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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

K-2 (SSK-2)
Bass (SS-551)

Barracuda Class Hunter-Killer Submarine: Laid down, 23 February 1950, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 2 May 1951; Commissioned USS K-2 (SSK-2), 16 November 1952; Renamed USS Bass (SSK-2), 15 December 1955; Decommissioned, 1 October 1957; Laid up in the Reserve Fleet; Hull number changed to (SS-551), 15 August 1959; Struck from the Naval Register in 1965; Final Disposition; Sold to Nassco, Terminal Island, S. F., CA.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 765 t., Submerged: 1,160 t.; Length 196' 1"; Beam 24' 6"; Speed, Surfaced 13 kts, Submerged 8.5 kts; Test Depth, 400 ft; Complement 4 Officers, 33 Enlisted; Armament, four MK-47 torpedoes; Propulsion, diesel-electric, General Motors diesel engines, Fuel Capacity 54,000 gals., General Electric motors, 1,050hp, Battery cells 252, single propeller.
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K-2 142k Keel laying ceremonies of Bass (SSK-2) at Mare Island on 23 May 1950.
US Navy photo # 5508-2-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 145k Keel laying ceremonies of Bass (SSK-2) at Mare Island on 23 May 1950. Front row left to right: Honorary Welders, G. E. Montoure, Quarterman Welder and C. H. Butler, Quarterman Shipfitter. Back row left to right: RADM A. E. Haven (Shipyard Commandant), RADM F. J. Lowry (Area Commander Mare Island), RADM B. J. Rogers (Commandant 12th Naval District), and Capt. R. J. Moore (Production Officer).
US Navy photo # 5510-2-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 279k Bow view of Bass (SSK-2) on the building ways at Mare Island on 7 July 1950.
US Navy photo # 6566-7-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 236k Stern view of Bass (SSK-2) on the building ways on the day of her launching at Mare Island on 2 May 1951. The Bonita (SSK-3) is being built on the ways to the right.
US Navy photo # 9091-5-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 92k Postal cover marking the launching of the Bass (SSK-2) on 2 May 1951 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 94k Mrs. J. J. Crane the sponsor of the Bass (SSK-2) at the prelaunch reception at the Officer's Club at Mare Island.
US Navy photo # NY9-9098-5-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 86k Mrs. E. A. M. Gendreau (Matron of Honor) and Mrs. J. J. Crane (Sponsor) are seen prior to the launching of Bass (SSK-2) at Mare Island on 2 May 1951.
US Navy photo # 9099-5-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 191k Mrs. J. J. Crane, Ship's Sponsor, christens the Bass (SSK-2) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 May 1951.
US Navy photo # NY9-9101-5-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 147k Bass (SSK-2) immediately after her launching at Mare Island on 2 May 1951 with a tug along side to assist moving her to a berth. Object floating forward of Bass is her launching cradle.
US Navy photo # 9096-5-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 191k The Bass (SSK-2) is waterborne after her launching at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 2 May 1951.
US Navy photo # 82012-5-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 247k Bass (SSK-2) is waterborne after her launching at Mare Island on 2 May 1951.
US Navy photo # 9096-5-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 155k Commissioning ceremonies for Bass (SSK-2) at Mare Island on 16 November 1951.
 US Navy photo # 11091-11-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 94k Bow on view of Bass (SSK-2) departing Mare Island on 1 Feb 1952.
US Navy photo # 11691-2-52, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 95k Stern view of Bass (SSK-2) departing Mare Island on 1 Feb 1952.
US Navy photo # 11694-2-52, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 95k Bass (SSK-2) & Bonita (SSK-3) at Pearl Harbor, 1953.
 US Navy photo courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com.
K-3 34k Bass (SSK-2), Bonita (SSK-3),Greenfish (SS-351) and Pickerel (SS-524) at Pearl Harbor, 1953. Courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com.
K-2 112k The Bass (SSK-2) appears here sometime in 1957. She operated out of Pearl Harbor until June 1957. On 26 June 1957 she returned to the United States and operated along the west coast until going out of commission in reserve 1 October 1957.
 USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst. Text courtesy of DANFS. Photo added 11/20/07.
K-2 125k Bow view of the Bass (SSK-2), date and place unknown.
US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 35k Bass (SSK-2), date and place unknown.
 US Navy photo courtesy of George M. Arnold.
K-2 24k Bass (SSK-2), in port, starboard view, date and place unknown.
 Courtesy of John Hummel.
K-2 208k The Bass (SSK-2) in Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island on 24 Aug 1965.
US Navy photo # 69457, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
View the K-2 / Bass (SSK-2)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Subnet, USS Bass (SSK 2)
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