| The Atomic Bomb |
| While the Indianapolis was in Mare Island dry-dock, the
War Department chose the ship to transport "The Bomb" even before they were
certain it would work. Indianapolis, because of her great speed, her
availability and proximity to Los Alamos, New Mexico - where the Manhattan
Project was based - had been tapped for history. |
| The Manhattan Project - America's top-secret atom bomb effort
- proved a success in the very early hours of July 16, 1945. |
| In the early morning hours of that very same day, with a huge
assembly of Admirals, Generals and many technicians at pier-side, the atom
bomb components were loaded aboard Indianapolis. Several large wooden
crates were stowed in one of the ship's hangars and guards were placed to
keep all inquisitive souls away. The "heart" of two bombs (some question
whether the second bomb components were transported via air), uranium-235,
sealed in a lead-lined metal container, was lashed to cleats, which had been
welded to the deck in the Admiral's Cabin. Orders were passed that should
the ship come under attack and find herself 'in extremis", the lead container
was to be immediately thrown over the side. Even given the strangeness of
this particular order, the nature of the cargo itself was kept secret from
all aboard - including Indianapolis' Captain, Charles McVay.
Indianapolis sailed into history on that fateful morning of 18 July,
foregoing her post repair shakedown period. |
| Touching at Pearl Harbor 19 July for six hours to refuel and
replenish, she raced on unescorted and arrived Tinian 26 July, having set
a record in covering some 5000 miles from San Francisco in only 10
days. |
