View source for USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

{{short description|Portland-class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy}}
{{Other ships|USS Indianapolis}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 | image = USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway at sea on 27 September 1939 (80-G-425615).jpg
 | image_caption = USS ''Indianapolis'', 27 September 1939
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 | hide_header = 
 | country = [[United States]]
 | flag = {{USN flag|1945}}
 | name = ''Indianapolis''
 | namesake = City of [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]]
 | ordered = 13 February 1929
 | awarded = 15 August 1929
 | builder = [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]], [[Camden, New Jersey]]
 | original_cost = $10,903,200 (contract price)
 | laid_down = 31 March 1930
 | launched = 7 November 1931
 | sponsor = [[Lucy M. Taggart]]
 | acquired = 
 | completed = 
 | commissioned = 15 November 1932
 | decommissioned = 
 | struck = 
 | identification = *[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull symbol]]: CL-35
                    * Hull symbol: CA-35
                    * [[International Code of Signals|Code letters]]: NABD
                    * {{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Alpha}}{{ICS|Bravo}}{{ICS|Delta}}
 | nickname = "Indy"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.zuzuray.com/nicknames2.html#USA | title=Ship Nicknames | publisher=zuzuray.com | access-date=13 October 2015 | archive-date=12 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021407/http://www.zuzuray.com/nicknames2.html#USA | url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | honors = [[File:Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg|18px]] [[File:Silver-service-star-3d.png|20px]] 10 × [[Service star#Navy warships|battle stars]]
 | fate = Torpedoed and sunk by [[Japanese submarine I-58 (1943)|Japanese submarine ''I-58'']] on 30 July 1945
 | notes = 
 | badge = 
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 | hide_header = 
 | header_caption = (as built)<ref name="ships">{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rp-jAAAAMAAJ| title=Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels | publisher=US Naval Department | date=1 July 1935 | access-date=13 October 2015 | pages=16–23}}</ref>
 | class = {{sclass|Portland|cruiser}}
 | type = 
 | displacement = {{cvt|9950|LT|0|lk=on}} (standard)
 | length = * {{cvt|610|ft|3|in}} [[Length overall|loa]]
            * {{cvt|584|ft}} [[Waterline length|lwl]]
 | beam = {{cvt|66|ft|1|in}}
 | draft = * {{cvt|17|ft|4|in}} (mean)
           * {{cvt|24|ft}} (max)
 | power = * 8 × [[Three-drum boiler#White-Forster boiler|White-Forster boilers]]
           * {{cvt|107000|shp|lk=on}}
 | propulsion = * 4 × [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] [[Steam turbine#Cruising machinery and gearing|reduction]] [[steam turbine]]s
                * 4 × [[Propeller|screws]]
 | speed = {{cvt|32.7|kn}}
 | range = {{convert|13,000|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}
 | boats = 
 | complement = * 95 officers 857 enlisted (as designed)
                * 1,269 officers and men (wartime)
                * 1,195 crewmen at time of sinking
 | sensors = 
 | EW = 
 | armament = * 9 × [[8-inch/55-caliber gun|8-inch (203mm)/55-caliber guns]] (3x3)
              * 8 × [[5-inch/25-caliber gun|5-inch (127mm)/25-caliber]] [[anti-aircraft]] guns
              * 2 × [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss|3-pounder {{cvt|47|mm|1}}]] [[saluting guns]]
 | armor = * '''[[Belt armor|Belt]]:''' {{cvt|3+1/4|-|5|in}}
           * '''[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]:''' {{cvt|2+1/2|in}}
           * '''[[Barbette]]s:''' {{cvt|1+1/2|in}}
           * '''[[Gun turret|Turrets]]:''' {{cvt|1+1/2|-|2+1/2|in}}
           * '''[[Conning tower]]:''' {{cvt|1+1/4|in}}
 | aircraft = 4 × [[floatplane]]s
 | aircraft_facilities = 2 × [[Glossary of nautical terms (A-L)#A|Amidship]] [[Aircraft catapult|catapults]]
 | notes = 
 }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 | hide_header = 
 | header_caption = (1945)<ref name="history">{{cite web | url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Indianapolis_CA35.html | title=USS ''Indianapolis'' (CA-35) | publisher=Historyofwar.org | date=19 December 2014 | access-date=13 October 2015 | author=Rickard, J}}</ref>
 | armament = * 9 × 8 in (203 mm)/55 caliber guns (3x3)
              * 8 × 5 in (127 mm)/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns
              * 2 × 3-pounder saluting guns
              * 6 × quad [[Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun|{{cvt|40|mm|2}} Bofors]] anti-aircraft guns
              *19 × single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|2}} Oerlikon]] anti-aircraft cannons
 | aircraft = 3 × floatplanes
 | aircraft_facilities = 1 × Amidship catapults (starboard catapult removed in 1945)
 }}
}}

'''USS ''Indianapolis''''' ('''CL/CA-35''') was a {{sclass|Portland|cruiser|0}} [[heavy cruiser]] of the [[United States Navy]], named for the city of [[Indianapolis]], Indiana. Launched in 1931, she was the [[flagship]] of the commander of [[Scouting Fleet|Scouting Force 1]] for eight years, then flagship for [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[Raymond Spruance]] from 1943 to 1945 while he commanded the [[Fifth Fleet]] in battles across the [[Pacific War|Central Pacific]] during [[World War II]].

In July 1945, ''Indianapolis'' completed a top-secret high-speed trip to deliver [[uranium]] and other components for "[[Little Boy]]", the first [[nuclear weapon]] used in combat, to the [[Tinian Naval Base]], and subsequently departed for the [[Philippines]] on training duty. At 0015 on 30 July, the ship was [[torpedo]]ed by the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] submarine {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-58|1943|2}}, and sank in 12 minutes.

Of 1,195 crewmen aboard, about 300 went down with the ship. The remaining 890 faced [[Hypothermia|exposure]], [[dehydration]], [[Hypernatremia|saltwater poisoning]], and [[shark attack]]s while stranded in the open ocean, with few lifeboats and almost no food or water.<ref name="NPRNeuman20180323">{{Cite news |last=Neuman |first=Scott |date=23 March 2018 |title=Navy Admits To 70-Year Crew List Error In USS ''Indianapolis'' Disaster |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/23/596360408/navy-admits-70-year-crew-list-error-in-uss-indianapolis-disaster |access-date=24 March 2018 |work=NPR.org}}</ref>

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 [[Consolidated PBY Catalina|PBY flying boat]] crew landed to save those in the water. Only 316 survived.<ref name=NPRNeuman20180323 /> No U.S. warship sunk at sea has lost more sailors.{{efn|While the loss of ''Indianapolis'' is the worst-ever loss of life from a single ship ''sinking at sea'' for the U.S. Navy, it is not the worst naval disaster for the U.S. Navy nor the United States military as a whole. Earlier in World War II, the [[battleship]] {{USS|Arizona}} and the [[troopship]] {{HMT|Rohna}} were lost with more American lives, but ''Arizona'' was in port at [[Pearl Harbor]] when sunk and ''Rohna'' was primarily carrying [[United States Army]] personnel, not U.S. Navy personnel, when it was sunk at sea. The complement of the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Franklin|CV-13|6}} would also suffer upwards of 900 killed at sea throughout the war, although ''Franklin'' was not sunk. Additionally, the accidental loss of the [[Steamship|steamboat]] {{ship||Sultana|steamboat|2}}, which exploded on the [[Mississippi River]] while carrying Union soldiers in the immediate aftermath the [[American Civil War]], was the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history.  The 1,700 U.S. military [[prisoners of war]] from the Philippines (out of a total of 1,773 [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] troops missing and killed) who died on the sunken Japanese [[hell ship]] {{ship||Arisan Maru}} from a torpedo launched by the submarine {{USS|Shark|SS-314|6}} was the greatest loss of life from a single ship in U.S. military history.}}

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 {{cvt|18000|ft}}.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grinberg |first=Emanuella |title=USS ''Indianapolis'' discovered 18,000 feet below Pacific surface |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/19/us/uss-indianapolis-wreckage-found/index.html |date=20 August 2017 | website=CNN |access-date=24 December 2018}}</ref> On 20 December 2018, the crew of ''Indianapolis'' was collectively awarded a [[Congressional Gold Medal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2101/actions|title=Actions – S.2101 – 115th Congress (2017–2018): USS ''Indianapolis'' Congressional Gold Medal Act|first=Joe|last=Donnelly|date=20 December 2018|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref>

==Construction==
{{Main|Portland-class cruiser}}

''Indianapolis'' was the second of two ships in the ''Portland'' class, the third class of "treaty cruisers" constructed by the [[United States Navy]] following the [[Washington Naval Treaty]] of 1922, after the two vessels of the {{sclass|Pensacola|cruiser|4}}, ordered in 1926, and the six of the {{sclass|Northampton|cruiser|4}}, ordered in 1927.{{sfn|Bauer|Roberts|1991|p=136}} Ordered for the U.S. Navy in fiscal year 1930, ''Indianapolis'' was originally designated as a [[light cruiser]] because of her thin armor and given the [[hull classification symbol]] CL-35. She was reclassified a [[heavy cruiser]], because of her {{convert|8|in|0|adj=on}} guns, with the symbol CA-35 on 1 July 1931, in accordance with the [[London Naval Treaty]].{{sfn|Bauer|Roberts|1991|p=138}}

The ''Portland''-class cruisers were designed for a [[standard displacement]] of {{cvt|10258|LT|0|lk=on}}, and a [[full-load displacement]] of {{convert|12755|LT}}.{{sfn|Miller|2001|p=292}} But ''Indianapolis'' did not reach this weight, displacing {{convert|9950|LT}}.{{sfn|Silverstone|2007|p=32}} The ship had two distinctive raked [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]], a tripod [[foremast]], and a small tower and pole mast aft. In 1943, light tripods were added forward of the second funnel on each ship, and a prominent [[naval director]] was installed aft.{{sfn|Silverstone|2007|p=32}}

The ship had four [[propeller shaft (ship)|propeller shafts]] and four Parsons GT [[geared turbine]]s and eight [[White-Forster boiler]]s. The {{cvt|107000|shp|lk=in}} gave a design speed of {{cvt|32.7|kn|lk=in}}. She was designed for a range of {{cvt|10000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{cvt|15|kn}}.{{sfn|Silverstone|2007|p=32}} She rolled badly until fitted with a [[bilge keel]].{{sfn|Bauer|Roberts|1991|p=138}}

The cruiser had nine [[8-inch/55-caliber gun|8-inch/55-caliber]] Mark 9 guns in three triple mounts, a [[superfiring]] pair fore and one aft. For [[anti-aircraft]] defense, she had eight [[5-inch/25-caliber gun]]s and two [[QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss]] guns. In 1945, she received twenty-four [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm|2}} Bofors]] guns, arrayed in six quad mounts. Both ships were upgraded with nineteen [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|2}} Oerlikon cannons]].<ref name="history"/> The ship did not have [[torpedo tube]]s.{{sfn|Stille|2009|p=30}}

The ''Portland''-class cruisers originally had {{convert|1|in|adj=on}} armor for deck and side protection, but in construction{{sfn|Bauer|Roberts|1991|p=138}} they were given [[belt armor]] between {{cvt|5|in|0}} (around the [[Magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines|magazines]]) and {{cvt|3.25|in}} in thickness.{{sfn|Stille|2009|p=30}} Armor on the [[bulkhead (partition)|bulkheads]] was between {{cvt|2|in}} and {{cvt|5.75|in}}; that on the [[Deck (ship)|deck]] was {{cvt|2.5|in}}, the [[barbette]]s {{cvt|1.5|in}}, the [[gun turret]]s 2.5 in, and the [[conning tower]] {{cvt|1.25|in}}.{{sfn|Silverstone|2007|p=32}}

''Portland''-class cruisers were outfitted as [[fleet flagship]]s, with space for a [[flag officer]] and his staff. The class also had two [[aircraft catapult]]s amidships.{{sfn|Silverstone|2007|p=32}} They could carry four aircraft. The total crew varied, with a regular designed complement of 807{{sfn|Miller|2001|p=292}} and a wartime complement of 952, which could increase to 1,229 when the cruiser was a fleet flagship.{{sfn|Silverstone|2007|p=32}}

''Indianapolis'' was [[laid down]] by [[New York Shipbuilding Corporation]] on 31 March 1930.{{sfn|Silverstone|2007|p=32}} The hull and machinery were provided by the builder.{{sfn|Bauer|Roberts|1991|p=138}} ''Indianapolis'' was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 7 November 1931, and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 15 November 1932.{{sfn|Silverstone|2007|p=32}} She was the second ship named for the city of [[Indianapolis]], following the [[USS Indianapolis (ID-3865)|cargo ship of the same name]] in 1918. She was [[ship sponsor|sponsored]] by [[Lucy M. Taggart]], daughter of former [[Mayor of Indianapolis]] [[Thomas Taggart]].{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}}

==Interwar period==
[[File:USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway in 1939.jpg|thumb|left|''Indianapolis'' in 1939]]

Under [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]] John M. Smeallie, ''Indianapolis'' undertook her [[shakedown cruise]] through the Atlantic and into [[Guantánamo Bay]], until 23 February 1932. ''Indianapolis'' then transited the [[Panama Canal]] for training off the Chilean coast. After overhaul at the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]], she sailed to [[Maine]] to embark [[President of the United States|President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] at [[Campobello Island]], New Brunswick, on 1 July 1933.{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}} Getting underway the same day, ''Indianapolis'' arrived at [[Annapolis, Maryland]], on 3 July. She hosted six members of the [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]], along with Roosevelt, during her stay there. After disembarking Roosevelt, she departed Annapolis on 4 July, and steamed for Philadelphia Navy Yard.{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}}

On 6 September, she embarked [[United States Secretary of the Navy]] [[Claude A. Swanson]], for an inspection of the Navy in the Pacific. ''Indianapolis'' toured the [[Canal Zone]], Hawaii, and installations in [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]] and [[San Diego]]. Swanson disembarked on 27 October. On 1 November 1933, she became the flagship of [[Scouting Fleet]] 1, and maneuvered with the force off [[Long Beach, California]]. She departed on 9 April 1934, and arrived at New York City, embarking Roosevelt for a second time, for a [[naval review]]. She returned to Long Beach on 9 November 1934 for more training with the Scouting Force. She remained flagship of Scouting Force 1 until 1941. On 18 November 1936, she embarked Roosevelt for a third time at [[Charleston, South Carolina]], and conducted a goodwill cruise to South America with him. She visited [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil, [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, and [[Montevideo]], Uruguay, for state visits before returning to Charleston and disembarking Roosevelt's party on 15 December.{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}} President Roosevelt underwent his [[Line-crossing ceremony|crossing the line]] ceremony during this cruise on 26 November: an "intensive initiation lasting two days, but we have all survived and are now full-fledged Shellbacks".{{sfn|Cook|1999|p=[https://archive.org/details/eleanorroosevelt00blan_0/page/398 398]}}

==World War II==

On 7 December 1941, ''Indianapolis'', leading Task Force 3, (''Indianapolis'' and destroyer-minesweepers {{USS|Dorsey||2}}, {{USS|Elliot||2}}, and {{USS|Lamberton||2}} from MineDiv 6, and {{USS|Southard||2}} and {{USS|Long||2}} from MineDiv 5<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nimitz |first1=Chester |editor1-last=Steele |editor1-first=James S |title=Nimitz Graybook volume 1 |date=1941–1942 |pages=4 |url=http://www.ibiblio.org/anrs/graybook.html |ref=Nimitze Graybook |language=English}}</ref>) was conducting a mock bombardment at [[Johnston Atoll]] during the [[Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor]]. ''Indianapolis'' was absorbed into Task Force 12 and searched for the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] [[aircraft carrier]]s responsible for the attack, though the force did not locate them. She returned to [[Naval Station Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]] on 13 December and joined [[Task Force 11]].{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}}

===New Guinea campaign===
{{main|New Guinea campaign}}

With the task force, she steamed to the [[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|South Pacific]], to {{cvt|350|mi}} south of [[Rabaul]], [[New Britain]], escorting the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|2}}. Late in the afternoon of 20 February 1942, the American ships were attacked by 18 Japanese aircraft. Of these, 16 were shot down by aircraft from ''Lexington'' and the other two were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire from the ships.{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}}

On 10 March, the task force, reinforced by another force centered on the carrier {{USS|Yorktown|CV-5|2}}, attacked [[Lae]] and [[Salamaua]], New Guinea, where the Japanese were marshaling [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious forces]]. Attacking from the south through the [[Owen Stanley mountain range]], the US air forces surprised and inflicted heavy damage on Japanese warships and transports, losing few aircraft. ''Indianapolis'' returned to the [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]] for a refit before escorting a convoy to Australia.{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}}

===Aleutian Islands campaign===
{{main|Aleutian Islands campaign}}

''Indianapolis'' then headed for the North Pacific to support American units in the [[Battle of the Aleutian Islands]]. On 7 August, ''Indianapolis'' and the task force attacked [[Kiska Island]], a Japanese staging area. Although fog hindered observation, ''Indianapolis'' and other ships fired their main guns into the bay. [[Floatplane]]s from the cruisers reported Japanese ships sunk in the harbor and damage to shore installations. After 15 minutes, Japanese [[Coastal artillery|shore batteries]] returned fire before being destroyed by the ships' main guns. Japanese submarines approaching the force were [[Depth charge|depth-charged]] by American [[destroyer]]s and Japanese seaplanes made an ineffective bombing attack. In spite of a lack of information on the Japanese forces, the operation was considered a success. US forces later occupied [[Adak Island]], providing a naval base farther from [[Dutch Harbor]] on [[Unalaska Island]].

===1943 operations===
[[File:USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway at sea, in 1943-1944 (NH 124466).jpg|thumb|left|''Indianapolis'' underway at sea in 1943–1944]]

In January 1943, ''Indianapolis'' supported a landing and occupation on [[Amchitka]], part of an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[island hopping]] strategy in the [[Aleutian Islands]].{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}}

On the evening of 19 February, ''Indianapolis'' led two destroyers on a patrol southwest of [[Attu Island]], searching for Japanese ships trying to reinforce Kiska and Attu. She intercepted the Japanese {{convert|3100|LT|0|adj=on}} [[cargo ship]], ''Akagane Maru'' laden with troops, munitions, and supplies. The cargo ship tried to reply to the radio challenge but was shelled by ''Indianapolis''. ''Akagane Maru'' exploded and sank with all hands. Through mid-1943, ''Indianapolis'' remained near the Aleutian Islands, escorting American convoys and providing shore bombardments supporting amphibious assaults. In May, the Allies captured Attu, then turned on Kiska, thought to be the final Japanese holdout in the Aleutians. Allied landings there began on 15 August, but the Japanese had already abandoned the Aleutian Islands, unbeknownst to the Allies.{{sfn|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}}

After refitting at Mare Island, ''Indianapolis'' moved to Hawaii as flagship of [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[Raymond A. Spruance]], commanding the [[5th Fleet]]. She sortied from Pearl Harbor on 10 November, with the main body of the Southern Attack Force for [[Operation Galvanic]], the invasion of the [[Gilbert Islands]]. On 19 November, ''Indianapolis'' bombarded [[Tarawa Atoll]], and next day pounded [[Makin (islands)|Makin]] (see [[Battle of Makin]]). The ship then returned to Tarawa as fire-support for the landings. Her guns shot down an enemy plane and shelled enemy strongpoints as landing parties fought Japanese defenders in the [[Battle of Tarawa]]. She continued this role until the island was secure three days later. The conquest of the [[Marshall Islands]] followed victory in the Gilberts. ''Indianapolis'' was again 5th Fleet flagship.

===1944===
[[File:USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway in 1944 (stbd).jpg|thumb|''Indianapolis'' in 1944 [[dazzle camouflage]] pattern]]
{{more citations needed section|date=July 2020}}
The cruiser met other ships of her task force at Tarawa, and on [[D-Day (military term)|D-Day]] minus 1, 31 January 1944, she was one of the cruisers that bombarded the islands of [[Kwajalein Atoll]]. The shelling continued on D-Day, with ''Indianapolis'' suppressing two enemy shore batteries. Next day, she destroyed a blockhouse and other shore installations and supported advancing troops with a [[creeping barrage]]. The ship entered Kwajalein Lagoon, on 4 February, and remained until resistance disappeared (see [[Battle of Kwajalein]]).

In March and April, ''Indianapolis'', still flagship of the 5th Fleet, attacked the [[Western Carolines]]. Carrier planes at the [[Palau Islands]] on 30–31 March, sank three destroyers, 17 freighters, five [[Replenishment oiler|oilers]] and damaged 17 other ships. Airfields were bombed and surrounding water [[Naval mine|mined]]. [[Yap]] and [[Ulithi]] were struck on 31 March, and [[Woleai]] on 1 April. Japanese planes attacked but were driven off without damaging the American ships. ''Indianapolis'' shot down her second plane, a torpedo bomber, and the Japanese lost 160 planes, including 46 on the ground. These attacks prevented Japanese forces stationed in the Carolines from interfering with the US landings on [[New Guinea]].

In June, the 5th Fleet was busy with the assault on the [[Mariana Islands]]. Raids on [[Saipan]] began with carrier-based planes on 11 June, followed by surface bombardment, in which ''Indianapolis'' had a major role, from 13 June (see [[Battle of Saipan]]). On D-Day, 15 June, Admiral Spruance heard that [[battleship]]s, carriers, cruisers, and destroyers were headed south to relieve threatened garrisons in the Marianas. Since amphibious operations at Saipan had to be protected, Spruance could not withdraw too far. Consequently, a fast carrier force was sent to meet this threat while another force attacked Japanese air bases on [[Iwo Jima]] and [[Chichi Jima]], in the [[Bonin]] and [[Volcano Islands]], bases for potential enemy air attacks.

A combined US fleet fought the Japanese on 19 June in the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]]. Japanese carrier planes, which planned to use the airfields of [[Guam]] and [[Tinian]] to refuel and rearm, were met by carrier planes and the guns of the Allied escorting ships. That day, the U.S. Navy destroyed a reported 426 Japanese planes while losing 29.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cannon-lexington.com/Pages/Turkey%20Shoot.htm|title=Marianas Turkey Shoot|work=cannon-lexington.com|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708114238/http://www.cannon-lexington.com/Pages/Turkey%20Shoot.htm|archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Indianapolis'' shot down one torpedo plane. This day of aerial combat became known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot". With Japanese air opposition wiped out, the US carrier planes sank {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Hiyō||2}}, two destroyers, and one [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]] and damaged others. Two other carriers, {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Taihō||2}} and {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku||2}}, were sunk by submarines.

''Indianapolis'' returned to Saipan on 23 June to resume fire support and six days later moved to Tinian to attack shore installations (see [[Battle of Tinian]]). Meanwhile, Guam had been taken, and ''Indianapolis'' became the first ship to enter [[Apra Harbor]] since early in the war. The ship operated in the Marianas for the next few weeks, then moved to the Western Carolines, where further landings were planned. From 12 to 29 September, she bombarded [[Peleliu]], in the [[Palau Group]], before and after the landings (see [[Battle of Peleliu]]). She then sailed to [[Manus Island]], in the [[Admiralty Islands]], where she operated for 10 days before returning to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California for refitting.

===1945===
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2017}}

Overhauled, ''Indianapolis'' joined Vice Admiral [[Marc A. Mitscher]]'s fast carrier task force on 14 February 1945. Two days later, the task force launched an attack on [[Tokyo]] to cover the landings on Iwo Jima, scheduled for 19 February. This was the first carrier attack on mainland Japan since the [[Doolittle Raid]]. The mission was to destroy Japanese air facilities and other installations in the [[Japanese archipelago|Home Islands]]. The fleet achieved complete tactical surprise by approaching the Japanese coast under cover of bad weather. The attacks were pressed home for two days. The U.S. Navy lost 49 carrier planes while claiming 499 enemy planes, a 10-to-1 kill/loss ratio. The task force also sank a carrier, nine coastal ships, a destroyer, two [[destroyer escort]]s, and a cargo ship. They destroyed hangars, shops, aircraft installations, factories, and other industrial targets.

[[File:USS Indianapolis (CA-35) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 July 1945 (19-N-86911).jpg|left|thumb|''Indianapolis'' off Mare Island on 10 July 1945]]
Immediately after the strikes, the task force raced to the Bonin Islands to support the [[battle of Iwo Jima|landings on Iwo Jima]]. The ship remained there until 1 March, protecting the invasion ships and bombarding targets in support of the landings. ''Indianapolis'' returned to VADM Mitscher's task force in time to strike Tokyo, again on 25 February, and [[Hachijō, Tokyo|Hachijō]], off the southern coast of [[Honshū]], the following day. Although weather was extremely bad, the American force destroyed 158 planes and sank five small ships while pounding ground installations and destroying trains.

The next target for the US forces was [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]], in the [[Ryukyu Islands]], which were in range of aircraft from the Japanese mainland. The fast carrier force was tasked with attacking airfields in southern Japan until they were incapable of launching effective airborne opposition to the impending invasion. The fast carrier force departed for Japan from Ulithi on 14 March. On 18 March, she launched an attack from a position {{cvt|100|mi}} southeast of the island of [[Kyūshū]]. The attack targeted airfields on Kyūshū, as well as ships of the Japanese fleet in the harbors of [[Kobe]] and [[Kure]], on southern Honshū. The Japanese located the American task force on 21 March, sending 48 planes to attack the ships. Twenty-four [[Fighter aircraft|fighters]] from the task force intercepted and shot down all the Japanese aircraft.

''Indianapolis'' was assigned to [[Okinawa naval order of battle#Gunfire and Covering Force (Task Force 54)|Task Force 54]] (TF 54) for the [[invasion of Okinawa]]. When TF 54 began pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa on 24 March, ''Indianapolis'' spent seven days pouring 8-inch shells into the beach defenses. During this time, enemy aircraft repeatedly attacked the American ships. ''Indianapolis'' shot down six planes and damaged two others. On 31 March, the day before the [[Tenth United States Army|Tenth Army]] (combined U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps) started its assault landings, the ''Indianapolis'' lookouts spotted a Japanese [[Nakajima Ki-43]] "Oscar" fighter as it emerged from the morning twilight and dived vertically towards the bridge. The ship's 20&nbsp;mm guns opened fire, but within 15 seconds the plane was over the ship. Tracers converged on it, causing it to swerve, but the pilot managed to release his bomb from a height of {{cvt|25|ft}}, then crashing his plane into the sea near the [[Port (nautical)|port]] [[stern]]. The bomb plummeted through the deck, into the crew's [[mess hall]], down through the berthing compartment, and through the fuel tanks before crashing through the keel and exploding in the water underneath. The concussion blew two gaping holes in the keel which flooded nearby compartments, killing nine crewmen. The ship's bulkheads prevented any progressive flooding. ''Indianapolis'', settling slightly by the stern and listing to port, steamed to a salvage ship for emergency repairs. Here, inspection revealed that her propeller shafts were damaged, her fuel tanks ruptured, and her water-distilling equipment ruined. ''Indianapolis'' then steamed under her own power to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for repairs.
{{clear}}

===Transporting the atomic bomb===
[[Image:Atombombe_Little_Boy.jpg|thumb|right|The ''[[Little Boy]]'' atomic bomb (L-11) being assembled at [[Tinian]] a few days after its arrival aboard the ''Indianapolis''.]]

After major repairs and an overhaul, ''Indianapolis'' received orders to undertake a top-secret mission: transporting a "critical shipment" of material for the first [[atomic bomb]] to [[Tinian Island]]. In its hold was loaded the complete non-nuclear parts for a ''[[Little Boy]]'' gun-type atomic bomb unit (L-11) and several hundred pounds of scientific instruments and tools. Also on board was the bomb's [[enriched uranium]] "projectile", in the form of {{convert|38.5|kg|adj=on}} discs, which were kept inside of a lead-lined steel container that was bolted and chained to the floor of Captain [[Charles B. McVay III|McVay]]'s quarters for the duration of the journey. Two representatives of the [[Manhattan Project]], Major [[Robert R. Furman]] and Dr. James F. Nolan, accompanied them on the journey incognito. Nolan, the Chief Medical Officer for [[Project Y]], was there to monitor the uranium's radioactivity. Nolan was frequently [[Motion sickness|seasick]] on the journey, which he used as an excuse to surreptitiously monitor the container.<ref name="jcm">{{cite book |last=Coster-Mullen |first=John |author-link=John Coster-Mullen |title=Atom Bombs: The Top Secret Inside Story of Little Boy and Fat Man |publisher=J. Coster-Mullen |year=2020 |location=Waukesha, Wisconsin |pages=40, 114–115, 284, 290}}. The ''[[Fat Man]]'' atomic bomb, used against Nagasaki, was transported by air to Tinian. Other equipment necessary for the atomic bomb mission, including "spare" non-nuclear assemblies, had been previously sent to Tinian on other surface ships. Ships were the preferred method for sending critical materials, when time allowed for it, because the risk of loss was considered smaller than going by air. While not particularly radioactive by itself, the amount of enriched uranium in the shipment was large-enough to pose a [[criticality accident|criticality risk]] under certain circumstances, such as being submerged in water (which acts as a [[neutron moderator]], decreasing the [[critical mass]]). {{cite web |year=2022 |title=James F. Nolan |url=https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/profile/james-f-nolan/ |publisher=Atomic Heritage Foundation}}</ref>

''Indianapolis'' departed San Francisco's [[Hunters Point Naval Shipyard]] on 16 July 1945, within hours of the [[Trinity (nuclear test)|Trinity]] test in New Mexico. She set a speed record of {{frac|74|1|2}} hours<ref name="Lech2000">{{cite book |author=Raymond B. Lech |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oYlkJoGdRnYC |title=The Tragic Fate of the U.S.S. Indianapolis: The U.S. Navy's Worst Disaster at Sea |publisher=Cooper Square Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-1461661290 |pages=6}}</ref> from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, an average speed of {{cvt|29|kn}}. Arriving at Pearl Harbor on 19 July,<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Remembering ''Indianapolis'' |magazine= All Hands |date= July 1984 |number= 809 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M-f8wXmz90sC |publisher= U.S. Navy, Bureau of Naval Personnel |pages= 34–39}}</ref> she raced on unaccompanied,<ref name="Shaara2012">{{cite book|author=Jeff Shaara|title=The Final Storm: A Novel of the War in the Pacific|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KdzJTdnqXVAC&pg=PA434|year=2012|publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0345497956|pages=434–}}</ref> delivering the atomic bomb components to Tinian on 26 July.<ref name="Chun2013">{{cite book|author=Clayton Chun|title=Japan 1945: From Operation Downfall to Hiroshima and Nagasaki|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=plCICwAAQBAJ&pg=PT106|year= 2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1472800206|pages=106–}}</ref>

On the same day that ''Indianapolis'' offloaded its cargo at Tinian, the remaining {{convert|25.6|kg}} of enriched uranium used for the "target" piece of the bomb was divided into three pieces and sent on three different [[C-54]] cargo planes from [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]. By 29 July, all three had arrived at Tinian and the next day the assembly of the L-11 atomic bomb unit began.<ref name="jcm" /> The weapon, which would be dropped on [[Hiroshima]] on the morning of 6 August, would be inscribed with numerous autographs and graffiti by ground crews who loaded it into the plane. One of them read: "Greetings to the Emperor from the men of the ''Indianapolis''".{{sfn|Rhodes|1986|p=710}}

After its stop at Tinian, ''Indianapolis'' then continued on its route to Guam, where a number of the crew who had completed their tours of duty were relieved by other sailors. Leaving Guam on 28 July, she began sailing toward [[Leyte]], where her crew was to receive training before continuing on to Okinawa to join Vice Admiral [[Jesse B. Oldendorf]]'s [[Task Force 95]].{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Newcomb |first=Richard |title=Abandon Ship! The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the Navy's Greatest Sea Disaster |date=2000 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=006018471X |location=New York |pages=35 |language=English}}</ref>

==Sinking==

[[File:USS Indianapolis-last voyage chart.jpg|thumb|''Indianapolis''{{'s}} intended route from Guam to the [[Philippines]]]]
At 00:15 on 30 July 1945, ''Indianapolis'' was struck on her starboard side by two [[Type 95 torpedo]]es, one in the bow and one amidships, from the Japanese submarine {{Ship|Japanese submarine|I-58|1943|2}},<ref name="Shaara2012"/> captained by [[Naval ranks of the Japanese Empire during World War II#Commissioned officer ranks|Commander]] [[Mochitsura Hashimoto]], who initially thought he had spotted the {{sclass|New Mexico|battleship|1}} {{USS|Idaho|BB-42|2}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-58.htm |title=Submarine ''I-58'': Tabular Record of Movement |work=combinedfleet.com |author=Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp |year=2008 |access-date=18 September 2010}}</ref> The explosions caused massive damage. ''Indianapolis'' took on a heavy list (the ship had a great deal of armament and gun-firing directors added as the war went on, and was therefore top-heavy)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pwencycl.kgbudge.com/P/o/Portland_class.htm|title=The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Portland Class, U.S. Heavy Cruisers|last=Budge|first=Kent G.|website=www.pwencycl.kgbudge.com|access-date=2018-07-27}}</ref> and settled by the bow. Twelve minutes later, she rolled completely over, then her stern rose into the air and she sank. Some 300 of the 1,195 crewmen aboard went down with the ship.<ref name=NPRNeuman20180323 /> With few lifeboats and many without life jackets, the remainder of the crew was set adrift.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq30-5.htm|title=Recollections of the sinking of USS ''Indianapolis'' (CA-35) by CAPT Lewis L. Haynes, MC (Medical Corps) (Ret.), the senior medical officer on board the ship|publisher=Navy Medicine|author=Lewis L. Haynes|date=July–August 1995|access-date=4 April 2009|archive-date=8 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408084218/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq30-5.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Rescue===

Navy command did not know of the ship's sinking until survivors were spotted in the open ocean three and a half days later. At 11:25 on 2 August, a [[PV-1 Ventura]] flown by [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] Wilbur "Chuck" Gwinn and his copilot, Lieutenant Warren Colwell, and a crew of three other men spotted the men adrift while on a routine patrol flight.{{sfn|Marks|1981|pp=48–50}} Gwinn reported his findings of up to 150 men back to his base at Peleliu. He immediately dropped a life raft, other life-saving equipment and radio transmitter. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to the scene at once.

First to arrive was Gwinn's commanding officer, Lieutenant Richard Atteberry. He and his PV-1 crew relieved Gwinn's crew, ordering them to return base because of very low fuel. Atteberry continued to circle the area and guided the arrival on scene by amphibious PBY-5A Catalina patrol plane flown by Lieutenant Commander (USN) [[Adrian Marks|Robert Adrian Marks]]. Marks and his flight crew spotted the survivors and dropped life rafts; one raft was destroyed by the drop while others were too far away from the exhausted crew. Against standing orders not to land in the open ocean, Marks took a vote of his crew and decided to land the aircraft in {{convert|12|ft|adj=on|spell=in}} swells. He was able to maneuver his craft to pick up 56 survivors. Space in the plane was limited, so Marks had men lashed to the wing with parachute cord. His actions rendered the aircraft unflyable. After nightfall, the destroyer escort {{USS|Cecil J. Doyle|DE-368|6}}, the first of seven rescue ships, used its searchlight as a beacon and instilled hope in those still in the water. ''Cecil J. Doyle'' and six other ships picked up the remaining survivors. After the rescue, Marks' plane was sunk by ''Cecil J. Doyle'' as it could not be recovered.<ref>{{cite web |first=Bethanne Kelly |last=Patrick |url=https://www.military.com/history/navy-lt-adrian-marks.html |title=Navy Lt. Adrian Marks |website=Military.com |date=8 November 2017 |access-date=October 14, 2018}}</ref>

Many of the survivors were injured, and all suffered from lack of food and water (leading to [[dehydration]] and [[hypernatremia]]; some found [[rations]], such as [[Spam (food)|Spam]] and [[Cracker (food)|crackers]], among the flotsam of ''Indianapolis''), exposure to the elements (dehydration from the hot sun during the day and [[hypothermia]] at night, as well as severe [[desquamation]] due to continued exposure to saltwater and bunker oil), and [[shark attack]]s, while some killed themselves. Other survivors were found in various states of [[delirium]] or suffered from [[hallucinations]].<ref>In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS ''Indianapolis'' and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Story (Delayed Rescue) |url=http://www.ussindianapolis.org/story.htm |website=the USS Indianapolis National Memorial |access-date=9 April 2016 |archive-date=2 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602203747/http://www.ussindianapolis.org/story.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Only 316 of the 890 men set adrift after the sinking survived.{{r|NPRNeuman20180323}} Two of the rescued survivors, Robert Lee Shipman and Frederick Harrison, died in August 1945.

Hundreds of sharks were apparently drawn to the wreck. After picking off the dead and wounded, they began attacking survivors. The number of deaths attributed to sharks ranges from a few dozen to 150.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Richard |title=The deadliest shark attack in history: USS ''Indianapolis'' survivor recounts ordeal 75 years on |url=https://www.9news.com.au/world/uss-indianapolis-sinking-survivor-recounts-world-war-two-ordeal-75-years-on-with-the-deadliest-shark-attack-in-history--exclusive/3c1b1d4a-93cc-49ad-b906-e4b817d43277 |website=9news.com |date=29 July 2020 |publisher=9news |access-date=19 July 2021}}</ref>

[[Ocean of Fear]], a 2007 documentary film that was part of [[Discovery Channel]]'s ''[[Shark Week]]'', states that the sinking of ''Indianapolis'' resulted in the most shark attacks on humans in history, and attributes the attacks to the [[oceanic whitetip shark]] species. [[Tiger shark]]s may also have killed some sailors. The same show attributed most of the deaths on ''Indianapolis'' to exposure, salt poisoning, and thirst/dehydration, with the dead being dragged off by sharks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Week-Artist-Not-Provided/dp/B0017VG5ZU/ref=pd_cp_mov_4 |title=Discovery Channel's ''Shark Week'': Ocean of Fear |website=Amazon |access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref>

===Navy failure to learn of the sinking===

The Headquarters of Commander Marianas on Guam and of the Commander [[Philippine Sea Frontier]] on Leyte kept Operations plotting boards on which were plotted the positions of all vessels with which the headquarters were concerned. However, it was assumed that ships as large as ''Indianapolis'' would reach their destinations on time, unless reported otherwise. Therefore, their positions were based on predictions and not on reports. On 31 July, when she should have arrived at Leyte, ''Indianapolis'' was removed from the board in the headquarters of Commander Marianas. She was also recorded as having arrived at Leyte by the headquarters of Commander Philippine Sea Frontier. Lieutenant Stuart B. Gibson, the operations officer under the Port Director, Tacloban, was the officer blamed for not tracking the movements of ''Indianapolis''. The vessel's failure to arrive on schedule was known at once to Gibson, who failed to investigate the matter and made no immediate report of the fact to his superiors. It was common for expected vessels to not arrive, and there was no directive for the port director to report the nonarrival of any ship. Gibson received a [[letter of reprimand]] in connection with the incident. The acting commander and operations officer of the Philippine Sea Frontier also received reprimands, while Gibson's immediate superior received a letter of admonition (a less severe military punishment than a reprimand). These letters were later withdrawn.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-york/9-NYCRR-520.2 | title=N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 520.2 - Types of punishment }}</ref><ref name="PR">{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/s/sinking-ussindianapolis/narrative-of-the-circumstances.html|title=The Sinking of USS ''Indianapolis'': Navy Department Press Release, Narrative of the Circumstances of the Loss of USS ''Indianapolis''|publisher=U.S. Navy|date=23 February 1946|access-date=16 June 2016}}</ref>

[[File:USS Indianapolis-survivors on Guam.jpg|left|thumb|Survivors of ''Indianapolis'' on Guam in August 1945]]
In the first official statement, the Navy said that distress calls "were keyed by radio operators and possibly were actually transmitted" but that "no evidence has been developed that any distress message from the ship was received by any ship, aircraft or shore station".<ref name="PR"/> Declassified records later showed that three stations received the signals but none acted upon the call. One commander was drunk, another had ordered his men not to disturb him, and a third thought it was a Japanese trap.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.questia.com/library/1G1-62650113/for-the-good-of-the-navy|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630044606/http://www.questia.com/library/1G1-62650113/for-the-good-of-the-navy|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2013|title=For The Good of the Navy|magazine=Insight on the News|author=Timothy W. Maier|date=5 June 2000|access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref>

Immediately prior to the attack, the seas had been moderate, the visibility fluctuating but poor in general, and ''Indianapolis'' had been steaming at {{convert|17|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}. When the ship failed to reach Leyte on 31 July, as scheduled, no report was made that she was overdue. The Navy then created the [[Movement Report System]] to prevent such disasters in the future.<ref>{{cite web |title=Impacts of the USS ''Indianapolis'' (CA 35) Sinking |url=https://www.ukessays.com/essays/military/impacts-of-the-uss-indianapolis-ca-35-sinking.php |website=UKEssays |access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref>

===Court-martial of Captain McVay===

Captain [[Charles B. McVay III]], who had commanded ''Indianapolis'' since November 1944 through several battles, survived the sinking, though he was one of the last to abandon ship, and was among those rescued days later. In November 1945, he was [[court-martial]]ed on two charges: failing to order his men to abandon ship and hazarding the ship. Cleared of the charge of failing to order abandon ship, McVay was convicted of "hazarding his ship by failing to [[zigzag]]". Several aspects of the court-martial were controversial. There was evidence that the Navy itself had placed the ship in harm's way. McVay's orders were to "zigzag at his discretion, weather permitting"; however, McVay was not informed that a Japanese submarine was operating in the vicinity of his route from Guam to Leyte. Further, Commander Mochitsura Hashimoto, commanding officer of ''I-58'', wrote in his testimony to Senator John Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, that zigzagging would have made no difference.<ref name="Hashimoto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ussindianapolis.org/hashimoto.htm|title=Mochitsura Hashimoto|work=ussindianapolis.org|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711210117/http://www.ussindianapolis.org/hashimoto.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Fleet admiral (United States)|Fleet Admiral]] [[Chester Nimitz]] remitted McVay's sentence and restored him to active duty. McVay retired in 1949 as a [[Rear admiral (United States)|rear admiral]].<ref name="McVay">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ussindianapolis.org/mcvay.htm|title=Captain McVay|work=ussindianapolis.org|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204011556/http://ussindianapolis.org/mcvay.htm|archive-date=4 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

While many of ''Indianapolis''{{'s}} survivors said McVay was not to blame for the sinking, the families of some of the men who died thought otherwise: "Merry Christmas! Our family's holiday would be a lot merrier if you hadn't killed my son", read one piece of mail.<ref name="Suicide">{{Cite web|url=http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0401harmsway.htm|title=Review of ''In Harm's Way''|author=Steven Martinovich|date=16 April 2001|work=enterstageright.com|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-date=15 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215222633/http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0401harmsway.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The guilt that was placed on his shoulders mounted until he [[Suicide|killed himself]] in 1968, aged 70.<ref name="ctmag">{{cite news |last1=Catarevas |first1=Michael |title=Connecticut's Heroes Aboard the Doomed USS ''Indianapolis'' |url=http://www.connecticutmag.com/the-connecticut-story/connecticut-s-heroes-aboard-the-doomed-uss-indianapolis/article_22699165-1487-59b9-af8e-88c1ec791af0.html |access-date=29 June 2018 |work=Connecticut Magazine |date=4 November 2016 |archive-date=27 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627183559/https://www.connecticutmag.com/the-connecticut-story/connecticut-s-heroes-aboard-the-doomed-uss-indianapolis/article_22699165-1487-59b9-af8e-88c1ec791af0.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===McVay's record cleared===

In 1996, sixth-grade student Hunter Scott began his research on the sinking of ''Indianapolis'' for a class history project. Scott's effort led to an increase in national publicity,<ref>{{cite news |last= Lizette |first= Alvarez |date= 1 May 1998 |title= A Boy's School Project Aims to Revise History |newspaper= The New York Times |page= 18 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/01/us/a-boy-s-school-project-aims-to-revise-history.html |access-date= 25 July 2021}}</ref> which got the attention of retired Congressional lobbyist Michael Monroney, who had been scheduled to be assigned to ''Indianapolis'' before she shipped out on her final voyage. Around the same time, [[William Toti|Captain William J. Toti, USN]], final commanding officer of the fast attack nuclear submarine {{USS|Indianapolis|SSN-697}} received an appeal from several ''Indianapolis'' survivors to assist with the exoneration effort. Toti then demonstrated through analysis that the tactic of zigzagging would not have spared the ''Indianapolis'' from at least one torpedo hit by the ''I-58''.<ref name="Toti">{{cite journal |last=Toti |first=Cmdr. William |title= The Sinking of the Indy and the Responsibility of Command |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute |journal=Proceedings |date=October 1999 |url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1999/october/sinking-indy-responsibility-command |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Monroney brought the matter to the attention of his son-in-law, who was on the staff of [[Bob Smith (New Hampshire politician)|Senator Bob Smith]] (R, NH) and was able to get the issue in front of Smith. Smith convinced [[Senator John Warner]] (R, VA) to hold hearings on the [[Senate Armed Services Committee]] on 14 September 1999, in which several ''Indianapolis'' survivors testified. Also called to testify in the hearings were [[Vice Chief of Naval Operations]] [[Donald L. Pilling|Admiral Donald Pilling]], Director of the [[Naval History and Heritage Command|Naval History Center]] Dr. William Dudley, and the [[Judge Advocate General of the Navy]] [[John Hutson|Rear Admiral John Hutson]]. The hearings were reported to sway Senator Warner into allowing a "[[Sense of Congress]]" resolution clearing Captain McVay's name to be passed to full Congress for a vote. In October 2000, the [[United States Congress]] passed a resolution that Captain McVay's record should state that "he is [[exonerated]] for the loss of ''Indianapolis''". President [[Bill Clinton]] also signed the resolution.<ref name="exoneration">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ussindianapolis.org/resolution.htm|title=Seeking Justice: Victory in Congress|work=ussindianapolis.org|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029041423/http://www.ussindianapolis.org/resolution.htm|archive-date=29 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The resolution noted that, although several hundred ships of the U.S. Navy were lost in combat during World War II, McVay was the only captain to be court-martialed for the loss of his ship due to enemy action in combat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ussindianapolis.org/language.htm|title=Legislation exonerating Captain McVay|work=ussindianapolis.org|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-date=20 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002737/http://www.ussindianapolis.org/language.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2001, United States Secretary of the Navy [[Gordon R. England|Gordon England]] directed Captain Toti to enter the Congressional language into McVay's official Navy service record, clearing him of all wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Joseph|title=Leadership Embodied|year=2005|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1591148609|pages=112–117|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qiU7V8maI2oC&q=MacVay&pg=PA112}}</ref><ref name="AP20010713">{{cite news|last=Magin|first=Janis|title=Navy exonerates WWII captain|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5k0iAAAAIBAJ&pg=3676,966443|access-date=31 July 2011|newspaper=The Argus-Press|date=13 July 2001}}</ref>

==Commanders==

Commanders of USS ''Indianapolis'':<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/04/035/04035.htm | title=NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive – USS ''Indianapolis'' (CA 35) |website=Navsource | date=22 August 2015 | access-date=17 November 2015 | author=Yarnall, Paul R.}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank!! Name !! Date
|-
| [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]] || John M. Smeallie ||15 November 1932 – 10 December 1934
|-
| Captain || William S. McClintic || 10 December 1934 – 16 March 1936
|-
| Captain || [[Henry Kent Hewitt]] ||16 March 1936 – 5 June 1937
|-
| Captain || [[Thomas C. Kinkaid]] ||5 June 1937 – 1 July 1938
|-
| Captain || [[John F. Shafroth Jr.]] || 1 July 1938 – 1 October 1941
|-
| Captain || [[Edward Hanson]] ||1 October 1941 – 11 July 1942
|-
| Captain || [[Morton L. Deyo]] ||11 July 1942 – 12 January 1943
|-
| Captain || Nicholas Vytlacil|| 12 January 1943 – 30 July 1943
|-
| Captain || Einar R. Johnson ||30 July 1943 – 18 November 1944
|-
| Captain || [[Charles B. McVay III]]||18 November 1944 – 30 July 1945
|}

==Awards==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan=3|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=103}}{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=103}}
|-
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=103}}{{ribbon devices|number=10|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=103}}{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=103}}
|}
* [[Combat Action Ribbon]]
* [[American Defense Service Medal]] with fleet clasp
* [[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with ten [[battle stars]]<ref>At [http://www.ussindianapolis.us/ USS ''Indianapolis'' Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230232907/http://www.ussindianapolis.us/ |date=30 December 2006 }} official website, in the left-hand column, click on "USS ''Indianapolis'' Battle Stars". Retrieved 17 August 2011.</ref>
* [[American Campaign Medal]]
* [[World War II Victory Medal]]

==Wreck discovery==

[[File:USS Ohio firing detail.jpg|right|thumb|Navy firing detail as part of a [[burial-at-sea]] in 2008, for one of the 316 survivors of ''Indianapolis'' sinking on 30 July 1945]]

The wreck of ''Indianapolis'' is in the Philippine Sea.<ref>The coordinates given in this article are for the general area</ref> In July–August 2001, an expedition sought to find the wreckage through the use of [[side-scan sonar]] and underwater cameras mounted on a [[remotely operated vehicle]]. Four ''Indianapolis'' survivors accompanied the expedition, which was not successful. In June 2005, a second expedition was mounted to find the wreck. ''[[National Geographic]]'' covered the story and released it in July. [[Submersible]]s were launched to find any sign of wreckage, although they only located pieces of metal that were not proven conclusively to be from the ship.

In July 2016, new information emerged regarding the possible location of ''Indianapolis'' when naval records were discovered indicating that the tank landing ship {{USS|LST-779||2}} recorded passing by ''Indianapolis'' 11 hours before the torpedoes struck. This information allowed researchers to determine that ''Indianapolis'' had been moving faster and was therefore farther west than previously assumed, as well as slightly off the route taken. Using this information, ''National Geographic'' planned to mount an expedition to search for the wreck in the summer of 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2016/07/27/new-lead-uncovered-search-uss-indianapolis |title=New Lead Uncovered in Search for USS ''Indianapolis''|date=27 July 2016 }}</ref> Reports estimated that ''Indianapolis'' was actually {{convert|25|mi}} west of the reported sinking position, in water over {{convert|3|mi|m|spell=in}} deep, and likely on the side of an underwater mountain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/details-final-resting-place-uss-indianapolis-103040/ |title=New Details On Final Resting Place Of USS ''Indianapolis'' |publisher= Indiana Public Media |access-date=28 October 2016 |archive-date=28 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028151731/http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/details-final-resting-place-uss-indianapolis-103040/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A year after the discovery of the records, the wreck was located by [[Paul Allen]]'s "USS ''Indianapolis'' Project" aboard the research vessel {{Ship|RV|Petrel||2}}{{hsp}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/19/us/uss-indianapolis-wreckage-found/index.html|title=USS ''Indianapolis'' discovered 18,000 feet below Pacific surface|website=CNN|access-date=19 August 2017|language=en|date=19 August 2017}}</ref> on 19 August 2017, at a depth of {{cvt|5500|m|ft|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Wreckage of USS ''Indianapolis'' found in Philippine Sea|url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2017/08/19/wreckage-uss-indianapolis-found-philippine-sea/583124001/|website=Indianapolis Star|access-date=19 August 2017|language=en|date=19 August 2017}}</ref> The wreck was revealed to the public on 13 September 2017, in a live TV show on PBS titled "USS ''Indianapolis'', Live from the Deep", starring [[Miles O'Brien (journalist)|Miles O'Brien]] and also including now-retired Captain William Toti.<ref>{{Citation|last=|first=|title=USS Indianapolis Live – from the Deep|url=https://www.pbs.org/show/uss-indianapolis/|volume=|pages=|language=en|access-date=2021-02-10}}</ref> The wreck is well-preserved due to the great depth at which ''Indianapolis'' rests, among the rocky mountain ranges of the North Philippine Sea.<ref>{{cite news |last=Werner |first=Ben |date=August 23, 2017 |title=Navy: USS ''Indianapolis'' Wreckage Well Preserved by Depth and Undersea Environment |url=https://news.usni.org/2017/08/23/navy-uss-indianapolis-wreckage-well-preserved-depth-undersea-environment |work=USNI News|access-date=August 28, 2017}}</ref>

In September 2017, a map detailing the wreckage was released. The main part of the wreck lies in an enormous impact crater; her bow, which broke off before the ship sank, lies {{convert|1.5|mi}} east. The two forward 8-inch gun turrets, which also broke off on the surface and mark the ship's last position on the surface, lie {{convert|0.5|mi}} east of the main wreck. The bridge, which broke off the ship due to the torpedoes, lies in a debris field near the forward guns. The single 8-inch gun turret on the stern remains in place, though the stern's roof collapsed over itself. Airplane wreckage from the ship lies about {{convert|0.6|mi}} north of the main part of the wreck.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Emanuella Grinberg|title=USS ''Indianapolis'' wreckage found 72 years later|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/19/us/uss-indianapolis-wreckage-found/index.html|website=CNN|date=19 August 2017 }}<br />{{cite web|title=Wreckage of USS ''Indianapolis'' found|website=[[CBS News]]|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/wreckage-of-uss-indianapolis-found/4/|language=en|date=25 August 2017}}<br />{{cite web|author1=Jamie Seidel|title=USS ''Indianapolis'', famous U.S. Navy ship at the centre of|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/uss-indianapolis-wreck-of-shark-disaster-warship-found-by-paul-allen/news-story/d6a505e90bdce97c85fd771904753f47|website=NewsComAu|date=August 23, 2017}}</ref> The full exposition of the method by which the wreck was located and documented was released in another [[PBS]] documentary on 8 January 2019 titled ''USS Indianapolis: The Final Chapter''.<ref>{{Citation|last=|first=|title=USS Indianapolis: The Final Chapter|url=https://www.pbs.org/video/uss-indianapolis-the-final-chapter-aabbsw/|volume=|pages=|language=en|access-date=2021-02-10}}</ref>

==Reunions==

Since 1960, surviving crew members met for reunions in Indianapolis. Fourteen of the thirty-two remaining survivors attended the 70th reunion, held 23–26 July 2015. Held only sporadically at first, then biannually, the reunions were later held annually. By 2015 most of the survivors were in their nineties, voted every year whether to continue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warship's Last Survivors Recall Sinking in Shark-Infested Waters |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/150727-uss-indianapolis-reunion-survivors-sharks-jaws |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729030319/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/150727-uss-indianapolis-reunion-survivors-sharks-jaws/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2015 |website= National Geographic News |first=Glenn |last=Hodges |publisher=National Geographic |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=USS ''Indianapolis'' Survivors Reunion |url=http://ussindyreunion.com/ |website=ussindyreunion.com |access-date=28 July 2015 |archive-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807123035/http://ussindyreunion.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/07/26/hundreds-mark-th-anniversary-uss-indianapolis-attack/30709975/ |title=Hundreds mark 70th anniversary of USS ''Indianapolis'' attack |date=26 July 2015 }}</ref> Seven out of twenty remaining survivors attended the 2017 reunion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beilue: For the dwindling few, the USS ''Indianapolis'' reunion is too meaningful to ignore |url=http://amarillo.com/local-news/news/2017-08-04/beilue-dwindling-few-uss-indianpolis-reunion-too-meaningful-ignore |access-date=August 4, 2017 |publisher=[[Amarillo Globe-News]]}}</ref> With the death of Cleatus Lebow on 29 September 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |title=War Memorial: Services for Cleatus Lebow, USS Indy survivor, to be held Sunday |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/war-memorial-services-cleatus-lebow-200802464.html |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=www.yahoo.com |date=6 October 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> there is only one crew member still alive, [[Harold Bray (sailor)|Harold Bray]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-30 |title=Benician Harold Bray is last living USS Indianapolis survivor |url=https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2022/09/29/benician-harold-bray-is-last-living-uss-indianapolis-survivor |access-date=2022-10-30 |website=[[The Vacaville Reporter]]}}</ref>

==Memorials==
{{see also|U.S. Navy Museum#Other museums}}
[[File:USS Indianapolis National Memorial (WCNA 2024 CR).jpg|thumb|USS ''Indianapolis'' National Memorial in Indianapolis, Indiana, 2024]]

The USS ''Indianapolis'' Museum had its grand opening on 7 July 2007, with its gallery in the Indiana War Memorial Museum at the [[Indiana World War Memorial Plaza#Indiana World War Memorial Military Museum|Indiana World War Memorial Plaza]].<ref>{{cite web|title=USS ''Indianapolis'' Museum - Mission & Vision Statement|url=http://www.ussindianapolis.us/|publisher=www.ussindianapolis.us|access-date=24 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230232907/http://www.ussindianapolis.us/|archive-date=30 December 2006|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The USS ''Indianapolis'' National Memorial was dedicated on 2 August 1995. It is located in [[Indianapolis]], Indiana, in the city's [[Canal and White River State Park]] cultural district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.in.gov/iwm/2328.htm |title=Indiana War Memorial: USS ''Indianapolis'' Memorial |publisher=State of Indiana official website |access-date=22 May 2017}}</ref> The heavy cruiser is depicted in limestone and granite and sits adjacent to the downtown canal. The crewmembers' names are listed on the monument, with special notations for those who died.<ref>{{cite web |title=USS ''Indianapolis'' |url=http://www.indianawarmemorials.org/memorials/ussindianapolis.html |publisher=Indiana War Memorials Foundation |access-date=22 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413080649/http://www.indianawarmemorials.org/memorials/ussindianapolis.html |archive-date=13 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was designated a [[List of national memorials of the United States|national memorial]] by Congress in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public Law 103-160 |url=https://uscode.house.gov/statviewer.htm?volume=107&page=1765 |date=November 30, 1993|website=U.S. House of Representatives – Office of the Law Revision Counsel – United States Code |access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref>

In May 2011, the [[I-465]] beltway around Indianapolis was named the USS ''Indianapolis'' Memorial Highway.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Network Indiana|title=I-465 Renamed In Honor Of USS ''Indianapolis''|url=http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/i465-renamed-honor-uss-indianapolis-19074/|publisher=Indiana Public Media|access-date=24 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325201649/http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/i465-renamed-honor-uss-indianapolis-19074/|archive-date=25 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

USS Indianapolis is the name of the Navy's combat training pool, located at [[Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois|RTC Great Lakes]].  This facility is used during Navy boot camp to test recruit swimming ability, and to instruct recruits who lack those skills.  The building was dedicated to those who lost their lives at sea, with the intent of providing training to recruits on how to survive until a rescue is made.

Some material relating to ''Indianapolis'' is held by the [[Indiana State Museum]]. Her bell and a commissioning pennant were formerly located at [[Heslar Naval Armory]] but currently reside at the [[Indiana War Memorial Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|title=A Concurrent Resolution honoring the Heslar Naval Armory and its staff for their many contributions to our nation and our state|url=http://iga.in.gov/static-documents/3/e/1/9/3e19c8d5/SC0006.01.INTR.pdf|publisher=Indianapolis State Senate|access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/usn/CA-35.html|title=Pacific Wrecks|last=PacificWrecks.com}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
In a scene in the 1975 movie ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]'', one of the main characters, Quint, who is a survivor of ''Indianapolis'', recounts the sinking and shark attacks. This scene brought ''Indianapolis'', and her sinking, into a much wider public spotlight 30 years after the events occurred.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sdut-documentary-indianapolis-wwii-sharks-jaws-military-2016aug01-htmlstory.html |title=Focus: Saving WWII Indianapolis story from sharks |first=Peter |last=Rowe |date=1 Aug 2016|access-date=29 May 2020|work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/08/the-uss-indianapolis-and-quints-monologue/ |title=The USS ''Indianapolis'' and Quint's monologue |first=Rupert |last=Millar |date=24 Aug 2017|access-date=29 May 2020|publisher=Union Press Ltd}}</ref>  The 2019 play ''[[The Shark Is Broken]]'', which opened on Broadway in 2023, both explores [[Robert Shaw (actor)|Robert Shaw]] (Quint's actor) rewriting the dialogue to the scene, as well as doing a full rendition of the famous scene at the end.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/theater/the-shark-is-broken-review.html |title=Review: A Bloodless Postscript to 'Jaws' in 'The Shark Is Broken' |work=The New York Times |first=Jesse |last=Green |date=August 10, 2023 |access-date=October 29, 2023}}</ref>

The sinking is the subject of the 1991 made-for-TV film ''Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis'', starring [[Stacy Keach]].

The 2014 novel ''[[Shark (novel)|Shark]]'', by English writer [[Will Self]], is based on the sinking of ''Indianapolis''.

The 2016 film ''[[USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage]]'', directed by [[Mario Van Peebles]] and starring [[Nicolas Cage]], is based on the sinking.

==See also==
{{Portal|Indiana}}
* {{USS|Juneau|CL-52}}, another U.S. Navy cruiser sunk during World War II with substantial loss of life attributed to delayed rescue efforts
* [[List of U.S. Navy losses in World War II]]
* [[List of ships sunk by submarines by death toll]]
* [[List of United States Navy cruisers]]
* [[List of national memorials of the United States]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==

{{reflist|20em}}
* {{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/i/indianapolis-ii.html}}

===Sources===
{{Refbegin|30em|indent=y}}
* {{cite book |last1= Bauer |first1= Karl Jack |last2= Roberts |first2= Stephen S. |date= 1991 |title= Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants |publisher= [[Greenwood Press]] |isbn= 978-0313262029 |location= [[Westport, Connecticut]]}}
* {{cite book |last= Cook |first= Blanche |date= 1999 |title= Eleanor Roosevelt: Vol. 2 – The Defining Years, 1933–1938 |author-link= Blanche Weisen Cook |publisher= Penguin |location= New York |isbn= 978-0140178944 |url= https://archive.org/details/eleanorroosevelt00blan_0/page/398 |url-access= registration |access-date= 8 August 2021}}
* {{cite DANFS |ref= {{harvid|DANFS ''Indianapolis''}} |title= Indianapolis II |url= https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/i/indianapolis-ii.html |date= 24 June 2020 |access-date= 8 August 2021}}
* {{cite magazine |last= Marks |first= R. Adrian |title= America Was Well Represented |magazine= Proceedings |publisher= [[United States Naval Institute]] |date= April 1981}}
* {{cite book |last= Miller |first= David M. O. |date= 2001 |title= Illustrated Directory of Warships of the World |publisher= [[Zenith Press]] |location= New York |isbn= 978-0760311271}}
* {{cite book |last=  Rhodes |first= Richard |date= 1986 |title= The Making of the Atomic Bomb |publisher= Simon & Schuster}}
* {{cite book |last= Silverstone |first= Paul |date= 2007 |title= The Navy of World War II, 1922–1947 |location= New York |publisher= [[Routledge]] |isbn= 978-0415978989}}
* {{cite book |last= Stille |first= Mark |date= 2009 |title= USN Cruiser vs IJN Cruiser: Guadalcanal 1942 |publisher= [[Osprey Publishing]] |location= [[Oxford, UK]] |isbn= 978-1846034664}}
{{Refend}}

===Further reading===
{{Refbegin|30em|indent=y}}
* {{cite journal |ref= none |last= Croft |first= Sebastian |date= 2024 | url= https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/flm.2024.a933221 |title= Bomb Voyage: The USS Indianapolis Disaster in American Cinema, National Memory, and Jaws (1975) |journal= Film & History|volume= 54 |pages= 35–51 |author-link= |doi= 10.1353/flm.2024.a933221 | issn= 1548-9922 |url-access= subscription }}
* {{cite book |ref= none |last= Fahey |first= James C. |date= 1941 |title= The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Two-Ocean Fleet Edition |author-link= James Charles Fahey|publisher= Ships and Aircraft}}
* {{cite book |ref= none |last= Harrell |first= David |date= 2005 |title= Out of the Depths |author-link=  |others= As told by Edgar Harrell |publisher= Out of the Depths |isbn= 1597811661}}
* {{cite book |ref= none |last= Hashimoto |first= Mochitsura |date= 2010 |orig-year= 1954 |edition= Reprint |title= Sunk: The Story of the Japanese Submarine Fleet, 1941–1945 |location= New York |publisher= Progressive Press |isbn= 978-1615775811 }}
* {{cite book |ref= none |last= Loynd |first= Ray |date= 1978 |title= The Jaws 2 Log |location= London |publisher= W. H. Allen |isbn= 0426188683}}
* {{cite book |ref= none |last=Lech |first= Raymond B. |date= 1982 |title= All the Drowned Sailors |publisher= [[Jove Books]]}}
* {{cite book |ref= none |last= Newcomb |first= Richard |date= 2000 |orig-year= 1958 |title= Abandon Ship!: The Saga of the USS ''Indianapolis'', the Navy's Greatest Sea Disaster |publisher= HarperCollins |isbn= 006018471X |author-link= Richard Newcomb}}
* {{cite book |ref= none |last= Stanton |first= Doug |year=2003 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oBaI6MnPHxcC&q=Doug+Stanton+In+Harm%27s+Way+ISBN |title= In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS ''Indianapolis'' and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors |location= New York |publisher= Owl Books |isbn= 978-0805073669 |author-link= Doug Stanton}} [[Publishers Weekly|Publishers Weekly Notable Book Award]]; [[Massachusetts Book Award]]
* {{cite book |ref= none |last= Taylor |first= Theodore |date= 1954 |title= The Magnificent Mitscher |publisher= United States Naval Institute Press |isbn= 1591148502}}
* {{cite book |ref= none |last1= Vincent |first1= Lynn |author1-link= Lynn Vincent |last2= Vladic |first2= Sara |date= 2018 |title= Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man |publisher= [[Simon & Schuster]]}}.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Indianapolis (CA-35)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061230232907/http://www.ussindianapolis.us/ USS ''Indianapolis'' Museum] official website
* [http://www.ussindianapolis.org/ USS ''Indianapolis'' Survivors Organization]
* [http://www.ussindianapolis.com Another USS ''Indianapolis'' Survivors Organization]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/cruisers/pages/uss_indianapolis_ca35_page_1.htm Maritime Quest ''Indianapolis'' Pictures]
* [http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/CA35/1945Kamikaze/ 1945 Kamikaze Damage Report] – filed by Mare Island Naval Shipyard
* [http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2565.html Allied Warships: USS ''Indianapolis'' (CA 35), Heavy cruiser of the ''Portland''-class]
* {{cite web |title=USS ''Indianapolis'' Collection, 1898–1991 (Bulk 1945–1946 and 1984–1991), Collection Guide |publisher=Indiana Historical Society |date=13 October 2006 |url=http://www.indianahistory.org/our-collections/collection-guides/uss-indianapolis-collection.pdf |access-date=2 November 2012 |archive-date=29 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729071607/http://www.indianahistory.org/our-collections/collection-guides/uss-indianapolis-collection.pdf/ |url-status=dead }}
* [http://www.indysurvivor.com/ IndySurvivor.com] – website and book by survivor Edgar Harrell, USMC
* Announcement of the Father Thomas Conway Memorial (June 2006). (At [https://web.archive.org/web/20061230232907/http://www.ussindianapolis.us/ USS ''Indianapolis'' Museum] official website, in the left-hand column, click on "2006 Museum Activities".)
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23455951 ''BBC Magazine'']
* {{navsource|04/035/04035|USS Indianapolis}}
{{Coord|12|2|N|134|48|E|type:landmark_scale:20000000|name=Approximate location of the wreck of the USS ''Indianapolis'' (CA-35)|display=title}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141018232423/http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img29/5567/aquitaniadepartsnewyork.jpg USS ''Indianapolis''] (decked in flags) and the passenger liner [[RMS Aquitania|''Aquitania'']] at the Statue of Liberty
* {{YouTube|mDsksTObzU8|''Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis'' (1991)}}
* {{YouTube|QeHJTp35o8s|Missing The USS ''Indianapolis''}}, a [[History Channel]] documentary
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/cruisers/pages/uss_indianapolis_ca35_roll_of_honor.htm Roll of Honor]

{{Portland class cruiser}}
{{July 1945 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indianapolis (Ca-35)}}
[[Category:Portland-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Ships built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation]]
[[Category:1931 ships]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships of the Aleutian Islands campaign]]
[[Category:Naval ships of Operation Detachment]]
[[Category:History of the Manhattan Project]]
[[Category:Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Japanese submarines]]
[[Category:Cruisers sunk by submarines]]
[[Category:Shark attacks]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Philippine Sea]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1945]]
[[Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:National memorials of the United States]]
[[Category:Shipwreck discoveries by Paul Allen]]
[[Category:2017 archaeological discoveries]]