| Lost -- July 30, 1945 |
| Early in the morning, 12:14 a.m., 30 July 1945, at 12°02'
N., 134°48' E, the first torpedo that had been launched by submarine
I58, commanded by Machitsura Hashimoto, struck ans completely blew
away Indianapolis' bow. The second torpedo struck seconds later on the starboard
side in the machinery spaces, near a powder magazine and one of the fuel
oil bunkers. The second explosion knocked out all electric power aboard ship
and along with any chance for an SOS. Indianapolis' 17-knot speed
through the water continued thus shipping thousands of tons of sea water
through collapsing forward bulkheads and sea water surged in through the
gaping hole in her side. She began to go down by the bow and then to list
to her port. Officers began to shout orders for all hands to abandon ship
and by the hundreds they jumped into sea, taking their burned and wounded
shipmates with them. Within about twelve minutes, according to survivors,
Indianapolis rolled completely over to port and went rapidly down,
bow first. |
| Of the approximately 1197 officers and men aboard, survivors estimate
about 880 men, many badly burned, maimed and wounded, made it alive into
the sea in the early minutes of July 30, 1945. |
| Time of day played a key role in allowing so many men to getaway
from the mortally wounded ship. The torpedo attack had taken place within
minutes of a watch change and about half the ship's company was taking up
their watch duties, the other half still awake, and preparing for their off
duty hours. |
| Traditionally the flagship of the powerful 5th Fleet,
Indianapolis had served with honor from Pearl Harbor through the last
campaign of the war and had gone down a scant two weeks before the war's
end. |
