USS Donnell (DE 56)
USS Donnell (DE 56)
| Name | USS Donnell (DE 56) | ||
| Type: | Destroyer escort (Buckley) | ||
| Tonnage | 1.400 tons | ||
| Completed | 1943 - Bethlehem Steel Co, Hingham MA | ||
| Owner | United States Navy | ||
| Homeport | |||
| Date of attack | 3 May, 1944 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | A total loss by U-473 (Heinz Sternberg) | ||
| Position | 47.48N, 19.55W - Grid BE 5182 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | ? men (29 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | CU-22 | ||
| Route | |||
| Cargo | |||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | On 3 May 1944, the USS Donnell was on her fifth transatlantic voyage, when she made a sound contact and sighted a periscope 450 miles southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland. She prepared for a depth charge attack but was hit at 12.00 hours by one torpedo, which hit the after part and the explosion of her own depth charges blew of the stern. 29 men were killed and 25 wounded. The vessel was towed by the destroyer escorts USS Reeves (DD 156) and USS Hopping (DE 155) and the tug HMS Samsonia to Dunnstaffnage Bay, Scotland, arriving on 12 May. The damage was to extensive, so the ship was placed out of commission, reclassified IX-182 and was used as accommodation ship at Lisahally. Later towed via Plymouth to Cherbourg where she supplied electric power to shore. 1945 she laid in Portland and Plymouth and was then towed back to the States and was decommissioned. 1946 she was sold for scrap. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.