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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Chuck Sanders

LSD-21 Fort Mandan

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call sign:
November - Zulu - Golf - Lima
Tactical Voice Radio Call "Killer Uniform"

USS Mandan (LSD-21) was transferred to Greece and renamed HNS Nafkratousa (L-153)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Europe clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
Casa Grande Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Laid down, 2 January 1945, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
  • Launched, 2 June 1945
  • Commissioned USS Fort Mandan (LSD-21), 31 October 1945, LCDR. W. A. Caughy, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 16 January 1948
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 25 October 1950, CAPT. Philip D. Quirk, USN, in command
  • Decommissioned, 23 January 1971
  • Transferred to Greece under the Security Assistance Program 23 January 1971, renamed HNS Nafkratousa (L-153)
  • Struck from the Naval Register and sold to Greece, 8 February 1980
  • Decommissioned by the Greek Navy in February 2000 Final Disposition, sold for scrap in November 2001 to be dismantled at Aliaga, Turkey
    Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence, 7 April 1944)
    Displacement 4,032 (light draft), 7,930 (seagoing - loaded)
    Length 457' 9" o.a.
    Beam 72"
    Draft 8' 2 ½" fwd, 10' ½" aft (light draft); 15' 5 ½" fwd, 16' 2" aft (seagoing loaded)
    Speed 17 knots maximum (design speed)
    Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots
    Crew Complement 17 officers, 237 men; Landing Craft: 6 officers, 30 men
    Troop Complement 22 officers, 218 men
    Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)
  • 3 LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or
  • 2 LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or
  • 14 LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or
  • 47 DUKW or
  • 41 LVT or
  • Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity
    Well Deck Capacity (with prefabricated "Super-Decks" installed)
  • 108 DUKWs or
  • 92 LVTs or
  • Any combination of tracked/wheeled vehicles up to capacity.
    (Note: Incapable of repairing larger landing craft and ships in this configuration)
    Aircraft LSDs 1 - 27 (still in commission in late 40's or early 50's) were fitted/retro-fitted with a prefabricated steel grated "Portable Deck" suspended between the wing walls and supported by removable I-beam girders. The aft end of the portable deck contained a wooden helicopter platform, enabling the ship to land and launch 1 helicopter at a time. Stowage of helicopters was limited to capacity of the portable deck installed for the mission. Aircraft servicing was limited to re-fueling. With portable deck and aircraft platform installed, the Landing ship, dock was still capable of transporting, launching and repairing smaller amphibious craft and vehicles up to the size of a Landing craft, utility (LCU) in their well decks.
    Armament
  • 1 - 5"/.38 caliber Dual Purpose single barrel mount in open tub (w/director)
  • 2 - 40MM quad barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (w/directors)
  • 2 - 40MM twin barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (w/directors)
  • 16- 20MM single barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (local control)
    Propulsion
  • 2 - Babcock and Wilcox Boilers, D Type, 2 Drum, Single Furnace, Single Uptake,
    Oil Fired
  • 2 - Skinner Engines - steam geared turbine (geared)
  • Twin screws
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Fort Mandan (LSD-21)
    Fort Mandan 49k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) at anchor, circa 1946, place unknown. William H Davis
    Fort Mandan 84k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) lies at anchor with her stern gate open waiting for her "brood" to return. Note the cranes and grating over the well deck which houses some 12 small boats, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine May 1947 issue    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Fort Mandan 50k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway, circa 1947, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Fort Mandan 71k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway in the Chesapeake Bay, July 1964. © Richard Leonhardt
    Fort Mandan 37k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway in the Caribbean after completing an UNREP with Aldebaran (AF-10), circa 1967. This photo was taken by Bruce Johnson from an unidentified LPH, possibly Guadalcanal (LPH-7). Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC HMM-261
    Aldebaran 52k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) comes alongside Aldebaran (AF-10) as they prepare to commence and UNREP, Caribbean Sea, circa 1967. This photo was taken by Bruce Johnson from an unidentified LPH, possibly Guadalcanal (LPH-7). Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC HMM-261
    Aldebaran 43k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) comes alongside Aldebaran (AF-10) as they prepare to commence and UNREP, Caribbean Sea, circa 1967. This photo was taken by Bruce Johnson from an unidentified LPH, possibly Guadalcanal (LPH-7). Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC HMM-261
    Fort Mandan 26k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Fort Mandan (LSD-21) web site
    Fort Mandan 26k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Fort Mandan (LSD-21) web site
    Fort Mandan 46k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
    Fort Mandan 132k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
    Fort Mandan 40k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
    Fort Mandan 58k Fort Mandan (LSD-21) underway in 1970, place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
    HNS Nafkratousa (L-153)
    Fort Mandan 93k Ex-Fort Mandan (LSD-21) in Greek service as HNS Nafkratousa (L-153) underway, date and place unknown.
    Official Hellenic Navy photo    		 Tony Vrailas
    Fort Mandan 80k HNS Nafkratousa (L-153) underway, date and place unknown. Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
    Fort Mandan 48k HNS Nafkratousa (L-153) at anchor, date and place unknown. Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
    Fort Mandan 74k HNS Nafkratousa (L-153) loading the ex-US LCU-827, now in Greek service as Skiathos (L-152), into her well deck, date and place unknown.
    Official Hellenic Navy photo    		 Tony Vrailas
    Additional Ships Patches
    Fort Mandan
    Contributed by Chuck Sanders    		 Fort Mandan
    Contributed by Mike Smolinski
    View the Fort Mandan (LSD-21)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    U.S.S Fort Mandan LSD-21
     The LSDs of the US Navy
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 2 February 2007