MV Bass moored off
Ballast Point in 2012
| |
History | |
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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 |
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]
The 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]
From 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.