DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
The Sinking of USS Indianapolis
The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was commissioned at the Philadelphia
Navy Yard on 15 November 1932. The ship served with honor from Pearl Harbor
through the last campaign of World War II, sinking in action two weeks before
the end of the war. On 30 July 1945, while sailing from Guam to Leyte, Indianapolis
was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-58. The ship capsized and sank
in twelve minutes. Survivors were spotted by a patrol aircraft on 2 August.-
All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to
the scene at once, and the surrounding waters were thoroughly searched for
survivors. Upon completion of the day and night search on 8 August, 316
men were rescued out of the crew of 1,199.
SELECTED PUBLISHED SOURCES
Boyd, Carl. "Attacking the Indianapolis: A Re-examination."
Warship International 13, no.1 (1976): 15-25.
Brown, Chip. "Terror of Shark and Sea, 35 Years After." Washington
Post ( 6 Aug. 1980): E1-E3.
Burlingame, Burl. "Historian: McVay Didn't Have Spy Data." Honolulu
Star Bulletin ( 4 Nov. 1993).
Ethridge, Kenneth E. "The Agony of the Indianapolis." American
Heritage 33, no.5 (Aug.-Sep. 1982): 81-96.
Haynes, Lewis L. and George W. Campbell. "We Prayed While 883 Died."
Saturday Evening Post ( 6 Aug. 1955): 28-29,76,78,80.
Helm, Thomas. Ordeal By Sea: The Tragedy of the U.S.S. Indianapolis.
New York: Dodd, Mead, 1963. OCLC 1349965. [Includes final sailing list with
survivors indicated.]
Kurzman, Dan. Fatal Voyage: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis.
New-York: Atheneum, 1990. OCLC 20824775.
Lech, Raymond B. All the Drowned Sailors. New York: Stein and Day,
1982. OCLC 8668901.
Mueller, Michael "Lost at Sea." American History Illustrated
20, no.4 (Jun. 1985): 28-35.
"Navy Reports on Court Martial and Gives Account of Indianapolis'
Loss." Army and Navy Journal 83, no.27 (2 Mar. 1946): 815, 828,
831.
Newcomb, Richard F. Abandon ship! Death of the U.S.S. Indianapolis.
New York: Holt, 1958. OCLC 173257, 2177577.
_____. "Four Nights of Terror." American Legion 111, no.2
(Aug. 1981): 16-17,40-41.
Norwitz, Steven. "Remembering the Hunger and Thirst, the Sharks and
the Screams." Washington Post ( 5 Aug. 1975): B1-B2.
The above books and articles should be available in local libraries, or
obtainable through interlibrary loan.
UNPUBLISHED ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
- Microfiche 73: WWII War Diary of Indianapolis. Set of 15 fiche.
- Microfilm reel NRS 461 for IBM casualty list of 30 July 1945,
for losses in Philippine Sea area. Microfilm reel.
- Microfilm reel NRS 462 for documents on loss of Indianapolis
on 30 July 1945. Contents of reel include:
- A. Interview with Capt. Charles B. McVay III.
B. Indianapolis Report of loss dated 12 Aug. 1945.
C. Indianapolis Report of circumstances of loss dated 26 Aug. 1945.
D. Western Carolines Subordinate Area Report of Search and Rescue dated
15 Aug. 1945.
E. Three Navy Department press releases concerning the loss of Indianapolis
and Capt. McVay's courtmartial: 3 Dec. 1945, 12 Dec. 1945 and 23 Feb. 1946.
To order a microfilm or fiche copy for the prices indicated on the Naval
Historical Center fee schedule, please
complete the duplication order form
and send an appropriate check or money order payable to Department of
the Navy, to the following address:
Operational Archives Branch
Naval Historical Center
901 M Street SE
Washington Navy Yard
Washington DC 20374-5060
12 May 1996