description USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Overview
USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy that saw extensive service during World War II. In July 1945, the ship completed a top-secret mission to deliver components for the first atomic bomb to Tinian island. On July 30, 1945, the vessel was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-58 and sank rapidly. Roughly 900 crew members survived the initial sinking but spent days in the ocean facing exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks before rescue, leaving only 316 survivors.
insights Ranking position
USS Indianapolis (CA-35) ranks #8 of 186 in the Shipwreck ranking, behind RMS Titanic, ahead of RMS Lancastria.
help USS Indianapolis (CA-35) FAQ
What secret cargo did USS Indianapolis deliver before it sank?
The cruiser carried key components and enriched uranium connected with the Little Boy atomic bomb to Tinian in July 1945. After completing that mission, it sailed toward the Philippines without knowing that a Japanese submarine lay in its path.
How did USS Indianapolis sink?
Japanese submarine I-58, commanded by Mochitsura Hashimoto, torpedoed the cruiser shortly after midnight on July 30, 1945. The ship sank in roughly 12 minutes, leaving hundreds of sailors in the Philippine Sea.
Why did rescuers take so long to find the survivors?
Failures in routing, reporting, and follow-up meant that the ship was not promptly reported missing when it failed to arrive. Survivors were discovered by chance several days later when a patrol aircraft spotted men and wreckage in the water.
Was Captain Charles McVay eventually cleared?
McVay was court-martialed for failing to zigzag, despite disputed evidence about whether that maneuver would have prevented the attack. Congress passed a resolution exonerating him in 2000, and the Navy subsequently amended his official record.
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