USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

The Indianapolis at Pearl Harbor in 1937

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. She was named for the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.

On 30 July 1945, after delivering parts for the first atomic bomb to the United States air base at Tinian, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58. It sank in 12 minutes. Of 1,196 crewmen aboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship.

The remaining 900 faced exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks while floating with few lifeboats and almost no food or water. The Navy learned of the sinking when survivors were spotted four days later by the crew of a PV-1 Ventura on routine patrol. Only 317 survived.

USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Media

• USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway in 1939.jpg

  The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway in 1939. An Omaha-class light cruiser and several Clemson/Wickes-class "flushdeck" destroyers are visible in the background.

• USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway at sea, in 1943-1944 (NH 124466).jpg

  Indianapolis underway at sea in 1943–1944

• USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway in 1944 (stbd).jpg

  Indianapolis in 1944 dazzle camouflage pattern

• USS Indianapolis (CA-35) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 10 July 1945 (19-N-86911).jpg

  Indianapolis off Mare Island on 10 July 1945

• Atombombe Little Boy.jpg

  The Little Boy atomic bomb (L-11) being assembled at Tinian a few days after its arrival aboard the Indianapolis.

• USS Indianapolis-last voyage chart.jpg

  Indianapolis's intended route from Guam to the Philippines

• USS Indianapolis-survivors on Guam.jpg

  Survivors of Indianapolis on Guam in August 1945

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  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

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  USS Indianapolis National Memorial in Indianapolis, Indiana, 2024

Other websites

Media related to USS Indianapolis (CA-35) at Wikimedia Commons