. She was commissioned on 26 September 1925, with Lieutenant Commander G.A. Rood in command.
Assigned to SubDiv 20, V-2 operated along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean through November 1927, when the division was shifted to San Diego. V-2 continued to operate with her division on the west coast, in the Hawaiian Islands, and in the Caribbean.
On 9 March 1931, V-2 was renamed Bass, and in the following month was assigned to SubDiv 12. On 1 July her designation was changed from SF-5 to SS-164.
Bass was assigned to Rotating Reserve SubDiv 15 at San Diego at the beginning of 1933. She rejoined the active fleet again in July 1933, cruising on the west coast, in the Canal Zone, and in the Hawaiian Islands until January 1937. At that time she was sent to Philadelphia, arriving on 18 February 1937, where she was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 9 June.
Bass was recommissioned at Portsmouth on 5 September 1940 and assigned to SubDiv 9, Atlantic Fleet. Between February and November 1941 she operated along the New England coast, with two trips to St. Georges, Bermuda. Moving to Coco Solo, on the Atlantic end of the Panama Canal on 24 November, she was there when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into the war.
Bass was attached to SubDiv 31, SubRon 3, Atlantic Fleet during 1942, continuing to be stationed at Coco Solo. Between March and August she made four relatively brief war patrols in the Pacific off Balboa. The last of these was marred by a fire in the after battery room on 17 August 1942. The fire spread to the after torpedo room and starboard main motor, with the resultant smoke and fumes killing 25 enlisted men.
The following day the tender Antaeus (AS-21) arrived on the scene to assist the stricken submarine, and proceeded to escort her into the Gulf of Dulce, Costa Rica. Both vessels then proceeded to Balboa.
Bass remained in the Canal Zone until October 1942, at which time she sailed for Philadelphia, where she arrived on the 19th. Following repairs at the Navy Yard, Bass moved to New London, where she conducted secret experiments of Block Island in December 1943.
Re-entering the Philadelphia Navy Yard in January 1944, she remained there until March. The rest of the year was spent assigned to SubRon 1, Atlantic Fleet, operating in the area between Long Island and Block Island while stationed at the Submarine Base, New London. She was decommissioned there on 3 March 1945, and scuttled to serve as a sonar target on the 12th.
Bass and her two sisters were among the more unusual submarine designs of the interwar years. As originally built, the design included a divided power plant, with one engine room located aft in the usual place and another forward of the control room. The aft engines were coupled directly to the motor-generators and shafts, while the forward engines, which could not practically be clutched to the propeller shafts, drove generators. The boats also had an unusual profile, with a bulbous, shark-like bow which was intended to add reserve buoyancy—a design which proved a miserable failure, as the "B" class submarines proved to be very poor sea keepers.
Following Bass' fire, these large boats were converted to cargo submarine on Presidential order. This was accomplished by removing the after engines, leaving the former after engine room for cargo. The forward engines and generators were retained for propulsion. All torpedo tubes and the deck gun were also removed. In the event, the cargo conversions were unsuccessful, with the entire class taken out of service before the end of the war.

HISTORY FOR U.S.S. Bass
Launched:Builder: Sponsor: Commissioned: First Captain: Stricken/Lost:
12/27/24 Portsmouth Mrs Douglas Dismukes 9/26/25 LCDR G.A. Rood Target 3/12/45

Patrols
No: Captain: From: Date: Duration: Score (WT): JANAC Return:
1 Gordon Campbell Coco Solo 1942 20 0/0 0/0 Coco Solo
2 Gordon Campbell Coco Solo 1942 0/0 0/0 Coco Solo
3 Anthony H. Dropp Coco Solo 1942 26 0/0 0/0 Coco Solo
4 Anthony H. Dropp Coco Solo 1942 23 0/0 0/0 Coco Solo

 

[matt_unique]

Hi divers,

I realize this thread has been inactive for awhile. However, I have a great interest in the USS Bass. My uncle lost his life 17 August 1942 on the Bass. I plan on making dives on the Bass this year. Any dive information information charters, etc. that you could share is greatly appreciated. Listed below is information on the Bass.

Thanks, Mark

...

You certainly have a connection to this wreck then. There are several shops that do charters to the Bass. It's 23 miles from Pt. Judith RI to the wreck.

Last year I made one dive on the Bass in PERFECT conditions. A pod of dolphins made a relatively close approach as we were suiting up. There was no current, the temps were warm in the late summer, and we could see almost the entire bow section before we even reached the conning tower. We let go of the mooring line and finned over to the bow section. The tip of the bow is my favorite portion of sub wrecks. The bow of the Bass is very distinct of course. It was a great dive.

Good luck getting out there this year.

 

[wreckedinri]

If you are planning on staying in RI I would recommend Captain Wayne Gordon. He runs the vessel Canned Air out of Point Judith, RI. The latest information that I have regarding Capt. Gordon is that he can be reached at 860-539-4947. I saw his vessel out there several times while visiting the Bass.

Out of CT, I would contact Atlantis Dive Charters @ Connecticut Wreck Diving Store. They run regular trips to the Bass. I'm sure that there are other reputable operations that I am not familiar with.

We have been diving the Bass from private boats for nearly twenty years. IMHO, it is one of the best dives in this area, offering consistently good visibility and a chance to run into a variety of pelagic sea life. We have seen turtles, whales, and dolphins on several occasions. That area is also popular with shark fishermen - so you never know, you may get lucky and see one! Good luck with your quest to dive the Bass.

Capt. Dennis

 

[MSDT Mark]

Can anyone tell me what to expect for bottom temperature later in the summer. What is the best time of year to plan dives to the Bass regardless of bottom temperatures?

 

[matt_unique]

My last dive on the Bass was 6/30/07 and the bottom temp was 47 degrees. Above about 50' the temp was 63 degrees. It would be warmer later in the summer of course.

 

[all4scuba05]

If you are planning on staying in RI I would recommend Captain Wayne Gordon. He runs the vessel Canned Air out of Point Judith, RI. The latest information that I have regarding Capt. Gordon is that he can be reached at 860-539-4947. I saw his vessel out there several times while visiting the Bass.
Yes, he can be reached at that number. Usually do a couple dives a year off his roomy boat.(U-853,Teti, Neptune, etc The good thing is the shorter boat ride compared to Atlantis.

Out of CT, I would contact Atlantis Dive Charters @ Connecticut Wreck Diving Store. They run regular trips to the Bass. I'm sure that there are other reputable operations that I am not familiar with.
They're doing the Bass last end of May and beginning of July. About a two hour boat ride though.

Capt. Dennis

I added the bold sections.

Can't wait to dive it myself but getting some training first. Good luck MSTD Mark

 

[Sean222]

We usually run out there at least once during the season. I am moored in Jamestown RI(Newport). The thing you have to keep in mind so you don't get disappointed after traveling here, from Indiana, is that the Bass is about 10 miles off Block Island and we have extremely fickle weather out here. I have a 28' boat and even that can seem small out there. The type of day that Matt describes is a real treat and is not the norm.

 

[wreckedinri]

. . . the Bass is about 10 miles off Block Island and we have extremely fickle weather out here.

Amen to that brother!

Many intended "Bass dives" have turned into Idene or even a Heroine dives due to the sea state.:11: