HMAS Bass (GPV 902) was an Explorer class general-purpose vessel of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), serving in a range of capacities from 1960 until 1994.[1]
 MV Bass moored off Ballast Point in 2012
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Builder | Walkers Limited, Maryborough, Queensland |
| Laid down | May 1959 |
| Launched | 28 March 1960 |
| Commissioned | 15 November 1960 |
| Decommissioned | 17 December 1982 |
| Out of service | 1994 |
| Status | In civilian service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Explorer class general-purpose vessel |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Propulsion | Diesel twin screw, 342 shaft horsepower (255 kW) |
| Speed | 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Complement | 14 |
| Armament | .50 cal machine guns fitted as required |
Design and construction
editThe Explorer class was a two-ship class of general-purpose vessels built for the RAN.[2] The ships had a displacement of 207 tons at standard load and 260 tons at full load.[2] Bass was 101 feet (31 m) in length overall, had a beam of 22 feet (6.7 m), and a draught of 8 feet (2.4 m).[2] Propulsion machinery consisted of GM diesels, which supplied 348 shaft horsepower (260 kW) to the two propeller screws, and allowed the vessel to reach 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph).[2] The ship's company consisted of 14 personnel.[2] The ship's armament of light weapons (two .303 Bren guns) were only fitted as needed.[2]
Bass was laid down by Walkers Limited of Maryborough, Queensland in May 1959.[3] She was commissioned into the RAN on 15 November 1960.[3]
Operational history
editFrom 1963, Bass operated with the coastwatchers organisation.[2]
By July 1967, the ship had been assigned to Hobart for hydrographic survey duties, and for service as a training vessel to the Royal Australian Navy Reserve Port Division based there.[2] She continued in this role until June 1982, when she was replaced by the patrol boat HMAS Ardent.[4] In July, Bass relocated to HMAS Waterhen, to provide navigational training to personnel at that base.[2]
On 17 December, Bass was formally decommissioned, but remained in service as Waterhen's training vessel.[2] In October 1985, Bass was reassigned to the Darwin Port Division of the Royal Australian Navy Reserve.[2]
In 1994, Bass was paid off and sold.[1] The vessel entered civilian service as MV Bass.[5]
Civilian owners have included Sydney Harbour and foreshore identities, John Giddens, Jeff Devine and Danny Black.
References
edit- Citations
- ^ a b Wilson, Royal Australian Navy 21st Century Warships, p. 37
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 46
- ^ a b Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, p. 47
- ^ Gillett, Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946, pgs. 46, 86
- ^ "HMAS Bass". RAN. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
- Bibliography
- Gillett, Ross (1988). Australian and New Zealand Warships since 1946. Brookvale, NSW: Child & Associates. ISBN 0-86777-219-0. OCLC 23470364.
- Wilson, Michael (1999). Royal Australian Navy 21st Century Warships: Naval auxiliaries 1911 to 1999 (including Defence Maritime Services). Vol. Profile No. 4 (Revised ed.). Marrickville, NSW: Topmill Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-1-876270-72-8. OCLC 223731505.
External links
edit- MV Bass - Website following the restoration of the vessel