USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
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Ship name	USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Caption	Heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Ship class	Portland-class cruiser
Displacement	9,950 tons (standard)
Length	610 ft 6 in
Beam	66 ft 3 in
Draft	24 ft 6 in
Power	Steam turbines
Speed	32 knots
Complement	1,142 officers and enlisted
Armament	9 × 8 in (203 mm) guns; 8 × 5 in (127 mm) guns; anti-aircraft guns
Built by	Bethlehem Steel, Fore River Shipyard
Laid down	31 Jul 1930
Launched	7 Nov 1931
Commissioned	15 Nov 1932
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk 30 Jul 1945

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class cruiser of the United States Navy noted for delivering components of the Little Boy atomic bomb to Tinian in July 1945 and for her subsequent sinking after a Japanese submarine torpedo attack, resulting in one of the worst maritime losses in United States naval history. The ship served in multiple Pacific operations during World War II, earning several battle stars, and her loss prompted high-profile inquiries involving naval command, legal proceedings, and later historical and cultural attention.

Design and Construction

The cruiser was laid down at the Fore River Shipyard of Bethlehem Steel in Quincy, Massachusetts and was a member of the Portland-class cruiser family, which evolved from the Pensacola-class cruiser and reflected interwar naval architecture shaped by the Washington Naval Treaty and the London Naval Treaty. Her design incorporated nine 8-inch/55 caliber guns in three triple turrets influenced by preceding designs such as the New Orleans-class cruiser and the Pensacola-class, and she carried secondary and anti-aircraft batteries comparable to contemporaries like USS Northampton (CA-26) and USS Indianapolis (CA-35)'s sister ships. Powered by steam turbine machinery from General Electric prime movers and protected by armor akin to Alaska-class cruiser concepts, she combined speed and firepower used in fleet scouting and surface action roles preferred by admirals such as William V. Pratt and Ernest J. King during interwar force planning. The ship was sponsored at launch by Miss Margaret Brown and commissioned with Captain Charles H. McMorris in command.

Service History

After shakedown and fleet exercises with the United States Fleet and visits to Norfolk, Virginia and New York Navy Yard, the cruiser transferred to the Pacific Fleet and by the late 1930s operated from Pearl Harbor engaging in fleet problems and neutrality patrols during the onset of World War II. Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor, she participated in convoy escort, shore bombardment, and carrier task force screening during campaigns including the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The ship earned battle stars for actions related to operations at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Kwajalein, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, supporting amphibious assaults alongside amphibious forces from United States Marine Corps units and coordinating with carriers such as USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Hornet (CV-8), and USS Saratoga (CV-3). Her captains and officers coordinated with commanders including Chester W. Nimitz, William F. Halsey Jr., Raymond A. Spruance, and Thomas C. Kinkaid during fast carrier operations and shore bombardments supporting Operation Forager and Operation Cartwheel.

In July 1945 Indianapolis was tasked by Admiral Harold R. Stark's successors to carry special cargo to Tinian, transiting from San Francisco via Pearl Harbor, escorted into the Mariana Islands under orders involving Joint Chiefs of Staff direction and coordination with Manhattan Project logistics overseen by figures such as Major General Leslie R. Groves Jr. and scientists including J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Sinking and Casualties

After departing Guam for Philippine Sea transit on 28 July 1945, the cruiser was torpedoed on 30 July by the Japanese submarine I-58 under Commander Noboru Ishizaki (often misattributed to other submarine commanders), struck by two torpedoes on the port side that caused catastrophic flooding and eventual sinking within minutes. The rapid loss of watertight integrity and partial structural failures left hundreds in the water; crewmen faced exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks in the days before rescue. Failure of scheduled naval communications and missed distress signal procedures meant that Indianapolis's sinking was not immediately reported; survivors were not spotted until airmen from VPB-18 on routine patrol observed men in the water following a separate B-24 Liberator patrol, leading to rescue operations by destroyer escorts and air-sea rescue units. Of approximately 1,195 aboard, 317 survived, making the incident among the greatest naval losses since the USS Arizona (BB-39) at Pearl Harbor and comparable to losses in engagements like the Battle of Savo Island.

Court Martial and Controversy

The aftermath prompted an investigation into command decisions, communication lapses, and accountability. Captain Charles B. McVay III (distinct from her commissioning captain) faced a controversial court-martial for failing to zigzag and for putting his ship in danger; the prosecution cited Article 77, U.S. Navy Regulations and statutory duties under Uniform Code of Military Justice precedent, while defense arguments invoked operational constraints, conflicting orders, and failures by commanders in Naval Districts and Fleet Command to disseminate submarine threat information. Testimony involved officers from Task Force 38, intelligence personnel tied to Station Hypo and OP-20-G, and submarine commanders from the Imperial Japanese Navy. McVay was convicted on a single count of hazarding his ship but was later exonerated decades later after efforts by survivors, historians, and members of the United States Congress including representatives and senators who advocated posthumous relief. The controversy implicated naval intelligence failures, procedural shortcomings at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and broader debates about responsibility in wartime command.

Legacy and Memorials

The ship's sinking and the harrowing survival story entered public consciousness through books, documentaries, and dramatizations, including coverage by National Geographic, The History Channel, authors like Richard F. Newcomb and PETER] ] (see note), and depictions referenced in popular culture such as Jaws-era discussions of shark attacks. Survivors formed associations and advocated for recognition; memorials include plaques at Cebu City, a memorial in Indianapolis, Indiana near the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, and commemorative ceremonies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The exoneration of Captain McVay in the 2000s was supported by congressional resolutions and a presidential acknowledgement by members of United States Congress; his record was cleared through actions by the Secretary of the Navy and supportive lawmakers. The wreck, located in deep water southeast of Peleliu by Robert Ballard and exploration teams, is considered a war grave, sparking debates over deep-sea salvage, maritime law under the Law of the Sea, and ethical considerations cited by organizations like Naval Historical Center and United States Navy Memorial custodians.

Category:Ships sunk by submarine torpedoes Category:World War II cruisers of the United States Category:Maritime disasters in 1945