07/26/2026
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On this day, July 25, 1945, Navy ship USS Indianapolis (CA 35) arrives at the island of Tinian with components and enriched uranium for the Little Boy nuclear bomb.
In July 1945, Indianapolis completed a top-secret high-speed trip to deliver uranium and other components for "Little Boy", the first nuclear weapon used in combat, to the Tinian Naval Base, and subsequently departed for the Philippines on training duty. At 0015 on 30 July, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, and sank in 12 minutes.
Of 1,195 crewmen aboard, about 300 went down with the ship. The remaining 890 faced exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks while stranded in the open ocean, with few lifeboats and almost no food or water.
The Navy learned of the sinking four days later, when survivors were spotted by the crew of a PV-1 Ventura on routine patrol. A U.S. Navy PBY flying boat crew landed to save those in the water. Only 316 survived. No U.S. warship sunk at sea has lost more sailors.
On 19 August 2017, a search team financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen located the wreckage in the Philippine Sea at a depth of about 18,000 feet. On 20 December 2018, the crew of Indianapolis was collectively awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
Photo file: USS Indianapolis (CA-35) underway at sea on 27 September 1939 - U.S. Navy photo 80-G-425615 Public Domain
USS Indianapolis Survivors Organization
https://www.ussindianapolis.org/
USS Indianapolis at NavSource Naval History
https://www.navsource.net/archives/04/035/04035.htm
๐ฅUSS Indianapolis: The Legacy 1:38:12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qSm9Vq1IpI
USS Indianapolis Roll of Honor
https://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/cruisers/pages/uss_indianapolis_ca35_roll_of_honor.htm
