Brinkley Bass (DD 887) - Naval Cruise Book

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A GALLANT HISTORY USS BRINKLEY BASS CDD-8875 is named in honor of LCDR Harry Brinkley Bass, USN,tkilled in air combat during the allied invasion of Southern France. First commissioned in Orange, Texas on 1 October 1945, she is 390 feet long and 41 feet Wide. Weighing in at a trim 3500 tons, her top speed is in excess of 30 knots. ' In addition to one Caribbean Cruise she served more than ten tours in the Far East. Among the Historical events that she has taken part in are: the rescue of the SS ONWARD off Shanghai in April 1948, Eniwetok Atomic tests in 1948, Taushima Patrol 1949, Wonsan Harbor 1951-1952, Songjin and Hungnam 1952, the rescue of the ROK Frigate APNOK 1952, the Formosa Straits 1955, and Viet- nam 1965-1967. On 16 May 1951, BRINKLEY BASS, upon report- ing for duty to Commander'Task Force 95, 6Com- mander of United Nations Blockading and Escort Forcel, Was assigned as a unit of the Wonsan Har- bor, Bombardment Element, a task element com- posed of United Nations ships. During thirty days of operations at Wonsan Harbor, the BASS was en- gaged in a continuous, twenty-four hour day bom- bardment of enemy shore installations. A total of over seven thousand rounds of five inch ammunition was effectively expended. in destructive, interdic- tion, and harassing fire missions. Targets of oppor- tunity taken under destructive fire and destroyed included enemy troop concentrations, billeting areas, supply dumps, rail centers, villages wherein troops quartered, small boats, shore batteries, trucks and railroad trains. In addition to naval bombardment, BRINKLEY BASS was highly successful in the night and day air control of Navy, Marine and some Air Force air- craft assigned target missions in the Wonsan area. Attacks were Well coordinated and the enemy sus- tained maximum damage as a result. While engaged at Wonsan Harbor, the BASS was taken under fire by enemy shore batteries on eleven separate occa- sions. On one occasion 20 May 1951, tenfgmen re- ceived Wounds of varying severity. Thre'e of the men were immediately transferred to the Cruiser MANCHESTER for medical attention and one died there as a result of his Wounds. The performance of the ship's company under fire was most com- mendable. tcontinued on page 105 BRINKLEY BASS in prefram configuration steaming off the coast of Southern California.

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....v.., 2 ' 2,,1'1:aam4u4-,,...N, ,mugN M, ,, ,N,,,,,,, , An artist's conception of USS Brinkley Bass at sea

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A SUCCESSFUL CRUISE BRINKLEY BASS departed Long Beach in com- pany with USS WADDELL CDDG-245, USS DUN- CAN CDDR-8747, and USS PICKING CDD-6857 on 27 December 1966 and arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 2 January 1967. Themcrew enjoyed 3 balmy days in beautiful Hawaii. Some of the men rented jeeps or cars while others toured the island on a bus sponsored by the ship. On 8 January the ship arrived at Midway Island for refueling. Mid- way is renowned for its Gooney Birds, reputed to be the clumsiest birds in the world. The ship left Midway the same day and set her course for Japan. We arrived in Yokosuka, Japan on 15 January. The men broke out their cameras and many were for- tunate enough to be able to take a speedy Japanese train to Tokyo. We left Japan on 19 January and The photos on this and the following page show BRINKLEY BASS before the FRAM conversion in 1961. At that time her . . . A proceeded to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, making one stop enroute at Buckner Bay, Gkinawa, for re- fueling. The Ship spent 8 days in Subic Bay making final preparations for her primary mission with the Seventh Fleet, that of a SAR destroyer. SAR is an acronym for Search and Rescue and it is our duty to assist in the search for downed aircraft and to rescue the pilots.. The ship spent three days prior' to departing for the Tonkin Gulf practicing shore bombardment with her 5 inch guns. The ship fired with such devastating accuracy that she earned the many compliments of the shore spotting party. The BRINKLEY BASS and her SAR partner USS R. K. TURNER CDLG-209 became a seasoned SAR team after the first days on station. firepower included 3 5f38 twin mounts, 2 40 mm twin mounts torpedo tubes and Hedgehog launchers.