USS Indianapolis

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Lore & Background

Indianapolis was laid down by New York Shipbuilding Corporation on 31 March 1930. She was launched on 7 November 1931 and commissioned on 15 November 1932. Originally designated as a light cruiser (CL-35), she was reclassified a heavy cruiser (CA-35) on 1 July 1931 because of her 8-inch guns. During the interwar period, she served as flagship of Scouting Fleet 1 and hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt on three occasions: embarking him at Campobello Island on 1 July 1933, again in New York City on 9 April 1934 for a naval review, and on 18 November 1936 at Charleston, South Carolina, for a goodwill cruise to South America. On that cruise, Roosevelt underwent a crossing the line ceremony on 26 November, described as an "intensive initiation lasting two days, but we have all survived and are now full-fledged Shellbacks." On 7 December 1941, Indianapolis was leading Task Force 3 in a mock bombardment at Johnston Atoll during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She joined Task Force 11 and escorted the carrier Lexington, and on 10 March 1942 attacked Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea. She later supported the Aleutian Islands campaign, bombarding Kiska Island on 7 August 1942 and supporting the occupation of Amchitka in January 1943. On 19 February 1943, she intercepted and sank the Japanese cargo ship Akagane Maru southwest of Attu Island.

Reader's Guide

The sinking of USS Indianapolis remains one of the most tragic events in U.S. naval history. At 0015 on 30 July 1945, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Of 1,195 crewmen aboard, about 300 went down with the ship. The remaining 890 faced exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks while stranded in the open ocean, with few lifeboats and almost no food or water. The Navy learned of the sinking four days later when survivors were spotted by the crew of a PV-1 Ventura on routine patrol; a U.S. Navy PBY flying boat crew landed to save those in the water. Only 316 survived. No U.S. warship sunk at sea has lost more sailors. The ship's top-secret mission in July 1945 delivered uranium and other components for "Little Boy", the first nuclear weapon used in combat, to the Tinian Naval Base. On 19 August 2017, a search team financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen located the wreckage in the Philippine Sea at a depth of about 18,000 ft (5,500 m). On 20 December 2018, the crew of Indianapolis was collectively awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Did You Know?

• Indianapolis was originally designated a light cruiser (CL-35) but reclassified a heavy cruiser (CA-35) on 1 July 1931 due to her 8-inch guns.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt underwent a crossing the line ceremony aboard Indianapolis on 26 November 1936, described as an 'intensive initiation lasting two days.'
• On 19 February 1943, Indianapolis intercepted and sank the Japanese cargo ship Akagane Maru southwest of Attu Island, with all hands lost.
• The wreck of Indianapolis was located on 19 August 2017 by a search team financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen at a depth of about 18,000 ft (5,500 m).
• The crew of Indianapolis was collectively awarded a Congressional Gold Medal on 20 December 2018.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

Some believe that the USS Indianapolis was sunk because it was on a secret mission to deliver atomic bomb components. However, while it had completed that top-secret delivery, the ship was torpedoed while subsequently en route to the Philippines on routine training duty. Others think that the shark attacks were the primary cause of death; in fact, exposure, dehydration, and saltwater poisoning were also major threats faced by survivors in the open ocean.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

The story of the USS Indianapolis endures as a stark reminder of both the heroism and the operational failures of war. The devastating delay in the Navy’s response—learning of the sinking only four days later—highlights how quickly triumph can turn to tragedy when communication and rescue systems fail. It remains a powerful testament to human endurance and the heavy cost of military service.