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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.

Related Resources:

• Photographs of USS Indianapolis
• Photographs of Japanese submarine I-58
• Navy Department Press Releases concerning loss of USS Indianapolis and Court Martial of Captain Charles B. McVay, III, USN
• Oral History: Recollections of CAPT Lewis L. Haynes, MC, USN, Senior Medical Officer
• Oral History: Recollection of CAPT Charles B. McVay, Commanding Officer of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) which was sunk by Japanese Submarine I-58 on 30 July 1945 near the Philippines
• Interrogation of Commander Machitusura Hashimoto, former commanding officer of Japanese submarine I-58 regarding the sinking of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) as well as Japanese Navy tactics and technology
  
  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.

Moore, Katherine D. Goodbye, Indy Maru: A Navy Wife Remembers. Knoxville TN: Lori Publications, 1991.

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:
  • Interview with Capt. Charles B. McVay III.
  • Indianapolis Report of loss dated 12 Aug. 1945
  • Indianapolis Report of circumstances of loss dated 26 Aug. 1945.
  • Western Carolines Subordinate Area Report of Search and Rescue dated 15 Aug. 1945
  • Navy Department press releases:
    • Charges and Specifications in Case of Captain Charles B. McVay, III, USN, 3 December 1945
    • Narrative of the Circumstances of the Loss of USS Indianapolis, 23 February 1946
    • Report on Court Martial of Captain Charles B. McVay, III, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Indianapolis, 23 February 1946
    • Annoucement of scheduled appearance of Commander Hashimoto at Court Martial of Captain McVay.12 December 1945

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
805 Kidder Breese Street SE
Washington Navy Yard
Washington DC 20374-5060