The 1945 Navy film THE LSD DESCRIPTION AND EMPLOYMENT (MN-4303) is an educational film detailing the Landing Ship Dock (LSD), the Navy’s big, fast ship that serves as both a floating dry dock and a transport ship. The LSD (00:26) features a massive hollow space called the well (00:43), which is where all the activity takes place. The ship also has a half deck with a fully equipped machine shop. Ships can be brought onto the dock and vehicles can be tied down for secure transport. Two 35-ton cranes (01:50) are used for repair jobs, hoisting LSDPs and landing craft into the well. Smaller traveling cranes move freight back and forth from under the super structure (02:33). The stern gate prevents flooding, and the well’s gate is lowered (03:02) for various loading operations. The ballast control officer (03:31) initiates flooding ballast tanks to sink the well to whatever depth is necessary for operations. Because of the value of the LSD, it is a prized target for Japanese bombers. Thus, it is armed (04:48) with a 5-inch 38 cal. DP gun, two 40 mm quad AA guns, six 20 mm AA batteries that line the well-and ten more strategically placed throughout the rest of the ship-and two 40 mm twin AA guns at the end of the ship. One of the LSD’s primary functions is to transport small landing craft from one location to another (05:22). The LSD’s well can house three LCMs (landing craft mechanized) abreast and two more behind. The LSD can transport fully loaded landing craft (06:31), like a loaded LCT (landing craft tank) to within miles of a beachhead. Once within reach of the beachhead, the well is flooded so the LCTs can be moved out and sent into action (08:20). The LSD can also function as a floating dry dock (09:00); the well is flooded and large craft are brought in (09:38)-such as an LCI-for repairs before being sent back into action. The LSD can be loaded with tanks or trucks while at sea (10:45). With the LSD’s well flooded to 2 feet, a LCD can move to mouth of well and allow tanks to cross into the well (12:00). Once tanks are loaded, the LSD leaves for its destination where the tanks are unloaded (14:10) into an LST (landing ship tank). The film shows the operations of the LSD’s mezzanine and top deck (15:40), which are two auxiliary decks used to maximize cargo load, transporting amphibious vehicles (16:20) using ramps, for example. The film concludes with shots of the LSD crew manning various stations on the ship.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com