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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Foxtrot - Tango - Foxtrot
 NFTF
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (5) - National Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Iraq Desert Thunder Op.) - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Humanitarian Service Medal (Eniwetok Cleanup)
Anchorage Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Launched, 22 April 1972, at General Dynamics Corp., Quincy, MA.
  • Commissioned USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40), 9 December1972
  • Decommissioned. 27 February 1998
  • Struck from the Naval Register. 27 February 1998
  • Transferred, 28 February 1998, to MARAD, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Final Disposition, scrapping contract awarded, 22 May 2009, to International Shipbreaking, Ltd, Brownsville TX.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,325 t.(lt), 14,095 t.(fl)
    Length 553'
    Beam 84'
    Draft 19'
    Speed 20+kts.
    Complement
    24 Officers
    300 Enlisted
    Troop Capacity 320
    Boats (Well Deck Capacity) 3 LCACs or 2 LCUs
    Armament
    four twin 3"/50 gun mounts (removed 1980)
    two Phalanx CIWS gun mounts
    two 25mm Bushmaster chain guns
    Propulsion
    two 600psi boilers
    two De Laval Steam Turbines
    two propellers, 24,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Fort Fisher 180k
    Namesake
    Fort Fisher was a Confederate fort during the American Civil War. It protected the vital trading routes of the port at Wilmington, North Carolina, from 1861 until its capture by the Union in 1865. The fort was located on one of Cape Fear River's two outlets to the Atlantic Ocean on what was then known as Federal Point or Confederate Point and today is known as Pleasure Island.
    Caption - Battle of Fort Fisher. Painted by Ensign John W. Grattan, Eye witness, of Admiral David Dixon Porter's staff. Signed by Artist.
    US National Archives catalog # KN-1083, courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.    		 Tommy Trampp
    Fort Fisher 332k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) underway in the Atlantic Ocean, 24 October 1972, while running trials. Photographed by her builder, General Dynamics Corporation, Quincy, MA.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command catalog # NH 107643    		 US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Fort Fisher
    10124020    		 178k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown.
    ©George Barber    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Fort Fisher 124k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) under way in San Diego Bay as she charts a course out to sea, date unknown. Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Fort Fisher 49k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) under way, date and location unknown. .
    Fort Fisher 39k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) under way in San Francisco Bay, date unknown. .
    Fort Fisher 74k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) under way, date and location unknown. M. J. "Doc" Sanchez HM2 (FMF) USN Ret.
    Fort Fisher 91k US Fort Fisher (LSD-40) at Kin Blue Beach, Okinawa, 1 April 1974, as Golf Company, 2nd Battalion 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division [FMF] was disembarking from the ship via LCU. All photos in this series of 4 were taken from the LCU. (Photo 1 of 4) Photo by M. J. "Doc" Sanchez HM2 (FMF) USN Ret.
    Fort Fisher 74k
    Fort Fisher 94k
    Fort Fisher 77k
    Fort Fisher 50k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) under way, date and location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Fort Fisher
    10124021    		 297k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) inbound from sea in the harbor at San Diego off Naval Station San Diego, date unknown
    ©George Barber    		 Nicholas Tiberio
    Fort Fisher 86k USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) at anchor in Numazu Bay, Japan, circa 1978. Note Mt. Fuji in the background. Photo by Pat Burke ETN3 USS Fort Fisher 9/75-6/78.
    Boxer 74k Boxer Amphibious Ready Group under way in 1997. From left to right USS Fort Fisher )LSD-40), USS Boxer (LHD-4) and USS Ogden (LPD-5). Robert M. Cieri
    There is no history available for USS Fort Fisher (LSD-40) at Navsource
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Gauthier, Gene Frederick9 December 1972 - 17 September 1974
    02CDR. Thompson, Glynn Murphy17 September 1974 - 3 December 1976
    03CDR. Gamboa, John Frank3 December 1976 - 22 December 1978
    04CDR. Barry, Kenneth Randolph22 December 1978 - 27 March 1981
    05CDR. Parkhurst, Nigel Ernest27 March 1981 - 24 March 1983
    06CDR. Williams III, Richard Claggett, USN (USNA 1965)24 March 1983 - 15 June 1985
    07CDR. Gilbert, Arthur James, USN (USNA 1967)15 June 1985 - 24 October 1987
    08CDR. Anglim, Edward Patrick, USN (USNA 1969)24 October 1987 - 8 December 1989
    09CDR. Radich, Thomas Francis, USN (USNA 1971)8 December 1989 - 17 January 1992
    10CDR. Nawrocki, John Thaddeus17 January 1992 - 22 October 1993
    11CDR. Jezierski, William Edmund 22 October 1993 - 11 January 1996
    12CDR. Markey, Stuart Brian 11 January 1996 - 31 August 1997
    13CDR. Williams Jr., Thomas Richard31 August 1997 - 27 February 1998
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 20 May 2022