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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Chuck Sanders

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Fort Mandan (LSD-21)

International Radio Call sign:
November - Zulu - Golf - Lima NZGL Tactical Voice Radio Call "Killer Uniform"

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

USS Mandan (LSD-21) was transferred to Greece and renamed HS Nafkratousa (L-153)

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. Caughey, USNR, in command

Decommissioned, 16 January 1948

Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Orange TX.

Recommissioned, 25 October 1950, CAPT. Philip D. Quirk, USN, in command

USS Fort Mandan earned the Occupation Service Medal, with Europe clasp, for service from 6 October 1952 to 26 January 1953 in European waters

Decommissioned, 23 January 1971

Transferred to Greece under the Security Assistance Program 23 January 1971, renamed HS Nafkratousa (L-153)

Struck from the Naval Register, 8 February 1980

Foreign Naval Service

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 kts (design speed)

Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots

Complement

Officers 17

Enlisted 237

Troop Accommodations

Officers 22

Enlisted 218

Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)

three LCT (Mk V or VI) each w/ 5 medium tanks or

two LCT (Mk III or IV) each w/ 12 medium tanks or

fourteen LCM (Mk III) each w/ 1 medium tank or 1, 500 long tons cargo or

forty-seven DUKW or

forty-one LVT or

Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity

Aircraft (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

one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount in open tub (w/director)

two quad 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)

two twin 40mm AA gun mounts (w/directors)

sixteen single 20mm AA gun mounts (local control)

Fuel Capacities

NSFO 11,720 Bbls

Diesel 160 Bbls

Gasoline 5,085 Gals

Propulsion

two Newport News Shipbuilding steam turbines

two Babcock and Wilcox oil fired D-type boilers, two drum, single furnace, single uptake, 250psi

single Newport New Main Reduction Gears

two turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship' Service Generators

twin propellers, 7,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Fort Mandan (LSD-21)
	334k	*Namesake* Fort Mandan was the name of the encampment which the Lewis and Clark Expedition built for wintering over in 1804-1805. The encampment was located on the Missouri River approximately twelve miles from the site of present-day Washburn, North Dakota, which developed later. The precise location is not known for certain and is believed now to be under the water of the river. A replica of the fort has been constructed near the original site.	Tommy Trampp
	49k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** at anchor, circa 1946, location unknown.	William H Davis
	84k	*USS 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 location unknown. US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine May 1947 issue	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
	50k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** under way, circa 1947, location unknown.	Robert Hurst
094907706	175k	Aerial view of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Orange, Tx., Texas in 1948, Indian Island (AG-77) and Fort Mandan (LSD-21) are distinguishable, date unknown.	Dave Schroeder and John Chiquoine
	71k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** under way in the Chesapeake Bay, July 1964.	© Richard Leonhardt
	153k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** at Genoa, Italy, 24 August 1965	Photo by Carlo Martinelli
	37k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21) under way in the Caribbean after completing an UNREP with USS Aldebaran (AF-10), circa 1967. This photo was taken by Bruce Johnson from an unidentified LPH, possibly USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7)**.	Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC HMM-261
	52k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21) comes alongside USS 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 USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7)**.	Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC HMM-261
	43k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21) comes alongside USS 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 USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7)**.	Pete Harlem, Courtesy Bruce Johnson USMC HMM-261
	26k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Fort Mandan (LSD-21) web site
	26k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Fort Mandan (LSD-21) web site
	46k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
	132k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
	40k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo	Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
	58k	*USS Fort Mandan* (LSD-21)** under way in 1970, location unknown. US Navy photo	Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
HNS Nafkratousa (L-153)
	93k	Ex-Fort Mandan (LSD-21) in Greek service as *HNS Nafkratousa* (L-153)** under way, date and location unknown. Official Hellenic Navy photo	Tony Vrailas
	80k	*HNS Nafkratousa* (L-153)** under way, date and location unknown.	Chuck Sanders USS Fort Mandan
	48k	*HNS Nafkratousa* (L-153)** at anchor, date and location unknown.	Chuck Sanders USS 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 location unknown. Official Hellenic Navy photo	Tony Vrailas
	224k	Ship's present at the Greek Salamis Naval Base, 31 August 1979 include six Greek Fletcher-class destroyers; *HS Kimon* (D-42) (ex-USS Ringgold (DD-500), HS Nearchos (D-65) (ex-USS Wadsworth (DD-516), HS Sfendoni (D-85) (ex-USS Aulick (DD-569), HS Aspis (D-06) (ex-USS Connor (DD-582), HS Lonchi (D-56) (ex-USS Hall (DD-583), and HS Velos (D-16) (ex-USS Charrette (DD-581). Also visible are the landing ships HS Nafkratoussa (L-153) (ex-USS Fort Mandan (LSD-21) HS Oinoussai (L-104) (ex-USS Terrell County (LST-1157), and HS Kos (L-116) (ex-USS Whitfield County (LST-1169)**. Photo by PHC C. Pedrick, USN. U.S. DefenseImagery photo VIRIN: photo VIRIN: DN-SC-82-00328.	Robert Hurst

Additional Ships Patches
Contributed by Don McGrogan BMCS USN (Ret.)	Contributed by Chuck Sanders	Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Fort Mandan (LSD-21)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Caughey, William A., USNR	31 October 1945 - 15 December 1945
02	CDR. Morse, Walter Harrison, USNR	15 December 1945 - 9 March 1946
03	CDR. Stiff, Allen Edward, USNR	9 March 1946 - 5 June 1947
04	LCDR. Beaver, Chester Earl, USN	5 June 1947 - 16 January 1948
	Decommissioned	16 January 1948 - 25 October 1950
05	CAPT. Quirk, Philip Decatur, USN (USNA 1932)	25 October 1950 - 1951
06	CDR. Bailey, Benjamin Franklin, USN (USNA 1932)	1951 - 1953
07	CDR. Latimer, Clement Thomas, USN (USNA 1939)	1953 - January 1955
08	CDR. Dalton, George Francis, USN (USNA 1938)	January 1955 - 4 March 1956
09	CDR. Pugsley, Edmund Brewster, USN	4 March 1956 - 2 December 1957
10	CDR. Bass Jr., Stirling Wesley, USN	2 December 1957 - 7 May 1959
11	CDR. Laurie, Robert George, USN	7 May 1959 - 1960
12	CDR. Rooney, George Matthew, USN	9 March 1962 - 8 February 1964
13	CDR. Buddhu, Roy Eldon, USN	8 February 1964 - 28 May 1965
14	CDR. Ledbetter Jr., Robert Lee, USN (USNA 1946)	28 May 1965 - 23 November 1966
15	CDR. Simmons Jr., John Alexander, USN	23 November 1966 - 26 September 1968
16	CDR. Thomas, Richard Ludlow, USN	25 September 1968 - 22 December 1969
17	CDR. McLaughlin, James, USN	22 December 1969 - 23 January 1971


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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Last Updated 27 January 2023