USS Loss of USS Indianapolis
10 battle stars
- Her fate sunk by the Japanese submarine I-58 within the first hour of 30 July Indianapolis was en route from Guam to Leyte when she was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-58 within the first hour of 30 July 1945.
- Class Battleship
- Battle stars ten battle stars Frequently the flagship of the Fifth Fleet, Indianapolis served with honor from Pearl Harbor through the last campaign of World War II, earning ten battle stars.
The loss of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a tragic moment following the completion of a secret mission that directly contributed to the end of World War II. After a successful high-speed run to deliver atomic bomb components to Tinian, the decorated Portland-class cruiser continued to Guam. Indianapolis was en route from Guam to Leyte when she was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-58 within the first hour of 30 July 1945. The following resources, available on the NHHC website, document the history of Indianapolis, the sinking, the aftermath of the tragedy, and the discovery of the ship's wreck on 19 August 2017.
Documents Relating to the Loss of Indianapolis Historians at the Naval History and Heritage Command have developed an online collection of primary documents and images. As tragic as the loss was, the Navy learned from its mistakes and implemented changes that improved reporting procedures, requirements for ship escorts, and increased lifesaving equipment. Documents in the collection provide information on the routing and sinking of the ship, the available intelligence, rescue operations, and the investigation and court martial that followed. The online collection also includes photographs of the survivors of Indianapolis in addition to paintings by combat artist Alexander Russo.
Final Contact: USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Passes USS LST-779, 29 July 1945 In this July 2016 paper, an NHHC historian discusses information about the last visual contact of Indianapolis with a U.S. Navy ship and what this indicates about the route of Indianapolis before the sinking.
A Grave Misfortune: The USS Indianapolis Tragedy An e-book that examines the circumstances surrounding the sinking of Indianapolis on 30 July 1945, including primary source documents describing the sinking, rescue efforts, investigations, aftermath, and continuing commemoration efforts.
Frequently the flagship of the Fifth Fleet, Indianapolis served with honor from Pearl Harbor through the last campaign of World War II, earning ten battle stars.
Photos of Indianapolis Digitized images from the NHHC Photo Archives include views of the ship during World War II. Photos pertaining to the loss of Indianapolis include two images of the Japanese submarine I-58.
Biography of Captain McVay Captain Charles B. McVay III commanded Indianapolis on the final voyage.
USS Indianapolis World War II Battle Stars Extracted from the book, A Grave Misfortune: The USS Indianapolis Tragedy.
USS LST-779 Ship History The day before the sinking, Indianapolis made visual contact with another U.S. Navy ship, which NHHC historians have identified as USS LST-779.
The Sinking of USS Indianapolis Story Map This story map, created by the NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch, provides an account of Indianapolis' final voyage.
The following ships were involved in the rescue of survivors from USS Indianapolis:
Honoring the Sacrifice of Those Who Served Navy shares final crew accounting at USS Indianapolis survivors reunion.
Setting the Record Straight: The Loss of USS Indianapolis and the Question of Clarence Donnor NHHC Historian Richard Hulver and award-winning documentary filmmaker Sara Vladic set the record straight on the correct number of survivors and the total number of crew members 73 years after the loss of USS Indianapolis.
The Sinking of USS Indianapolis: Press Releases and Related Sources The Navy Department Library Online Reading Room includes Navy Department press releases on the investigation and court martial of Captain Charles B. McVay III. Also available are oral histories from McVay and another survivor, Lieutenant Commander Lewis L. Haynes, and the Allied interrogation of Commander Mochitsura Hashimoto of the Japanese submarine I-58 regarding wartime tactics.
NHHC Director’s Remarks at USS Indianapolis 71st Anniversary Reunion In July 2016, 71 years after the tragedy, survivors and family members gathered to honor and remember the Indianapolis Sailors and Marines. Indianapolis continues to serve her Navy and her nation by teaching our Sailors today something new about themselves and reminding them that we never forget.
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