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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

LSD-20 Donner

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Papa - Lima
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal (2) - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Congo, 1-Dominican Republic)
Casa Grande Class Dock Landing Ship:
  • Launched, 6 April 1945, at Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, MA.
  • Commissioned USS Donner (LSD-20), 31 July 1945, LCDR. P. V. McPeake, USNR, in command
  • Decommissioned, 12 August 1949
  • Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet
  • Recommissioned, 15 September 1950
  • Decommissioned (date unknown).
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 November 1976
  • Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Removed for the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River by towing, 10 June 2005
  • Final Disposition, scrapped at All Star Medals, Brownsville, TX.
    Specifications: (as reported by Office of Naval Intelligence, 7 April 1944)
    Displacement 4,032 (light draft), 7,930 (seagoing - loaded)
    Length 457' 9" o.a.
    Beam 72"
    Draft 8' 2 ½" fwd, 10' ½" aft (light draft); 15' 5 ½" fwd, 16' 2" aft (seagoing loaded)
    Speed 17 knots maximum (design speed)
    Endurance 8,000 miles @ 15 knots
    Crew Complement 17 officers, 237 men; Landing Craft: 6 officers, 30 men
    Troop Complement 22 officers, 218 men
    Well Deck Capacity (varies with mission)
  • 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
    Well Deck Capacity (with prefabricated "Super-Decks" installed)
  • 108 DUKWs or
  • 92 LVTs or
  • Any combination of tracked/wheeled vehicles up to capacity.
    (Note: Incapable of repairing larger landing craft and ships in this configuration)
    Aircraft LSDs 1 - 27 (still in commission in late 40's or early 50's) were fitted/retro-fitted with a prefabricated steel grated "Portable Deck" suspended between the wing walls and supported by removable I-beam girders. The aft end of the portable deck contained a wooden helicopter platform, enabling the ship to land and launch 1 helicopter at a time. Stowage of helicopters was limited to capacity of the portable deck installed for the mission. Aircraft servicing was limited to re-fueling. With portable deck and aircraft platform installed, the Landing ship, dock was still capable of transporting, launching and repairing smaller amphibious craft and vehicles up to the size of a Landing craft, utility (LCU) in their well decks.
    Armament
  • 1 - 5"/.38 caliber Dual Purpose single barrel mount in open tub (w/director)
  • 2 - 40MM quad barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (w/directors)
  • 2 - 40MM twin barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (w/directors)
  • 16- 20MM single barrel Anti-Aircraft mounts (local control)
    Propulsion
  • 2 - Babcock and Wilcox Boilers, D Type, 2 Drum, Single Furnace, Single Uptake,
    Oil Fired
  • 2 - Skinner Engines - steam geared turbine (geared)
  • Twin screws
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Donner 429k Donner (LSD-20) underway, circa 1957, location unknown. Larry L. Legge
    Donner 26k Donner (LSD-20) underway, date and location unknown. .
    Donner 130k Donner (LSD-20) underway in the Atlantic Ocean, about 200 miles east of Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral FL. as an HS-34 helicopter brings the Mercury space capsule aboard with "Space Chimp Ham" aboard after a successful NASA sub-orbital flight of the Mercury-Redstone MR2 and Mercury capsule, 31 January 1961. This picture is respectfully submitted in the name of relieving CO, CDR. Martin V. Cornetta USN Ret. 1961-1963 (now deceased). CO at the date of recovery, CDR. Ralph Brackett USN Ret. Ronald D. Luxon, Secretary USS Donner Memorial Association, Inc
    San Marcos 97k Donner (LSD-20) and San Marcos LSD-25) at anchor in Grand Harbor, Valletta, Malta, circa 1966-67. Warren Polensky USS San Marcos
    Donner 87k Donner (LSD-20) underway in the Mediterranean Sea, circa 1966-67. Warren Polensky USS San Marcos
    View the Donner (LSD-20)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Donner Memorial Association, Inc.
    The LSDs of the US Navy
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type IndexBack To The Dock Landing Ship (LSD) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 21 December 2007