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Modern Mysteries

USS Indianapolis wreck found 70 years on

By T.K. Randall
August 20, 2017 · Comment icon 6 comments

The USS Indianapolis was found off the coast of the Philippines. Image Credit: US Navy
The wreckage of a cruiser sank by a Japanese submarine 70 years ago has finally been discovered.
During the final days of World War II, the USS Indianapolis had been sailing from Guam to the Philippines after transporting atomic bomb components when it was suddenly attacked.

The damage it sustained was so devastating that it sank within a mere twelve minutes, robbing the crew of the chance to send out a distress signal or to deploy live-saving equipment.

Out of the 1,196 sailors and marines that were on the ship at the time, only 800 survived the sinking and a mere 316 managed to make it back home alive. The rest either drowned or died of dehydration.
Exactly where the ship had gone down would go on to become a mystery spanning more than seven decades, but now, thanks to the efforts of a civilian research crew headed up by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the precise whereabouts of the wreckage have finally been determined.

"To be able to honor the brave men of the USS Indianapolis and their families through the discovery of a ship that played such a significant role in ending World War II is truly humbling," he said.

"As Americans, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the crew for their courage, persistence and sacrifice in the face of horrendous circumstances."

"While our search for the rest of the wreckage will continue, I hope everyone connected to this historic ship will feel some measure of closure at this discovery so long in coming."

Source: The Guardian | Comments (6)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by Manfred von Dreidecker 7 years ago
Interesting to speculate how history might have worked out if she'd been sunk before she'd delivered the Bomb to Tinian. 
Comment icon #2 Posted by Klownzilla 7 years ago
My post didn't work when i tried so here we go again. Causes of death...wasn't this also one of the worst incidents about shark attacks?
Comment icon #3 Posted by EBE Hybrid 7 years ago
The film "USS Indianapolis - Men of Courage" stars Nicolas Cage is about the sinking of the ship, and yes there are lots of sharks!
Comment icon #4 Posted by EBE Hybrid 7 years ago
The film "USS Indianapolis - Men of Courage" stars Nicolas Cage is about the sinking of the ship, and yes there are lots of sharks!
Comment icon #5 Posted by paperdyer 7 years ago
Good find of a great vessel and crew.  I hope more comes out of this than a movie with Nick Cage.  While the movie is a tribute to the crew and vessel, something as fleeting as a movies just seems inadequate. Should we call Geraldo a while?  There has to be some type of safe in the wreckage he can make a TV special out of.
Comment icon #6 Posted by DanL 2 years ago
I believe that the story of the Indianapolis was also mentioned in a famous movie.     JAWS!!!


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