Us Military

New details: Sharks, secrets and the sinking of the USS Indianapolis

Phil Gast
By Phil Gast, CNN
8 minute read
Updated 2:32 PM EDT, Fri July 29, 2016
The USS Indianapolis, at Pearl Harbor in 1937, won 10 battle stars during World War II and delivered components of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. It was lost to a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, and about 800 men went into the sea. Only 316 survived<strong> </strong>the nearly five-day ordeal in the water.
The USS Indianapolis, at Pearl Harbor in 1937, won 10 battle stars during World War II and delivered components of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. It was lost to a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, and about 800 men went into the sea. Only 316 survived the nearly five-day ordeal in the water.
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
Crew members appear in the well deck of the USS Indianapolis. The Naval History and Heritage Command <a href="https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/disasters-and-phenomena/indianapolis.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">has a website</a> that consolidates information on the ship's sinking and the investigation into its whereabouts in the Pacific.
Crew members appear in the well deck of the USS Indianapolis. The Naval History and Heritage Command has a website that consolidates information on the ship's sinking and the investigation into its whereabouts in the Pacific.
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
Torpedo planes pass over the cruiser during a fleet review off New York City in 1934. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was on the Indianapolis during the ceremony.
Torpedo planes pass over the cruiser during a fleet review off New York City in 1934. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was on the Indianapolis during the ceremony.
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
The USS Indianapolis is among the ships photographed at Pearl Harbor's Ford Island less than two months before the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. The cruiser was out at sea on training exercises when the attack took place.
The USS Indianapolis is among the ships photographed at Pearl Harbor's Ford Island less than two months before the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. The cruiser was out at sea on training exercises when the attack took place.
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
The Indianapolis, in the background, played a major role in operations off Saipan, knocking out Japanese fortifications and weapons. Fifth Fleet commander Adm. Raymond A. Spruance often used the cruiser as his flagship.
The Indianapolis, in the background, played a major role in operations off Saipan, knocking out Japanese fortifications and weapons. Fifth Fleet commander Adm. Raymond A. Spruance often used the cruiser as his flagship.
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
The ship was steaming west from Tinian Island to the Philippines when a Japanese submarine spotted it. <a href="https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/s/sinking-ussindianapolis.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">A Navy Web page</a> gives accounts from both the Indianapolis and Japanese captains.
The ship was steaming west from Tinian Island to the Philippines when a Japanese submarine spotted it. A Navy Web page gives accounts from both the Indianapolis and Japanese captains.
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
The USS Tranquillity arrives at Guam, carrying survivors of the USS Indianapolis sinking. Hundreds of men had been in the water for days, battling dehydration, exhaustion, exposure and sharks. A Navy plane spotted them by chance a few days after the sinking.
The USS Tranquillity arrives at Guam, carrying survivors of the USS Indianapolis sinking. Hundreds of men had been in the water for days, battling dehydration, exhaustion, exposure and sharks. A Navy plane spotted them by chance a few days after the sinking.
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
Survivors are brought ashore from the USS Tranquillity at Guam on August 8, 1945. Nurses and sailors watch from the hospital ship's deck. The Indianapolis crew had hoped for a quick rescue, but the vessel wasn't reported missing for several days after it sank.
Survivors are brought ashore from the USS Tranquillity at Guam on August 8, 1945. Nurses and sailors watch from the hospital ship's deck. The Indianapolis crew had hoped for a quick rescue, but the vessel wasn't reported missing for several days after it sank.
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
In 2015, the director of the Naval History and Heritage Command told an Indianapolis reunion: "There is no question that the loss of USS Indianapolis is one of the blackest episodes in the history of the U.S. Navy. But I also believe that even in loss and tragedy, there are examples of extraordinary valor and sacrifice that deserve to be remembered, that serve as an inspiration to sailors today and in the future, and there are lessons learned that must be preserved and passed on, and are relevant even now. The Indianapolis story has these in abundance."
In 2015, the director of the Naval History and Heritage Command told an Indianapolis reunion: "There is no question that the loss of USS Indianapolis is one of the blackest episodes in the history of the U.S. Navy. But I also believe that even in loss and tragedy, there are examples of extraordinary valor and sacrifice that deserve to be remembered, that serve as an inspiration to sailors today and in the future, and there are lessons learned that must be preserved and passed on, and are relevant even now. The Indianapolis story has these in abundance."
U.S. Navy/U.S. National Archives
Navy Lt. Charles McKissick recuperates from the ordeal.
Navy Lt. Charles McKissick recuperates from the ordeal.
U.S. National Archives/U.S. Navy
<a href="https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/loss-of-uss-indianapolis-ca-35.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">A Navy website says</a>: "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."
A Navy website says: "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."
U.S. National Archive/U.S. Navy
USS Indianapolis: Lives lost, lessons learned

Story highlights

USS Indianapolis went down 71 years ago; hundreds awaited rescue in water for days

There's a new clue on shipwreck's general location; Navy consolidates info on website

CNN  — 

When the 1975 blockbuster “Jaws” first terrified moviegoers, not all of the fear came from the special effects or haunting soundtrack. One of the more chilling scenes was fisherman Quint’s quiet recounting of bobbing in Pacific waters for days while sharks circled him and his fellow sailors, waiting to see who would be the next victim. Quint described the sharks’ black, lifeless eyes, the blood-curdling screams, the ocean turning red.

That grim story, painted from the real-life sinking of the USS Indianapolis near the end of World War II, is part of an upcoming Nicolas Cage movie and a Navy Web page produced ahead of Saturday’s 71st anniversary of the tragedy.

The unescorted Indianapolis carried almost 1,200 sailors and had just delivered to Tinian Island components of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Its secret mission over, the cruiser departed Guam and steamed for Leyte, an island in the Philippines, for training.

But torpedoes from a Japanese submarine sent the ship, and up to 300 of its men, to the bottom of the ocean in just 12 minutes in the first hour of July 30, 1945. The frantic crew was unable to get off a successful distress signal.

Of an estimated 800 sailors who went into the water, only 316 survived the nearly five-day ordeal – the rest succumbing to burns, dehydration, exhaustion, shark attacks and drowning.

While some Americans are familiar with the demise of the Indianapolis – the highest loss of Navy personnel at sea – a recent nugget of information sheds new light on where the ship was attacked.

Here are six questions a