Fort Mandan (LSD 21) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE STORY BEHIND THE OPERATIONS When we left the states in February, there were some of us who were old hands at amphibious landings, but there were others among us who were new at the game and had only vague notions of what was in store. After six landings during our cruise, however, we all felt that we had become adequately acquainted with the principles of amphibious operations. Our first landing was at Porto Scudo, Sardinia, where we found more than enough wind and sand, and where we got extremely chilly at times. The Porto Scudo operation was a small one within our own squadron, designed to prepare us for Operation Greenswing, our second exercise at Viareggio, Italy. Greenswing was a NATO landing which involved many ships from several nations. By the time we reached our third landing at Stavromenos, Crete, the weather had gotten warmer, and conditions were more favorable. Our fourth landing was in Libya, and we got a sample of the desert and hot weather. Ships from the British fleet participated in Operation White Bait in Libya. For our fifth operation we returned to the site of a famous World War Two battle, Anzio, Italy. Our final operation was a short one at Almeria, Spain as we were on our way home. During the course of our cruise we had short landings of the raid type, and operations which lasted a full week. The Naval Beach Group and our Marine friends spent many hours on the beach and in the hills. We had plenty to keep us busy back on the ship too. All of us received a lot of on the job training during these landings. The Marines had their battle problems; the Beach Party Team learned more about the problems of co-ordinating Naval and Marine operations; and back on the ship we exercised at general quarters, had communications drills, and battle problems. Our LCM and LCVP crews got experience as assult boat coxswains; and the crews on the LCUs learned better methods of operation. We all worked and learned for six months. The LCUs hit the beach and begin to discharge their loads. Marine tanks grind out onto the beach, ready for action. The Seabees offload a dozer, part of their salvage gear. Beachmasters set up communications equipment. 34

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AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS In the great field of battle, In the bivouac of life, Be not like dumb driven cattle, Be a hero in the strife ... HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

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The USS Grant County (LST-1174), after finishing backloading, breaks marriage with causeway, closes bow doors, and prepares to retract. Rough going for vehicles coming off over the causeways. Part of the UDT outfit talks the situation over. A big 8-incher looks ready to do any job required. The Marine Shore Party found time to pose for this one. 35