The USS Independence
On March 31, 1945, Indianapolis took a severe hit from a kamikaze while off Okinawa. Steaming to Mare Island, CA for repairs, the cruiser was ready to return to service by July. While in port, the captain and crew received a unique piece of cargo, the first atomic bomb, "Little Boy," was loaded onboard the USS Indianapolis had orders to proceed to the island of Tinian and deliver the bomb to those who waited for them to transport it to it’s ultimate destination. HIROSHIMA.
Departing, Indianapolis raced across the Pacific, unescorted, to deliver its cargo to the island of Tinian. Arriving on July 26, 1945, the bomb was removed and the cruiser ordered to proceed to Leyte.
Once her mission was completed the USS Indianapolis then reported to CINCPAC (Commander-In-Chief, Pacific) Headquarters at Guam for further orders. She was directed to join the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. The Indianapolis, unescorted, departed Guam.
Departing, Indianapolis raced across the Pacific, unescorted, to deliver its cargo to the island of Tinian. Arriving on July 26, 1945, the bomb was removed and the cruiser ordered to proceed to Leyte.
Once her mission was completed the USS Indianapolis then reported to CINCPAC (Commander-In-Chief, Pacific) Headquarters at Guam for further orders. She was directed to join the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. The Indianapolis, unescorted, departed Guam.
At 14 minutes past midnight, on 30 July 1945, midway between Guam and Leyte Gulf, she was hit by two torpedoes out of six fired by the I-58, a Japanese submarine. The first blew away the bow, the second struck near amidships on the starboard side adjacent to a fuel tank and a powder magazine. The resulting explosion split the ship to the keel, knocking out all electric power. Within minutes she went down rapidly by the bow, rolling to starboard.
Sinking in 12 minutes, the crew was forced take to the sea. Due to the secretive nature of the cruiser's activities and errors with the Movement Report System, the ship was not reported as overdue. For four days the survivors endured exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks before being spotted by a patrol aircraft.
Of the 1,196 sailors onboard, about 900 made it into the water in the twelve minutes before she sank. Few life rafts were released. Most survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket. Shark attacks began with sunrise of the first day and continued until the men were physically removed from the water, almost five days later. Only 316 of the 1,196 man crew survived to tell what happened to themselves and their shipmates.
Follow this link to view a tribute to the USS Indianapolis and the those who served onboard her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uumYacz4do&feature=related
Sinking in 12 minutes, the crew was forced take to the sea. Due to the secretive nature of the cruiser's activities and errors with the Movement Report System, the ship was not reported as overdue. For four days the survivors endured exposure, dehydration, and shark attacks before being spotted by a patrol aircraft.
Of the 1,196 sailors onboard, about 900 made it into the water in the twelve minutes before she sank. Few life rafts were released. Most survivors wore the standard kapok life jacket. Shark attacks began with sunrise of the first day and continued until the men were physically removed from the water, almost five days later. Only 316 of the 1,196 man crew survived to tell what happened to themselves and their shipmates.
Follow this link to view a tribute to the USS Indianapolis and the those who served onboard her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uumYacz4do&feature=related
Court Martial of Captain McVay
A hastily convened closed-door court of inquiry had been convened in Guam on August 13 with the Judge Advocate (prosecutor), stating that they were "starting the proceedings without having available all the necessary data." Little was done to add to such data prior to the court's decision.
As the first witness, Captain McVay was asked, among other things, whether he had been zigzagging the night the ship was sunk. His answer was simply, "No, sir," but apparently little weight was given to the fact that he was under orders to zigzag at his discretion.
Testimony by survivors state that visibility was severely limited the night of the attack, thus explaining Captain McVay's orders to cease zigzagging, was heard but never considered again.
The court of inquiry ultimately recommended that Captain McVay be court-martialed on two vague charges: (1) culpable inefficiency in the performance of his duties and (2) negligently endangering the lives of others.
McVay was found guilty on the charge of failing to zigzag. The court sentenced him to lose 100 numbers in his temporary rank of Captain and 100 numbers in his permanent rank of Commander, thus ruining his Navy career. In 1946, at the behest of Admiral Nimitz who had become Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary Forrestal remitted McVay's sentence and restored him to duty. McVay served out his time in the New Orleans Naval District and retired in 1949 with the rank of Rear Admiral. He took his own life in 1968.
As the first witness, Captain McVay was asked, among other things, whether he had been zigzagging the night the ship was sunk. His answer was simply, "No, sir," but apparently little weight was given to the fact that he was under orders to zigzag at his discretion.
Testimony by survivors state that visibility was severely limited the night of the attack, thus explaining Captain McVay's orders to cease zigzagging, was heard but never considered again.
The court of inquiry ultimately recommended that Captain McVay be court-martialed on two vague charges: (1) culpable inefficiency in the performance of his duties and (2) negligently endangering the lives of others.
McVay was found guilty on the charge of failing to zigzag. The court sentenced him to lose 100 numbers in his temporary rank of Captain and 100 numbers in his permanent rank of Commander, thus ruining his Navy career. In 1946, at the behest of Admiral Nimitz who had become Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary Forrestal remitted McVay's sentence and restored him to duty. McVay served out his time in the New Orleans Naval District and retired in 1949 with the rank of Rear Admiral. He took his own life in 1968.