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Nafkratoussa L-153 1971 (1945 Ex-USN LSD-21)

LSD 9 Battleaxe was transferred to Britain 1943 as HMS Eastway (F 130), returned 1947, to Greece 1953 as Nafkratoussa (L 153), replaced 1972 by Fort Mandan (LSD 21) and scrapped. LSD 21 Fort Mandan was rransferred from Newport News, to Greece 1971 as Nafkratoussa (L 153), and scrapped 2001. Both ships were Casa Grande-class (sometimes referenced as Cabildo) Landing Ship Dock amphibious landing vessels. The Library of Congress Country Study on Greece lists the Nafkratourssa as a Cabaldo class dock landing ship, managing to mis-spell both the name of the ship and the name of the class.

Landing Ship, Dock (LSD) have a well deck and a ballast system which allows boats to be dry docked. The term "dock" is somewhat confusing, since it might be imagined that these ships are intended to land at a dock, or transport to a dock. A dock is a water-side site at which ships tie up in order to discharge and take in cargoes conveniently and expeditiously. It is typically a basin constructed for this purpose, surrounded by quay walls. But a graving dock (or dry dock) is a dock which can be sealed off by gates, and the water removed. This allows work to be done on the parts of a ship's that are normally under water. The term "graving" was more often used to denote the cleaning of a ship's bottom. The docks in the Landing Ship, Dock (LSD) are internal to the ship, and allows boats to be dry docked for transport, loading and maintenance.

Fort Mandan (LSD-21) was launched on 2 June 1945 by the Navy Yard, Boston, Mass. and commissioned on 31 October. Fort Mandan was assigned first to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet following her shakedown training in Chesapeake Bay, but later was assigned to duty with the Service Force, 2d Fleet. Actor/comedian Bill Cosby served in her in 1960 as an HM3. Between the years 1960-62 the ship underwent a six-month overhaul to extend the ship's life, this being called a FRAM for Fleet Rehabili-tation and Maintenance.

In 1969 the ship underwent a further major modernization, with upgrade of radio communications facilities and improvement of berthing and facilities for the crew. Nevertheless, in spite of her readiness and the substantial upgrades just completed, she was decommissioned from the Atlantic Fleet in February 1971, having most honorably served during the Korean War, although not in the Far East, and the most critical periods of the Cold War. Among all ships off the Navy, she was distinguished for her difficult and successful service in Arctic regions.

Decommissioned, 23 January 1971, the ship was transferred to the Hellenic Navy under the Security Assistance Program 23 January 1971, renamed Nafkratousa (L-153). The ship arrived in Greece on March 30th 1971 and served as headquarters for the Landing ship Command. After a lease for ten years she was struck from the Naval Register and sold to Greece, 8 February 1980.

The decommisioning of HS (Hellenic Ship) Nafkratoussa came on 29 February 2000. After having completed nearly 50 years of service life, the ship was in the last 2 years in a desolate condition, with no spare parts for most of its devices and corrosion as much as 2/3 of wall thickness. The ship is to be stored either in Salamis or Crete naval stations and sold as scrap later on. LSD 21 Fort Mandan/Nafkratousa was sold for scrap and left in tow for Aliaga, Turkey in November 2001.