USS Donner (LSD-20)

USS Donner (rear) with USS San Marcos (LSD-25)
History
Awarded:	1 July 1944
Laid down:	1 December 1944
Launched:	6 April 1945
Commissioned:	31 July 1945
Decommissioned:	23 December 1970
Struck:	1 November 1976
Fate:	March 2005, scrapped at All Star Medals, Brownsville, TX
General characteristics
Displacement:	7,930 tons (loaded), 4,032 tons (light draft)
Length:	457 ft 9 in (139.5 m) overall
Beam:	72 ft 2 in (22.0 m)
Draft:	8 ft 2½ in (2.5 m) fwd,   10 ft ½ in (3.1 m) aft (light);   15 ft 5½ in (4.7 m) fwd,   16 ft 2 in (4.9 m) aft (loaded)
Propulsion:	2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 2 Steam turbine Engines, 2 propeller shafts - each shaft 3,700 hp, at 240 rpm total shaft horse power 7,400, 2 11 ft 9 in diameter, 9 ft 9 in pitch propellers
Speed:	17 knots (31 km/h)
Range:	8,000 nmi. at 15 knots (15,000 km at 28 km/h)
Boats & landing craft carried:	3 × LCT (Mk V or VI)   each w/ 5 medium tanks or 2 × LCT (Mk III or IV)   each w/ 12 medium tanks or 14 × LCM (Mk III)   each w/ 1 medium tank   or 1,500 long tons cargo or 47 × DUKW or 41 × LVT or Any combination of landing vehicles and landing craft up to capacity
Capacity:	22 officers, 218 men
Complement:	17 officers, 237 men (ship); 6 officers, 30 men (landing craft)
Armament:	1 × 5 in / 38 cal. DP gun; 2 × 40 mm quad AA guns; 2 × 40 mm twin AA guns; 16 × 20 mm AA guns
Aircraft carried:	modified to accommodate helicopters on an added portable deck
Notes:	By 1959, there were only 2 twin mount and 2 quadmount 40mm's

USS Donner (LSD-20) was a Casa Grande-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy, named for the Sierra Nevada Donner Pass, where the Donner Party became snowbound in the winter of 1846–47.

Donner was launched on 6 April 1945 by the Boston Navy Yard, sponsored by Mrs. W. V. Alexander, Jr.; and commissioned on 31 July 1945, Lieutenant Commander P. V. McPeake, USNR, in command.

Donner transported landing craft from Norfolk to New York, then operated boat pools along the east coast until 3 November 1946 when she sailed for the Mediterranean and similar duty. She returned to Norfolk on 24 December for duty along the coast and on voyages to NS Argentia, and Labrador. From 31 January to 10 March 1948 she sailed in the Caribbean for a large scale landing exercise by the 2nd Fleet. The Donner was placed out of commission in reserve 12 August 1949.

Recommissioned 15 September 1950 after the outbreak of the Korean War, Donner cruised to the Mediterranean for duty with the 6th Fleet between 5 March and 6 July 1951. Operating from Norfolk she took part in training exercises in the Caribbean and made several cruises to the waters off Greenland for replenishment and cold weather operations. From 17 July to 7 October 1956, she made two voyages from Norfolk to resupply the DEW Line stations.