USS BASS (SS 164) received her deep diving certificate on 29 March 1941 and it states:

"Be it known be All the Subjects of My Vast Domain that on the 29th day of March 9141, this vessel in Latitude 43*02'N and Longitude 70*22'W penetrated the Verdant Deeps on her Deep Submergence Test and reached a maximum depth of 221 feet off the Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire.

Furthermore, Know Ye that I was honored by the presence of Solomon A. Smith in this vessel and all shallow-water divers, top-side sailors and other surface skimmers are hereby commanded to accord him the respect due one of his quality and dignity and who having been Neptune's Guest, is esteemed A REPTURE WORTHY.

It is signed by Davy Jones as Scrivner, and Neptune Rex as Ruler.

Top Secret

From: Commander, Anti-Submarine Development Detachment, Atlantic Fleet
to: Commander, Tenth Fleet
Via: Commander AirForce, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
Subject: Sinking of SS-164 (Decommissioned USS Bass)

This was the death notice of a proud American submarine. It should have said much more; should have begun many years before. Many years ago, in Portsmouth Navy Yard, the smashing sound of the traditional champagne bottle against the steel bow of USS BASS was heard at the christening of America's newest and largest submarine. She had been designed between the World Wars when America was shifting her focus from the Atlantic to the Pacific. As the distances were far greater over the Pacific, larger boats with their longer duration and better living conditions for the crew were really necessary.

Based on experiences with the ill-fated "T" Class boats and by studying the larger World War I German U-Boats, the Navy's newest project resulted in nine of these large submarines. The first three were identical and received the designation numbers B-1, B-2 and B-3. They were renamed USS BARRACUDA, USS BASS and USS BONITA in 1931 after the Navy changed all the submarine names to those of fish.

These 341-foot-long boats were unsatisfactory; due in large part to their increased size which made them unmaneuverable when submerged, and their drive train of diesel-electric motors never did deliver the design surface speed of 21 knots. During WW II, the US Navy proposed making these boats into submarine transports after they were pulled from front duty, but this plan never materialized.

USS BASS undertook four uneventful war patrols in the Pacific off Balboa. 17 August 1942, fire broke out in the after battery and quickly spread to the torpedo room and the electric motor room killing 26 men. BASS was badly damaged, and sailed through the Canal and up to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for repairs.

After departing Philadelphia Navy Yard, she proceeded to New London for secret experiments off Block Island in December 1943. In 1944 she was attached to SubRon 1, Atlantic Fleet, and operated in the area between Long Island and Block Island.

3 March 1945, she was decommissioned and designated a hulk.

1100 hours 18 March 1945 NAS Quonset Point, RI; the crew of a Navy PBY 29 began to check its aircraft prior to takeoff The weather was outstanding as the visibility was 20 miles, ceiling unlimited, winds five or six knots from the NW and the sea was calm. At 1200 hours (noon) the big plane climbed and left the Rhode Island shore behind them. Two Mark 24 mines were aboard, filled with torpex, for a top-secret test. They passed over Block Island and changed course, losing altitude as planned. They could see the submarine, riding at anchor eight miles from the lighthouse on the south east point of the island.

USS BASS rode quietly at anchor, waiting for the death blow from the oncoming PBY She was a full watertight trim - hatches and doors dogged down tight - just waiting.

The PBY approached at her moderate speed of 115 knots. The first weapon was released at 200 feet and it splashed down right next to the boat, but there was no detonation. The PBY came around and dropped the second device, which splashed down about 100 feet off the starboard beam. Forty seconds later, a tremendous blast hurled against the sub, forward of the conning tower when suddenly, there was a second blast at the stern. The concussion of the second mine triggered the first mine. USS BASS had received her death blow.

BASS began to settle by the bow and in less than a minute, the decks were awash. She continued to settle slowly until the bow hit the bottom at 100 feet, then her stern began to go down. In less than four minutes, USS BASS had slipped beneath the water.

Today, USS BASS rests in only 100 feet of water at a well-known position (41 *0 I'N x 71 * 3 3'W) and is dived frequently by SCUBA diving groups. Several exploratory dives got people acquainted with the boat, but attempts at penetrating the wreck were not met with success. Eventually, a diver named Bill Hoodiman designed and made a wrench that would un-dog the hatch aft of the conning tower and in December of 1966, he succeeded.

Twenty-one years of foul air burst to the surface as the boat filled with sea water. In the spring of 1967, two divers named Hoffman and DeCamp went inside the submarine, coming back with artifacts proving for certain that this was USS BASS, a fact to which the US Navy remained non-committal for many years.

In 1962 the US Navy washed its hands of USS BASS forever, as the boat was sold to a salvage diver for a mere $1,278. No one has made any attempt to actually bring this boat up to the surface, and it is highly unlikely that will ever happen.

Rest in Peace, USS BASS