Wikipedia

USSIndianapolis(CA-35)

For other ships with the same name, seeUSS Indianapolis.

USSIndianapolis(CA-35) was aPortland-classheavy cruiserof theUnited States Navy,named for the city ofIndianapolis,Indiana.Launched in 1931, it was theflagshipof the commander ofScouting Force 1for eight years, then flagship forAdmiralRaymond Spruancefrom 1943 to 1945 while he commanded theFifth Fleetin battles across theCentral PacificduringWorld War II.

USSIndianapolis(CA-35), 27 September 1939
History
United States
NameIndianapolis
NamesakeCity ofIndianapolis,Indiana
Ordered13 February 1929
Awarded15 August 1929
BuilderNew York Shipbuilding Corporation,Camden, New Jersey
Cost$10,903,200 (contract price)
Laid down31 March 1930
Launched7 November 1931
Sponsored byLucy M. Taggart
Commissioned15 November 1932
Identification
Nickname(s)"Indy"[1]
Honors and
awards		10 ×battle stars
FateTorpedoed and sunk byJapanese submarine I-58on 30 July 1945
General characteristics (as built)[2]
Class and typePortland-classcruiser
Displacement9,950long tons(10,110t) (standard)
Length
  • 610 ft 3 in (186.00 m)loa
  • 584 ft (178 m)lwl
Beam66 ft 1 in (20.14 m)
Draft
  • 17 ft 4 in (5.28 m) (mean)
  • 24 ft (7.3 m) (max)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed32.7 kn (60.6 km/h; 37.6 mph)
Range13,000 nmi (15,000 mi; 24,000 km) at 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement
  • 95 officers 857 enlisted (as designed)
  • 1,269 officers and men (wartime)
  • 1,195 crewmen at time of sinking
Armament
Armor
  • Belt:3+1⁄4–5 in (83–127 mm)
  • Deck:2+1⁄2in (64 mm)
  • Barbettes:1+1⁄2in (38 mm)
  • Turrets:1+1⁄2–2+1⁄2in (38–64 mm)
  • Conning tower:1+1⁄4in (32 mm)
Aircraft carried4 ×floatplanes
Aviation facilities2 ×Amidshipcatapults
General characteristics (1945)[3]
Armament
Aircraft carried3 × floatplanes
Aviation facilities1 × Amidship catapults (starboard catapult removed in 1945)

In July 1945,Indianapoliscompleted a top-secret high-speed trip to deliveruraniumand other components for "Little Boy",the firstnuclear weaponused in combat, to theTinian Naval Base,and subsequently departed for thePhilippineson training duty. At 0015 on 30 July, the ship wastorpedoedby theImperial Japanese NavysubmarineI-58,and sank in 12 minutes.

Of 1,195 crewmen aboard, about 300 went down with the ship. The remaining 890 facedexposure,dehydration,saltwater poisoning,andshark attackswhile stranded in the open ocean, with few lifeboats and almost no food or water.[4]

The Navy learned of the sinking four days later, when survivors were spotted by the crew of aPV-1 Venturaon routine patrol. A U.S. NavyPBY flying boatcrew landed to save those in the water. Only 316 survived.[4]No U.S. warship sunk at sea has lost more sailors.[a]

On 19 August 2017, a search team financed byMicrosoftco-founderPaul Allenlocated the wreckage in thePhilippine Sealying at a depth of approximately 18,000 ft (5,500 m).[5]On 20 December 2018, the crew ofIndianapoliswas collectively awarded aCongressional Gold Medal.[6]

Construction

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Main article:Portland-class cruiser

Indianapoliswas the second of two ships in thePortlandclass, the third class of "treaty cruisers" constructed by theUnited States Navyfollowing theWashington Naval Treatyof 1922, after the two vessels of thePensacolaclass,ordered in 1926, and the six of theNorthamptonclass,ordered in 1927.[7]Ordered for the U.S. Navy in fiscal year 1930,Indianapoliswas originally designated as alight cruiserbecause of her thin armor and given thehull classification symbolCL-35. She was reclassified aheavy cruiser,because of her 8-inch (203 mm) guns, with the symbol CA-35 on 1 July 1931, in accordance with theLondon Naval Treaty.[8]

As built, thePortland-class cruisers were designed for astandard displacementof 10,258long tons(10,423t), and afull-load displacementof 12,755 long tons (12,960 t).[9]However, when completed,Indianapolisdid not reach this weight, displacing 9,950 long tons (10,110 t).[10]The ship had two distinctive rakedfunnels,a tripodforemast,and a small tower and pole mast aft. In 1943, light tripods were added forward of the second funnel on each ship, and a prominentnaval directorwas installed aft.[10]

The ship had fourpropeller shaftsand four Parsons GTgeared turbinesand eightWhite-Forster boilers.The 107,000shp(80,000 kW) gave a design speed of 32.7kn(60.6 km/h; 37.6 mph). She was designed for a range of 10,000nmi(19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph).[10]She rolled badly until fitted with abilge keel.[8]

The cruiser had nine8-inch/55-caliberMark 9 guns in three triple mounts, asuperfiringpair fore and one aft. Foranti-aircraftdefense, she had eight5-inch/25-caliber gunsand twoQF 3-pounder Hotchkissguns. In 1945, she received twenty-four40 mm (1.57 in) Boforsguns, arrayed in six quad mounts. Both ships were upgraded with nineteen20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons.[3]The ship did not havetorpedo tubes.[11]

ThePortland-class cruisers originally had 1-inch (25 mm) armor for deck and side protection, but in construction[8]they were givenbelt armorbetween 5 in (127 mm) (around themagazines) and 3.25 in (83 mm) in thickness.[11]Armor on thebulkheadswas between 2 in (51 mm) and 5.75 in (146 mm); that on thedeckwas 2.5 in (64 mm), thebarbettes1.5 in (38 mm), thegunhouses2.5 in, and theconning tower1.25 in (32 mm).[10]

Portland-class cruisers were outfitted asfleet flagships,with space for aflag officerand his staff. The class also had twoaircraft catapultsamidships.[10]They could carry four aircraft. The total crew varied, with a regular designed complement of 807[9]and a wartime complement of 952, which could increase to 1,229 when the cruiser was a fleet flagship.[10]

Indianapoliswaslaid downbyNew York Shipbuilding Corporationon 31 March 1930.[10]The hull and machinery were provided by the builder.[8]Indianapoliswaslaunchedon 7 November 1931, andcommissionedon 15 November 1932.[10]She was the second ship named for the city ofIndianapolis,following thecargo ship of the same namein 1918. She wassponsoredbyLucy M. Taggart,daughter of formerMayor of IndianapolisThomas Taggart.[12]

Interwar period

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Indianapolisin 1939

UnderCaptainJohn M. Smeallie,Indianapolisundertook hershakedown cruisethrough the Atlantic and intoGuantánamo Bay,until 23 February 1932.Indianapolisthen transited thePanama Canalfor training off the Chilean coast. After overhaul at thePhiladelphia Naval Shipyard,she sailed toMaineto embarkPresidentFranklin D. RooseveltatCampobello Island,New Brunswick, on 1 July 1933.[12]Getting underway the same day,Indianapolisarrived atAnnapolis, Maryland,on 3 July. She hosted six members of theCabinet,along with Roosevelt, during her stay there. After disembarking Roosevelt, she departed Annapolis on 4 July, and steamed for Philadelphia Navy Yard.[12]

On 6 September, she embarkedUnited States Secretary of the NavyClaude A. Swanson,for an inspection of the Navy in the Pacific.Indianapolistoured theCanal Zone,Hawaii, and installations inSan PedroandSan Diego.Swanson disembarked on 27 October. On 1 November 1933, she became the flagship ofScouting Fleet1, and maneuvered with the force offLong Beach, California.She departed on 9 April 1934, and arrived at New York City, embarking Roosevelt for a second time, for anaval review.She returned to Long Beach on 9 November 1934 for more training with the Scouting Force. She remained flagship of Scouting Force 1 until 1941. On 18 November 1936, she embarked Roosevelt for a third time atCharleston, South Carolina,and conducted a goodwill cruise to South America with him. She visitedRio de Janeiro,Brazil,Buenos Aires,Argentina, andMontevideo,Uruguay, for state visits before returning to Charleston and disembarking Roosevelt's party on 15 December.[12]President Roosevelt underwent hiscrossing the lineceremony during this cruise on 26 November: an "intensive initiation lasting two days, but we have all survived and are now full-fledged Shellbacks".[13]

World War II

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On 7 December 1941,Indianapolis,leading Task Force 3, (Indianapolisand destroyer-minesweepersDorsey,Elliot,andLambertonfrom MineDiv 6, andSouthardandLongfrom MineDiv 5[14]) was conducting a mock bombardment atJohnston Atollduring theJapanese attack on Pearl Harbor.Indianapoliswas absorbed into Task Force 12 and searched for theJapaneseaircraft carriersresponsible for the attack, though the force did not locate them. She returned toPearl Harboron 13 December and joinedTask Force 11.[12]

New Guinea campaign

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Main article:New Guinea campaign

With the task force, she steamed to theSouth Pacific,to 350 mi (560 km) south ofRabaul,New Britain,escorting theaircraft carrierLexington.Late in the afternoon of 20 February 1942, the American ships were attacked by 18 Japanese aircraft. Of these, 16 were shot down by aircraft fromLexingtonand the other two were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire from the ships.[12]

On 10 March, the task force, reinforced by another force centered on the carrierYorktown,attackedLaeandSalamaua,New Guinea, where the Japanese were marshalingamphibious forces.Attacking from the south through theOwen Stanley mountain range,the US air forces surprised and inflicted heavy damage on Japanese warships and transports, losing few aircraft.Indianapolisreturned to theMare Island Naval Shipyardfor a refit before escorting a convoy to Australia.[12]

Aleutian Islands campaign

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Main article:Aleutian Islands campaign

Indianapolisthen headed for the North Pacific to support American units in theBattle of the Aleutian Islands.On 7 August,Indianapolisand the task force attackedKiska Island,a Japanese staging area. Although fog hindered observation,Indianapolisand other ships fired their main guns into the bay.Floatplanesfrom the cruisers reported Japanese ships sunk in the harbor and damage to shore installations. After 15 minutes, Japaneseshore batteriesreturned fire before being destroyed by the ships' main guns. Japanese submarines approaching the force weredepth-chargedby Americandestroyersand Japanese seaplanes made an ineffective bombing attack. In spite of a lack of information on the Japanese forces, the operation was considered a success. US forces later occupiedAdak Island,providing a naval base farther fromDutch HarboronUnalaska Island.

1943 operations

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Indianapolisunderway at sea in 1943–1944

In January 1943,Indianapolissupported a landing and occupation onAmchitka,part of anAlliedisland hoppingstrategy in theAleutian Islands.[12]

On the evening of 19 February,Indianapolisled two destroyers on a patrol southwest ofAttu Island,searching for Japanese ships trying to reinforce Kiska and Attu. She intercepted the Japanese 3,100-long-ton (3,150 t)cargo ship,Akagane Maruladen with troops, munitions, and supplies. The cargo ship tried to reply to the radio challenge but was shelled byIndianapolis.Akagane Maruexploded and sank with all hands. Through mid-1943,Indianapolisremained near the Aleutian Islands, escorting American convoys and providing shore bombardments supporting amphibious assaults. In May, the Allies captured Attu, then turned on Kiska, thought to be the final Japanese holdout in the Aleutians. Allied landings there began on 15 August, but the Japanese had already abandoned the Aleutian Islands, unbeknownst to the Allies.[12]

After refitting at Mare Island,Indianapolismoved to Hawaii as flagship ofVice AdmiralRaymond A. Spruance,commanding the5th Fleet.She sortied from Pearl Harbor on 10 November, with the main body of the Southern Attack Force forOperation Galvanic,the invasion of theGilbert Islands.On 19 November,IndianapolisbombardedTarawa Atoll,and next day poundedMakin(seeBattle of Makin). The ship then returned to Tarawa as fire-support for the landings. Her guns shot down an enemy plane and shelled enemy strongpoints as landing parties fought Japanese defenders in theBattle of Tarawa.She continued this role until the island was secure three days later. The conquest of theMarshall Islandsfollowed victory in the Gilberts.Indianapoliswas again 5th Fleet flagship.

1944

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Indianapolisin 1944dazzle camouflagepattern

The cruiser met other ships of her task force at Tarawa, and onD-Dayminus 1, 31 January 1944, she was one of the cruisers that bombarded the islands ofKwajalein Atoll.The shelling continued on D-Day, withIndianapolissuppressing two enemy shore batteries. Next day, she destroyed a blockhouse and other shore installations and supported advancing troops with acreeping barrage.The ship entered Kwajalein Lagoon, on 4 February, and remained until resistance disappeared (seeBattle of Kwajalein).

In March and April,Indianapolis,still flagship of the 5th Fleet, attacked theWestern Carolines.Carrier planes at thePalau Islandson 30–31 March, sank three destroyers, 17 freighters, fiveoilersand damaged 17 other ships. Airfields were bombed and surrounding watermined.YapandUlithiwere struck on 31 March, andWoleaion 1 April. Japanese planes attacked but were driven off without damaging the American ships.Indianapolisshot down her second plane, a torpedo bomber, and the Japanese lost 160 planes, including 46 on the ground. These attacks prevented Japanese forces stationed in the Carolines from interfering with the US landings onNew Guinea.

In June, the 5th Fleet was busy with the assault on theMariana Islands.Raids onSaipanbegan with carrier-based planes on 11 June, followed by surface bombardment, in whichIndianapolishad a major role, from 13 June (seeBattle of Saipan). On D-Day, 15 June, Admiral Spruance heard thatbattleships,carriers, cruisers, and destroyers were headed south to relieve threatened garrisons in the Marianas. Since amphibious operations at Saipan had to be protected, Spruance could not withdraw too far. Consequently, a fast carrier force was sent to meet this threat while another force attacked Japanese air bases onIwo JimaandChichi Jima,in theBoninandVolcano Islands,bases for potential enemy air attacks.

A combined US fleet fought the Japanese on 19 June in theBattle of the Philippine Sea.Japanese carrier planes, which planned to use the airfields ofGuamandTinianto refuel and rearm, were met by carrier planes and the guns of the Allied escorting ships. That day, the U.S. Navy destroyed a reported 426 Japanese planes while losing 29.[15]Indianapolisshot down one torpedo plane. This day of aerial combat became known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot". With Japanese air opposition wiped out, the US carrier planes sankHiyō,two destroyers, and onetankerand damaged others. Two other carriers,TaihōandShōkaku,were sunk by submarines.

Indianapolisreturned to Saipan on 23 June to resume fire support and six days later moved to Tinian to attack shore installations (seeBattle of Tinian). Meanwhile, Guam had been taken, andIndianapolisbecame the first ship to enterApra Harborsince early in the war. The ship operated in the Marianas for the next few weeks, then moved to the Western Carolines, where further landings were planned. From 12 to 29 September, she bombardedPeleliu,in thePalau Group,before and after the landings (seeBattle of Peleliu). She then sailed toManus Island,in theAdmiralty Islands,where she operated for 10 days before returning to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California for refitting.

1945

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Overhauled,Indianapolisjoined Vice AdmiralMarc A. Mitscher's fast carrier task force on 14 February 1945. Two days later, the task force launched an attack onTokyoto cover the landings on Iwo Jima, scheduled for 19 February. This was the first carrier attack on mainland Japan since theDoolittle Raid.The mission was to destroy Japanese air facilities and other installations in theHome Islands.The fleet achieved complete tactical surprise by approaching the Japanese coast under cover of bad weather. The attacks were pressed home for two days. The U.S. Navy lost 49 carrier planes while claiming 499 enemy planes, a 10-to-1 kill/loss ratio. The task force also sank a carrier, nine coastal ships, a destroyer, twodestroyer escorts,and a cargo ship. They destroyed hangars, shops, aircraft installations, factories, and other industrial targets.

Indianapolisoff Mare Island on 10 July 1945

Immediately after the strikes, the task force raced to the Bonin Islands to support thelandings on Iwo Jima.The ship remained there until 1 March, protecting the invasion ships and bombarding targets in support of the landings.Indianapolisreturned to VADM Mitscher's task force in time to strike Tokyo, again on 25 February, andHachijō,off the southern coast ofHonshū,the following day. Although weather was extremely bad, the American force destroyed 158 planes and sank five small ships while pounding ground installations and destroying trains.

The next target for the US forces wasOkinawa,in theRyukyu Islands,which were in range of aircraft from the Japanese mainland. The fast carrier force was tasked with attacking airfields in southern Japan until they were incapable of launching effective airborne opposition to the impending invasion. The fast carrier force departed for Japan from Ulithi on 14 March. On 18 March, she launched an attack from a position 100 mi (160 km) southeast of the island ofKyūshū.The attack targeted airfields on Kyūshū, as well as ships of the Japanese fleet in the harbors ofKobeandKure,on southern Honshū. The Japanese located the American task force on 21 March, sending 48 planes to attack the ships. Twenty-fourfightersfrom the task force intercepted and shot down all the Japanese aircraft.

Indianapoliswas assigned toTask Force 54(TF 54) for theinvasion of Okinawa.When TF 54 began pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa on 24 March,Indianapolisspent seven days pouring 8-inch shells into the beach defenses. During this time, enemy aircraft repeatedly attacked the American ships.Indianapolisshot down six planes and damaged two others. On 31 March, the day before theTenth Army(combined U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps) started its assault landings, theIndianapolislookouts spotted a JapaneseNakajima Ki-43"Oscar" fighter as it emerged from the morning twilight and dived vertically towards the bridge. The ship's 20 mm guns opened fire, but within 15 seconds the plane was over the ship. Tracers converged on it, causing it to swerve, but the pilot managed to release his bomb from a height of 25 ft (7.6 m), then crashing his plane into the sea near theportstern.The bomb plummeted through the deck, into the crew'smess hall,down through the berthing compartment, and through the fuel tanks before crashing through the keel and exploding in the water underneath. The concussion blew two gaping holes in the keel which flooded nearby compartments, killing nine crewmen. The ship's bulkheads prevented any progressive flooding.Indianapolis,settling slightly by the stern and listing to port, steamed to a salvage ship for emergency repairs. Here, inspection revealed that her propeller shafts were damaged, her fuel tanks ruptured, and her water-distilling equipment ruined.Indianapolisthen steamed under her own power to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for repairs.

Transporting the atomic bomb

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TheLittle Boyatomic bomb (L-11) being assembled atTiniana few days after its arrival aboard theIndianapolis.

After major repairs and an overhaul,Indianapolisreceived orders to undertake a top-secret mission: transporting a "critical shipment" of material for the firstatomic bombtoTinian Island.In its hold was loaded the complete non-nuclear parts for aLittle Boygun-type atomic bomb unit (L-11) and several hundred pounds of scientific instruments and tools. Also on board was the bomb'senriched uranium"projectile," in the form of 38.5 kilograms (85 lb) discs, which were kept inside of a lead-lined steel container that was bolted and chained to the floor of the captain's CaptainMcVay's quarters for the duration of the journey. Two representatives of theManhattan Project,MajorRobert R. Furmanand Dr. James F. Nolan, accompanied them on the journey incognito. Nolan, the Chief Medical Office forProject Y,was there to monitor the uranium's radioactivity. Nolan was frequentlyseasickon the journey, which he used as an excuse to surreptitiously monitor the container.[16]

Indianapolisdeparted San Francisco'sHunters Point Naval Shipyardon 16 July 1945, within hours of theTrinitytest in New Mexico. She set a speed record of74+1⁄2hours[17]from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, an average speed of 29 kn (54 km/h; 33 mph). Arriving at Pearl Harbor on 19 July,[18]she raced on unaccompanied,[19]delivering the atomic bomb components to Tinian on 26 July.[20]

On the same day thatIndianapolisoffloaded its cargo at Tinian, the remaining 25.6 kilograms (56 lb) of enriched uranium used for the "target" piece of the bomb was divided into three pieces and sent on three differentC-54cargo planes fromAlbuquerque, New Mexico.By 29 July, all three had arrived at Tinian and the next day the assembly of the L-11 atomic bomb unit began.[16]The weapon, which would be dropped onHiroshimaon the morning of 6 August, would be inscribed with numerous autographs and graffiti by ground crews who loaded it into the plane. One of them read: "Greetings to the Emperor from the men of theIndianapolis".[21]

After its stop at Tinian,Indianapolisthe continued on its route to Guam, where a number of the crew who had completed their tours of duty were relieved by other sailors. Leaving Guam on 28 July, she began sailing towardLeyte,where her crew was to receive training before continuing on to Okinawa to join Vice AdmiralJesse B. Oldendorf'sTask Force 95.[citation needed][22]

Sinking

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Indianapolis'sintended route from Guam to thePhilippines

At 00:15 on 30 July 1945,Indianapoliswas struck on her starboard side by twoType 95 torpedoes,one in the bow and one amidships, from the Japanese submarineI-58,[19]captained byCommanderMochitsura Hashimoto,who initially thought he had spotted theNew Mexico-class battleshipIdaho.[23]The explosions caused massive damage.Indianapolistook on a heavy list (the ship had a great deal of armament and gun-firing directors added as the war went on, and was therefore top-heavy)[24]and settled by the bow. Twelve minutes later, she rolled completely over, then her stern rose into the air and she sank. Some 300 of the 1,195 crewmen aboard went down with the ship.[4]With few lifeboats and many without life jackets, the remainder of the crew was set adrift.[25]

Rescue

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Navy command did not know of the ship's sinking until survivors were spotted in the open ocean three and a half days later. At 10:25 on 2 August, aPV-1 Venturaflown byLieutenantWilbur "Chuck" Gwinn and his copilot, Lieutenant Warren Colwell, and aPBY-2 Catalinapiloted by Bill Kitchen spotted the men adrift while on a routine patrol flight.[26]Gwinn immediately dropped a life raft and radio transmitter. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to the scene at once.

First to arrive was an amphibious PBY-5A Catalina patrol plane flown by Lieutenant Commander (USN)Robert Adrian Marks.Marks and his flight crew spotted the survivors and dropped life rafts; one raft was destroyed by the drop while others were too far away from the exhausted crew. Against standing orders not to land in open ocean, Marks took a vote of his crew and decided to land the aircraft in twelve-foot (3.7 m) swells. He was able to maneuver his craft to pick up 56 survivors. Space in the plane was limited, so Marks had men lashed to the wing with parachute cord. His actions rendered the aircraft unflyable. After nightfall, the destroyer escortUSSCecil J. Doyle,the first of seven rescue ships, used its searchlight as a beacon and instilled hope in those still in the water.Cecil J. Doyleand six other ships picked up the remaining survivors. After the rescue, Marks' plane was sunk byCecil J. Doyleas it could not be recovered.[27]

Many of the survivors were injured, and all suffered from lack of food and water (leading todehydrationandhypernatremia;some foundrations,such asSpamandcrackers,among the debris of theIndianapolis), exposure to the elements (dehydration from the hot sun during the day andhypothermiaat night, as well as severedesquamationdue to continued exposure to saltwater and bunker oil), andshark attacks,while some killed themselves. Other survivors were found in various states ofdeliriumor suffered fromhallucinations.[28][29]Only 316 of the 890 men set adrift after the sinking survived.[4]Two of the rescued survivors, Robert Lee Shipman and Frederick Harrison, died in August 1945.

Hundreds of sharks were apparently drawn to the wreck. After picking off the dead and wounded, they began attacking survivors. The number of deaths attributed to sharks ranges from a few dozen to 150.[30]

"Ocean of Fear", a 2007 episode of theDiscovery ChannelTV documentary seriesShark Week,states that the sinking ofIndianapolisresulted in the most shark attacks on humans in history, and attributes the attacks to theoceanic whitetip sharkspecies.Tiger sharksmay also have killed some sailors. The same show attributed most of the deaths onIndianapolisto exposure, salt poisoning, and thirst/dehydration, with the dead being dragged off by sharks.[31]

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The Headquarters of Commander Marianas on Guam and of the CommanderPhilippine Sea Frontieron Leyte kept Operations plotting boards on which were plotted the positions of all vessels with which the headquarters were concerned. However, it was assumed that ships as large asIndianapoliswould reach their destinations on time, unless reported otherwise. Therefore, their positions were based on predictions and not on reports. On 31 July, when she should have arrived at Leyte,Indianapoliswas removed from the board in the headquarters of Commander Marianas. She was also recorded as having arrived at Leyte by the headquarters of Commander Philippine Sea Frontier. Lieutenant Stuart B. Gibson, the operations officer under the Port Director, Tacloban, was the officer responsible for tracking the movements ofIndianapolis.The vessel's failure to arrive on schedule was known at once to Gibson, who failed to investigate the matter and made no immediate report of the fact to his superiors. Gibson received aletter of reprimandin connection with the incident. The acting commander and operations officer of the Philippine Sea Frontier also received reprimands, while Gibson's immediate superior received a letter of admonition (a less severe military punishment than a reprimand).[32][33]

Survivors ofIndianapolison Guam in August 1945

In the first official statement, the Navy said that distress calls "were keyed by radio operators and possibly were actually transmitted" but that "no evidence has been developed that any distress message from the ship was received by any ship, aircraft or shore station".[33]Declassified records later showed that three stations received the signals but none acted upon the call. One commander was drunk, another had ordered his men not to disturb him, and a third thought it was a Japanese trap.[34]

Immediately prior to the attack, the seas had been moderate, the visibility fluctuating but poor in general, andIndianapolishad been steaming at 17 kn (20 mph; 31 km/h). When the ship failed to reach Leyte on 31 July, as scheduled, no report was made that she was overdue. The Navy then created theMovement Report Systemto prevent such disasters in the future.[35]

Court-martial of Captain McVay

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CaptainCharles B. McVay III,who had commandedIndianapolissince November 1944 through several battles, survived the sinking, though he was one of the last to abandon ship, and was among those rescued days later. In November 1945, he wascourt-martialedon two charges: failing to order his men to abandon ship and hazarding the ship. Cleared of the charge of failing to order abandon ship, McVay was convicted of "hazarding his ship by failing tozigzag".Several aspects of the court-martial were controversial. There was evidence that the Navy itself had placed the ship in harm's way. McVay's orders were to" zigzag at his discretion, weather permitting "; however, McVay was not informed that a Japanese submarine was operating in the vicinity of his route from Guam to Leyte. Further, Commander Mochitsura Hashimoto, commanding officer ofI-58,testified that zigzagging would have made no difference.[36]Fleet AdmiralChester Nimitzremitted McVay's sentence and restored him to active duty. McVay retired in 1949 as arear admiral.[37]

While many ofIndianapolis'ssurvivors said McVay was not to blame for the sinking, the families of some of the men who died thought otherwise: "Merry Christmas! Our family's holiday would be a lot merrier if you hadn't killed my son", read one piece of mail.[38]The guilt that was placed on his shoulders mounted until hekilled himselfin 1968, aged 70.[39]

McVay's record cleared

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In 1996, sixth-grade student Hunter Scott began his research on the sinking ofIndianapolisfor a class history project. Scott's effort led to an increase in national publicity,[40]which got the attention of retired Congressional lobbyist Michael Monroney, who had been scheduled to be assigned toIndianapolisbefore she shipped out on her final voyage. Around the same time,Captain William J. Toti, USN,final commanding officer of the fast attack nuclear submarineUSSIndianapolis(SSN-697)received an appeal from severalIndianapolissurvivors to assist with the exoneration effort. Toti then demonstrated through analysis that the tactic of zigzagging would not have spared theIndianapolisfrom at least one torpedo hit by theI-58.[41]Monroney brought the matter to the attention of his son-in-law, who was on the staff ofSenator Bob Smith(R, NH) and was able to get the issue in front of Smith. Smith convincedSenator John Warner(R, VA) to hold hearings on theSenate Armed Services Committeeon 14 September 1999, in which severalIndianapolissurvivors testified. Also called to testify in the hearings wereVice Chief of Naval OperationsAdmiral Donald Pilling,Director ofNaval History CenterDr. William Dudley, and theJudge Advocate General of the NavyRear Admiral John Hutson.The hearings were reported to sway Senator Warner into allowing a "Sense of Congress"resolution clearing Captain McVay's name to be passed to full Congress for a vote. In October 2000, theUnited States Congresspassed a resolution that Captain McVay's record should state that "he isexoneratedfor the loss ofIndianapolis".PresidentBill Clintonalso signed the resolution.[42]The resolution noted that, although several hundred ships of the U.S. Navy were lost in combat during World War II, McVay was the only captain to be court-martialed for the loss of his ship due to enemy action in combat.[43]In July 2001, United States Secretary of the NavyGordon Englanddirected Captain Toti to enter the Congressional language into McVay's official Navy service record, clearing him of all wrongdoing.[44][45]

Commanders

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Commanders of USSIndianapolis:[46]

Rank Name Date
Captain John M. Smeallie 15 November 1932 – 10 December 1934
Captain William S. McClintic 10 December 1934 – 16 March 1936
Captain Henry Kent Hewitt 16 March 1936 – 5 June 1937
Captain Thomas C. Kinkaid 5 June 1937 – 1 July 1938
Captain John F. Shafroth Jr. 1 July 1938 – 1 October 1941
Captain Edward Hanson 1 October 1941 – 11 July 1942
Captain Morton L. Deyo 11 July 1942 – 12 January 1943
Captain Nicholas Vytlacil 12 January 1943 – 30 July 1943
Captain Einar R. Johnson 30 July 1943 – 18 November 1944
Captain Charles B. McVay III 18 November 1944 – 30 July 1945

Awards

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Wreck discovery

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Navy firing detail as part of aburial-at-seain 2008, for one of the 316 survivors ofIndianapolissinking on 30 July 1945

The wreck ofIndianapolisis in the Philippine Sea.[48]In July–August 2001, an expedition sought to find the wreckage through the use ofside-scan sonarand underwater cameras mounted on aremotely operated vehicle.FourIndianapolissurvivors accompanied the expedition, which was not successful. In June 2005, a second expedition was mounted to find the wreck.National Geographiccovered the story and released it in July.Submersibleswere launched to find any sign of wreckage, although they only located pieces of metal that were not proven conclusively to be from the ship.

In July 2016, new information emerged regarding the possible location ofIndianapoliswhen naval records were discovered indicating that the tank landing shipLST-779recorded passing byIndianapolis11 hours before the torpedoes struck. This information allowed researchers to determine thatIndianapolishad been moving faster and was therefore farther west than previously assumed, as well as slightly off the route taken. Using this information,National Geographicplanned to mount an expedition to search for the wreck in the summer of 2017.[49]Reports estimated thatIndianapoliswas actually 25 miles (40 km) west of the reported sinking position, in water over three miles (4,800 m) deep, and likely on the side of an underwater mountain.[50]

A year after the discovery of the records, the wreck was located byPaul Allen's "USSIndianapolisProject "aboard the research vesselPetrel [51]on 19 August 2017, at a depth of 18,000 ft (5,500 m).[52]The wreck was revealed to the public on 13 September 2017, in a live TV show on PBS titled "USSIndianapolis,Live from the Deep ", starringMiles O'Brienand also including now-retired Captain William Toti.[53]The wreck is well-preserved due to the great depth at whichIndianapolisrests, among the rocky mountain ranges of the North Philippine Sea.[54]

In September 2017, a map detailing the wreckage was released. The main part of the wreck lies in an enormous impact crater; her bow, which broke off before the ship sank, lies 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east. The two forward 8-inch guns, which also broke off on the surface and mark the ship's last position on the surface, lie 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east of the main wreck. The bridge, which broke off the ship due to the torpedoes, lies in a debris field near the forward guns. The single 8-inch gun turret on the stern remains in place, though the stern's roof collapsed over itself. Airplane wreckage from the ship lies about 0.6 miles (0.97 km) north of the main part of the wreck.[55]The full exposition of the method by which the wreck was located and documented was released in anotherPBSdocumentary on 8 January 2019 titledUSS Indianapolis: The Final Chapter.[56]

Reunions

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Since 1960, surviving crew members met for reunions in Indianapolis. Fourteen of the thirty-two remaining survivors attended the 70th reunion, held 23–26 July 2015. Held only sporadically at first, then biannually, the reunions were later held annually. By 2015 most of the survivors were in their nineties, voted every year whether to continue.[57][58][59]Seven out of twenty remaining survivors attended the 2017 reunion.[60]With the death of Cleatus Lebow on 29 September 2022,[61]there is only one crew member still alive, Harold Bray.[62]

Memorials

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See also:U.S. Navy Museum § Other museums
USSIndianapolisNational Memorial in Indianapolis, Indiana, 2024

The USSIndianapolisMuseum had its grand opening on 7 July 2007, with its gallery in the Indiana War Memorial Museum at theIndiana World War Memorial Plaza.[63]

The USSIndianapolisNational Memorial was dedicated on 2 August 1995. It is located inIndianapolis,Indiana, in the city'sCanal and White River State Parkcultural district.[64]The heavy cruiser is depicted in limestone and granite and sits adjacent to the downtown canal. The crewmembers' names are listed on the monument, with special notations for those who died.[65]It was designated anational memorialby Congress in 1993.[66]

In May 2011, theI-465beltway around Indianapolis was named the USSIndianapolisMemorial Highway.[67]

Some material relating toIndianapolisis held by theIndiana State Museum.Her bell and a commissioning pennant were formerly located atHeslar Naval Armorybut currently reside at theIndiana War Memorial Museum.[68][69]

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In a scene in the 1975 movieJaws,one of the main characters, Quint, who is a survivor of theIndianapolis,recounts the sinking and shark attacks. This scene broughtIndianapolis,and its sinking, into a much wider public spotlight 30 years after the events occurred.[70][71]The 2019 playThe Shark Is Broken,which opened on Broadway in 2023, both exploresRobert Shaw(Quint's actor) rewriting the dialogue to the scene, as well as doing a full rendition of the famous scene at the end.[72]

The sinking is the subject of the 1991 made-for-TV filmMission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis,starringStacy Keach.

The 2014Shark (novel),written by English writerWill Selfis based on the sinking of USS Indianapolis.

The 2016 filmUSS Indianapolis: Men of Courage,directed byMario Van Peeblesand starringNicolas Cage,is based on the sinking.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^While the loss ofIndianapolisis the worst-ever loss of life from a single shipsinking at seafor the U.S. Navy, it is not the worst naval disaster for the U.S. Navy nor the United States military as a whole. Earlier in World War II, thebattleshipUSSArizonaand thetroopshipHMTRohnawere lost with more American lives, butArizonawas in port atPearl Harborwhen sunk andRohnawas primarily carryingUnited States Armypersonnel, not U.S. Navy personnel, when it was sunk at sea. The complement of theaircraft carrierUSSFranklinwould also suffer upwards of 900 killed at sea throughout the war, althoughFranklinwas not sunk. Additionally, the accidental loss of thesteamboatSultana,which exploded on theMississippi Riverwhile carrying Union soldiers in the immediate aftermath theAmerican Civil War,was the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history. The 1,700 U.S. militaryprisoners of warfrom the Philippines (out of a total of 1,773Alliedtroops missing and killed) who died on the sunken Japanesehell shipArisan Marufrom a torpedo launched by the submarineUSSSharkwas the greatest loss of life from a single ship in U.S. military history.

References

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Sources

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Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toUSS Indianapolis (CA-35).

12°2′N134°48′E/ 12.033°N 134.800°E/12.033; 134.800(Approximate location of the wreck of the USSIndianapolis(CA-35))

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