The Japanese attack on the USS Indianapolis

The USS Indianapolis was a United States Navy cruiser that played a significant role in the Allied victory in the Pacific during World War II. The ship was commissioned in 1932 and saw significant action throughout the war, participating in several battles and supporting amphibious landings. In July 1945, the USS Indianapolis was tasked with delivering components of the atomic bomb, code-named “Little Boy,” from San Francisco to Tinian Island in the Pacific.<br><br>The USS Indianapolis set sail on July 16, 1945, from San Francisco Bay. The ship traveled alone through the open ocean, following a predetermined route to avoid detection by the Japanese Navy. On July 30, the ship was sailing in heavy seas with reduced visibility due to a tropical storm. At 1:45 a.m., the Japanese Navy had begun patrols in the area, and the submarine I-58, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Shimoyama, was in the area and located the Indianapolis. The USS Indianapolis was struck by a Japanese torpedo and exploded shortly after. The ship sank just 17 minutes later, resulting in nearly immediate loss of life due to the speed of the sinking. <br><br>The exact number of deaths from the sinking is still debated, but it is estimated that around 864 sailors were killed or went down with the ship. The remaining 900 or so survived the sinking and found themselves adrift in the Pacific Ocean, many injured, exposed to the sun and the heavy rainfall, with little food and water. Survivors reported being located by the Japanese three to five days after the sinking and taken aboard Japanese ships. The survivors were held on board for approximately five days. Of the 900, 600 were eventually picked up by the Japanese and taken to Japan, where the prisoners were imprisoned under harsh conditions.<br><br>After five days, the remaining 300 survivors were located by the Japanese and taken aboard a ship. However, the Japanese ship failed to return to pick up the remaining survivors, leaving them to their fate. On August 5, 1945, after four days without food, water, or rescue, the remaining survivors were found by a group of Filipino fishermen. Of the 900 sailors who survived the sinking, 316 were rescued by the Filipino fishermen, who risked their own lives to save the stranded sailors. <br><br>The survivors were eventually returned to the US, where many were left severely traumatized and suffered from hallucinations and delusions. The sinking of the USS Indianapolis was kept secret from the American public in an effort to prevent Japanese intelligence from learning that they had lost the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the atomic bomb. It was not until August 19 that news of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis was released to the press. <br><br>The sinking of the USS Indianapolis resulted in significant changes in communication between naval ships and the implementation of new protocols to ensure quicker responses to distressed vessels. Additionally, it led to the establishment of the Purple Heart for survivors of the USS Indianapolis. The USS Indianapolis was officially struck from the Navy register in 1946, but the tragedy continues to be commemorated by veterans and their families.