Pinetree Line Miscellaneous

LSD-20 USS Donner
Displacement: 7930 tons (loaded)
Length: 457'9"
Beam: 72'
Draft: 15'6" forward, 16'2" aft (seagoing loaded)
Speed: 17 knots
Range: 7,400 miles @ at knots
Armament: 1 5"/38 DP, 2x2 40mm, 2x4 40mm, 16 20mm
Complement: 17 officers, 249 enlisted
LSDs carry 3 LCT (5) or (6). each with 5 medium tanks, or 2 LCT (3) or (4) each with 12 medium tanks, or 14 LCM (3) each with 1 medium tank, or 1,500 long tons cargo, or 41 LVT, or 47 DUKW; troops: 22 officers, 310 enlisted (including 40 in hammocks). Landing craft leave the flooded dock under ther own power, through stern gates.
Built at Boston Navy Yard and commissioned 31 July 1945

Donner (LSD-20) was launched 6 April 1945 by Boston Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. WV Alexander, Jr.; and commissioned 31 July 1945, Lieutenant Commander PV 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 24 December for duty along the east coast and on voyages to Argentia, Newfoundland, and Labrador. From 31 January to 10 March 1948 she sailed in the Caribbean for a large scale landing exercise by the 2d Fleet. [Followed by midshipman cruise to Lisbon, Gibraltar, Villafranch, Algiers, Plymouth England, and Halifax before returning to Norfolk.] Donner was placed out of commission in reserve 12 August 1949.

Recommissioned 15 September 1950, 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.