USS
Indianapolis (CA-35)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Indianapolis_(CA-35)
|
USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
|
NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo
Archive
USS INDIANAPOLIS (CA 35)
Flag
Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Bravo - Delta
http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/035/04035.htm
|
CLASS - PORTLAND
Displacement 9,950 Tons, Dimensions, 610' 3" (oa) x 66'
1" x 24' (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 8 x 5"/25, 8 x 0.5" 4
Aircraft.
Armor, 5" Belt, 2 1/2 Turrets, 2 1/2" Deck, 1 1/4
Conning Tower.
Machinery, 107,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.7 Knots, Crew 621.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 31 MAR 1930 at New York Shipbuilding Corp.,
Camden, NJ
Launched 07 NOV 1931
Commissioned 15 NOV 1932
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk 30 JUL 1945 by Japanese
submarine I-58
Additional
Historical Information
Click On Image
For Full Size Image |
Size |
Image Description |
Contributed
By And/Or Copyright |
0403579 |
1.7m |
Undated Pre-war view of Starboard bow
while at anchor in an unknown port. |
Jim Geldert |
|
589k |
Undated Pre-war view of Port Quarter
while underway in New York Harbor. |
David LaPell |
|
64k |
Undated, Pre War. |
USN |
|
83k |
Undated, Pre war image. |
Jesse P. Mannix |
|
123k |
Undated port side view while at anchor. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
114k |
Undated starboard quarter view while at
anchor. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
96k |
Undated starboard side view while at
anchor. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
77k |
Undated starboard bow view. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
106k |
Undated starboard side view while at
anchor. |
Robert M. Cieri |
0403574 |
74k |
Undated pre-war port bow view. |
Ron Titus |
0403575 |
111k |
Starboard quarter view during WWII, location
unknown.
U.S. Navy photo.
|
David Buell |
0403576 |
100k |
Port bow pre-WWII view while underway, date and
location unknown.
U.S. Navy photo.
|
David Buell |
0403578 |
50k |
Caption from photo:
"The 10,000 Ton heavy cruiser Indianapolis
sails from the Philadelphia Navy Yard on June 19,
1933. The Indianapolis has undergone minor repairs and
is proceeding to sea for a post-repair trial before
going to Provincetown, Mass. and the Campobello
Island, New Brunswick, where President Roosevelt will
board for the return trip to Washington."
Photo & text from A.P. Wire courtesy of
philly.com.
|
Michael Mohl |
|
264k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
cover, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
186k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
page 1, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
189k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
page 2, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
176k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
page 3, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
198k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
page 4, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
201k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
page 5, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
203k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
page 6, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
291k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
page 7, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
198k |
Commissioning First Anniversary program
page 8, 17 NOV 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
178k |
First Holiday card, DEC 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
456k |
First Holiday card, DEC 1933. |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
82k |
Balboa Harbor, Panama Canal Zone -
Aerial photograph taken 23 April 1934, with U.S. Fleet
cruisers and destroyers moored together. Ships present
include (left to right in lower left):
USS
Elliot (DD 146);
USS
Roper (DD 147);
USS
Hale (DD 133);
USS
Dorsey (DD 117);
USS
Lea (DD 118);
USS
Rathburne (DD 113);
USS
Talbot (DD 114);
USS
Waters (DD 115);
USS
Dent (DD 116);
USS
Aaron Ward (DD 132);
USS
Buchanan (DD 131);
USS
Crowninshield (DD 134);
USS
Preble (DD 345); and
USS
William B. Preston (DD 344).
(left to right in center):
USS
Yarnall (DD 143);
USS
Sands (DD 243);
USS
Lawrence (DD 250);
(unidentified destroyer);
USS
Detroit (CL-8), Flagship, Destroyers Battle
Force;
USS
Fox (DD 234);
USS
Greer (DD 145);
USS
Barney (DD 149);
USS
Tarbell (DD 142); and
USS
Chicago (CA 29), Flagship, Cruisers Scouting
Force.
(left to right across the top):
USS
Southard (DD 207);
USS
Chandler (DD 206);
USS
Farenholt (DD 332);
USS
Perry (DD 340);
USS
Wasmuth (DD 338);
USS
Trever (DD 339);
USS
Melville (AD-2);
USS
Truxtun (DD 229);
USS
McCormick (DD 223);
USS
MacLeish (DD 220);
USS
Simpson (DD 221);
USS
Hovey (DD 208);
USS
Long (DD 209);
USS
Litchfield (DD 336);
USS
Tracy (DD 214);
USS
Dahlgren (DD 187);
USS
Medusa (AR 1);
USS
Raleigh (CL 7), Flagship, Destroyers Scouting
Force;
USS
Pruitt (DD 347); and
USS
J. Fred Talbott (DD 156);
USS
Dallas (DD 199);
(four unidentified destroyers);
and
USS Indianapolis (CA 35), Flagship, Cruisers
Scouting Force.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections
of the National Archives. |
Scott Dyben |
0403581 |
127k |
Crew of USS Indianpolis greet
their Commanden-in-Chief, President Franklin D.
Roosevent, New York City, 31 May 1934. |
Tommy Trampp |
|
62k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) (at left) With
President Franklin D. Roosevelt on board, acts as the
reviewing platform as a formation of eighteen TG-1/2
(or T4M-1) torpedo planes passes overhead, during the
fleet review off New York City, 31 May 1934. The
President is standing immediately in front of Indianapolis'
second eight-inch gun turret. The ship at right, in
the distance, is USS
Louisville (CA 28).
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 688.
|
USNHC |
|
89k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - View looking aft
from the forward superstructure as USS
Sturtevant (DD 240) comes alongside , during
the Presidential fleet review off New York City, 31
May 1934. A Curtiss O2U scout floatplane is on
Indianapolis' starboard catapult. Note the ship's
aircraft crane, searchlights, and the Presidential
Flag flying from the mainmast peak.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 91519.
|
USNHC |
|
68k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) (at left) With
President Franklin D. Roosevelt on board, acts as the
reviewing platform as the Battle Fleet passes across
her bow, during the fleet review off New York City, 31
May 1934. The President's station was immediately in
front of Indianapolis' second eight-inch gun turret.
Nine battleships are seen in line-ahead formation.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 53228.
|
USNHC |
|
108k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) Arrives at Buenos
Aires, Argentina, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt
on board, 30 November 1936, during the President's
"Good Neighbor" cruise to South America.
Donation of Captain Fred W. Connor, USMC(Retired),
1970.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 70297.
|
USNHC/Steven A. Cardali |
|
69k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Scene in the
ship's pilothouse, late November 1936, as she carried
President Franklin D. Roosevelt on his "Good
Neighbor" cruise to South America. Indianapolis'
Commanding Officer, Captain Henry Kent Hewitt, is
seated in left center. Courtesy of the Naval
Historical Foundation, collection of Rear Admiral Paul
H. Bastedo, USN.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 68037.
|
USNHC |
0403584 |
436k |
The itinerary for 19 Nov through 11 Dec
1936 cruise to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with President
Franklin Roosevelt aboard. |
Christopher L. Eger
Eyespy
Intelligence Magazine |
0403585
0403586
0403587
|
472k
387k
822k
|
Plan Of The Day (POD) for the Shellback
Initation while crossing the Equator on 24 November
1936. |
Christopher L. Eger
Eyespy
Intelligence Magazine |
0403588
|
668k
|
What appears to be part of the Deck Log
between 23 and 24 November 1936. Note the references
to the forthcoming shellback initiation. The last
entry is signed by Ensign
J. D. Bulkeley, who would be the Commanding
Officer of Torpedo Squadron 3 at the start of WWII,
earning the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Army
Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster in
lieu of a similar award, the Army Silver Star Medal,
the Army Distinguished Unit Badge, and the Republic of
the Philippines Distinguished Conduct Star for his
defense of the Phillippine islands. |
Christopher L. Eger
Eyespy
Intelligence Magazine |
0403582
0403583
|
682k
461k
|
The Plan Of The Day (POD) for 27 November 1936 -
the day the ship was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with
President Franklin Roosevelt. It is signed by O. C.
Badger (later Commanding Officer of the USS North
Carolina (BB 55) and Admiral during WWII)
|
Christopher L. Eger
Eyespy
Intelligence Magazine |
|
66k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) At Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, circa 1937.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 53230.
|
USNHC |
0403572 |
380k |
Port bow view while passing through the
Burnside Bridge on the Willamette River in Portland,
OR, 16 July 1937. In the background (down river) is
the battleship USS
Oregon (BB 3), on permanent display at the
foot of the Broadway Bridge. (Caption updated by Jim
Allred) |
Robert M. Cieri |
|
235k |
Starboard Bow Underway, September 27,
1939. Excellent details. Image # (80-G-425615) |
National Archives |
|
138k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her forward half, from the port side, at the Mare
Island Navy Yard, 19 April 1942, following overhaul.
Note details of her forward main battery gun director,
with an "FC" radar antenna on its top,
aircraft catapult, and .30 caliber machinegun mounted
on the bridge wing railing. USS
Raleigh (CL 7) is in the background.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-29301.
|
National Archives |
|
129k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her after half, from the port side, at the Mare Island
Navy Yard, 19 April 1942, following overhaul. Note her
SOC seaplanes, 5"/25 guns and ready service
ammunition, after smokestack, searchlights,
"horse" collar emergency life float
alongside the railing in lower right center and top
edge of armor belt. USS
Raleigh (CL 7) is in the background.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-29300
|
National Archives |
|
129k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her well deck area, from the port side, at the Mare
Island Navy Yard, 19 April 1942, following overhaul.
Note her forward smokestack, catapults, and Curtiss
SOC Seagull aircraft. USS
Raleigh (CL-7) is in the background.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-29299
|
National Archives |
|
239k |
Taken 20 APR 1942 while underway on on
the west side of Mare Island. U.S. Navy photo..
|
Darryl Baker |
|
64k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) Off the Mare Island
Navy Yard, California, 20 April 1942, following her
first wartime overhaul.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-29298
|
National Archives |
|
63k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) At Cold Bay,
Alaska, October 1942. Collection of Vice Admiral
Robert C. Giffen, USN.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 94640.
|
USNHC |
|
120k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - View from off her
starboard bow, at the Mare Island Navy Yard,
California, following overhaul, 1 May 1943. White
outlines mark recent alterations to the ship. Note new
forward superstructure, 8"/55 triple gun turrets,
starboard anchor, anchor gear on forecastle, and
paravane downrigging chains at the extreme bow. USS
Minneapolis (CA 36) is in the background,
stripped for overhaul.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-47570
|
National Archives |
|
135k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her after starboard midships area, at the Mare Island
Navy Yard following overhaul, 1 May 1943. White
outlines mark recent alterations to the ship. Note
newly fitted mainmast, immediately before the after
smokestack, searchlight, 5"/25 guns, and young
woman at the top of her embarkation ladder.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-47568
|
National Archives |
|
149k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her after midships area, from the starboard side, at
the Mare Island Navy Yard, following overhaul, 1 May
1943. White outlines mark recent alterations to the
ship. Note aircraft catapults and crane, new hangar
doors, "star" rivitting pattern on her
forward smokestack, and searchlights mounted by her
after stack. USS
Minneapolis (CA 36) is in the background,
stripped for overhaul.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-47569
|
National Archives |
|
103k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her after superstructure from the starboard side, at
the Mare Island Navy Yard, 1 May 1943, following
overhaul. White outlines mark recent alterations to
the ship. Note Mk.4 radar antenna on her after Mk.33
gun director (in left center), 26-foot motor whaleboat
and davits, and heavy rivitting on her midships hull
side.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-47566
|
National Archives |
|
156k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her after superstructure and hull, from the starboard
side, at the Mare Island Navy Yard following overhaul,
1 May 1943. White outlines mark recent alterations to
the ship. Note newly fitted 40mm and 20mm guns, Mk.33
gun director with a Mk.4 radar antenna, 26-foot motor
whaleboat swung out on its davits, and heavy rivitting
on her hull side. Stern of USS
Minneapolis (CA 36) is in the background.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-47567
|
National Archives |
0403577 |
202k |
Starboard side view taken off the California coast
by an airship of squadron ZP 32. She had just
completed a refit at Mare Island and appears to be
exercising with a destroyer.
US Navy photo #143-5-43
|
David Buell |
|
68k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) Off San Francisco,
California, 1 May 1944, after overhaul and repainting
with pattern camouflage.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH83607.
|
USNHC |
|
65k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) Off the Mare Island
Navy Yard, California, 2 May 1943, after her second
wartime overhaul.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-47562
|
National Archives/Steven A. Cardali |
|
104k |
Invasion of Saipan, June 1944 - LVTs move toward
the beach, past bombarding cruisers, on
"D-Day", 15 June 1944. Cruiser firing in the
background is USS Indianapolis (CA 35),
flagship of Fifth Fleet commander Admiral Raymond A.
Spruance. Photographed from USS
Birmingham (CL 62).
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the
collections of the National Archives - 80 - G -
231838.
|
National Archives/Scott Dyben |
|
71k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) Under fire by
Japanese shore batteries, during the invasion of
Saipan, June 1944.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 53232.
|
USNHC |
|
292k |
The flag flies from the fantail of the USS
Indianapolis (CA 35) at Mare Island on 12 Nov 1944.
U.S. Navy Photo #6971-44
|
Darryl Baker |
|
385k |
Aft plan view of the USS Indianapolis (CA 35) in
dry dock #2 under going an inclining experiment at
Mare Island on 26 Nov 1944. She was in overhaul at the
yard from 19 Oct until 10 Dec 1944.
U.S. Navy Photo #7209-44
|
Darryl Baker |
|
388k |
Forward plan view of the USS Indianapolis (CA 35)
in dry dock #2 under going an inclining experiment at
Mare Island on 26 Nov 1944. She was in overhaul at the
yard from 19 Oct until 10 Dec 1944.
U.S. Navy Photo #7210-44
|
Darryl Baker |
|
138k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her forward superstructure and 8"/55 triple gun
turrets from off the port side, at the Mare Island
Navy Yard, California, following overhaul, 7 December
1944. White outlines mark recent alterations to the
ship. Note newer type Mk.33 gun director atop her open
bridge, 40mm quad gun mount, eight-inch projectiles by
her second turret, and bridge details. YF 389
is in the center background.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-76908
|
National Archives |
|
110k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her port forward half, at the Mare Island Navy Yard,
California, following overhaul, 7 December 1944. White
outlines mark recent alterations to the ship. Note
catapults, forward stack details, newly-fitted Mk.34
gun director atop her tripod foremast, liferafts and
floater nets. An Amphibious Force Flagship (AGC) is in
the right background.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-76909
|
National Archives |
|
98k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her port after half, at the Mare Island Navy Yard,
California, following overhaul, 7 December 1944. White
outlines mark recent alterations to the ship. Note
"whip" radio antenna mounted on her forward
smokestack, aircraft crane, tripod mainmast with an SK
radar antenna on top and newly-fitted Mk.34 gun
director. YD 66 and USS Mawkaw (YTB 182)
are at left
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-76910
|
National Archives |
|
127k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - View from off her
port quarter, at the Mare Island Navy Yard,
California, following overhaul, 7 December 1944. White
outlines mark recent alterations to the ship. Note
40mm quad gun mounts on her fantail, after 8"/55
gun turret, newer type Mk.33 gun director, and
newly-fitted Mk.34 main battery gun director. An
Amphibious Force Flagship (AGC) is in the right
background.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-76911
|
National Archives |
|
92k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) Off the Mare Island
Navy Yard, California, 9 December 1944, following
overhaul and repainting into Measure 22 camouflage.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-76904
|
National Archives |
|
316k |
Stern view of USS Indianapolis (CA 35) in the Mare
Island channel on 9 Dec 1944.
U.S. Navy Photo #7570-44
|
Darryl Baker |
|
332k |
Broadside view of USS Indianapolis (CA 35) off Mare
Island on 9 Dec 1944.
U.S. Navy Photo #7572-44
|
Darryl Baker |
|
342k |
Bow on view of USS Indianapolis (CA 35) off Mare
Island on 9 Dec 1944.
U.S. Navy Photo 7575-44
|
Darryl Baker |
|
56k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) Off the Mare Island
Navy Yard, California, 10 July 1945, after her final
overhaul and repair of combat damage.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-86911.
|
National Archives |
|
69k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Off
the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 10 July 1945,
after her final overhaul. Photograph from the Bureau
of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives -
19-N-86912 |
National Archives |
|
66k |
Bow on view of USS Indianapolis (CA 35)
testing her anchor off Mare Island on 10 July 1945.
She was in overhaul at the yard from 2 May to 12 July
1945.
Navy photo #5230-45
|
Darryl Baker |
|
64k |
Stern view of USS Indianapolis (CA 35) off
Mare Island on 10 July 1945. She was in overhaul at
the yard from 2 May to 12 July 1945.
Navy photo #5226-45
|
Darryl Baker |
|
130k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - At the Mare
Island Navy Yard after her final overhaul, 12 July
1945. Circles on photo mark recent alterations to the
ship. Note stripped Cleveland class light cruiser in
the right background, with YC 283 alongside.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-86915
|
National Archives |
|
137k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
8" turret # 2 and the ship's superstructure, from
ahead and to starboard, at the Mare Island Navy Yard
following her final overhaul, 12 July 1945. Circles on
photo mark recent alterations to the ship. Note Mk13
radar on Mk34 director, atop Indianapolis' tripod
foremast, and many other antennas on masts and
superstructure. A stripped Cleveland class light
cruiser is in the right background, with YC 283
alongside.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-86916
|
National Archives |
|
133k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
ship's forward stack, superstructure and hull, from
alongside her starboard side amidships, at the Mare
Island Navy Yard following her final overhaul, 12 July
1945. Circles on photo mark recent alterations to the
ship. Note float for a SC-1 floatplane stowed behind
the stack, liferafts and floater nets, and bow of USS
Hercules (AK 41) in the left distance.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-86917
|
National Archives |
|
146k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35) - Closeup view of
her after superstructure and hull, from alongside her
starboard side amidships, at the Mare Island Navy Yard
following her final overhaul, 12 July 1945. Circles on
photo mark recent alterations to the ship. Note SC-1
seaplanes being placed in hangars, aircraft crane,
port side catapult (and removal of starboard
catapult), 5"/25 guns, rear view of Mk34 gun
director and many other details. A stripped Cleveland
class light cruiser is in the background, with YC
283 alongside.
Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in
the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-86918
|
National Archives |
|
53k |
USS Indianapolis (CA 35)
preparing to leave Tinian after delivering atomic bomb
components, circa 26 July 1945. She was sunk on 30
July, while en route to the Philippines.
|
MAJ Harley G. Toomey, Jr., USAF, Ret. |
0403573
0403573a
|
188k |
This photo was taken 27 July 1945, the day before
she sailed from Guam to her doom, as documented by the
ship's photographer of USS
Pandemus (ARL 18), on the back of the photo.
This is probably the last photo taken of her.
Caption on back of photo:
"USS Indianapolis (CA 35) taken: 1530
27, July 1945, Apra Harbor, Guam, from USS
Pandemus RL 18 as it passed heading for sea.
Picture taken by Gus Buono".
U.S. Navy photo from the Collection of David Buell.
|
David Buell |
0403580 |
117k |
The bell from the USS Indianapolis, cast
in 1932 with the commissioning of that ship, and
removed to conserve weight prior to her final cruise.
It resides at the Heslar Naval Armory in Indianapolis,
IN. |
Bill Gonyo |
Commanding
Officers
|
Name/Rank |
Final Rank |
Dates |
Smeallie, John Morris, CAPT |
|
11/15/1932 - 12/10/1934 |
McClintic, William S., CAPT |
|
12/10/1934 - 03/16/1936 |
Hewitt, Henry Kent, CAPT |
ADM |
03/16/1936 - 06/05/1937 |
Kinkaid,
Thomas Cassin, CAPT |
ADM |
06/05/1937 - 07/01/1938 |
Shafroth Jr., John Franklin, CAPT |
VADM |
07/01/1938 - |
Hanson,
Edward William, CAPT |
RADM |
1941 - 08/1942 |
Deyo,
Morton Lyndholm, CAPT |
RADM |
07/11/1942 - 01/1943 |
Vytlacil, Nicholas, CAPT |
|
01/12/1943 - 08/1943 |
Johnson,
Einar Reynolds, CAPT |
|
07/30/1943 - 11/1944 |
McVay
III, Charles Butler, CAPT |
RADM |
11/18/1944 - 07/30/1945 |
(List courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves -
Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)
USS INDIANAPOLIS (CA 35) History
View This Vessels DANFS
History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center
website.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name:
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Note About Contacts.
The contact listed, Was the contact at the
time for this ship when located. If another person now is the
contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These
contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period
of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been
made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was
found.
Additional Resources
Hazegray
& Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
|
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND
HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/i1/indianapolis-ii.htm |
Indianapolis II
The capital of Indiana.
II
(CA-35: dp. 9,800; l. 610'; b. 66'; dr. 17'4"; s. 32
k.; cpl. 1,269; a. 9 8", 8 5"; cl. Portland)
Indianapolis was laid down 31 March 1930 by the New
York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.; launched 7 November
1931; sponsored by Miss Lucy Taggart, daughter of the late
Senator Thomas Taggart, a former mayor of Indianapolis; and
commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard 15 November 1932,
Captain John M. Smeallie in command.
Following shakedown, in the Atlantic and Guantanamo Bay
until 23 February 1932, Indianapolis trained in the
Canal Zone and in Pacific off the Chilean coast. After
overhaul at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the heavy cruiser
sailed to Maine to embark President Roosevelt at Campo bello
Island 1 July 1933. Getting underway the same day, Indianapolis
arrived Annapolis 2 days later where she entertained six
members of the cabinet. After disembarking the President, she
departed Annapolis 4 July, and returned to the Philadelphia
Navy Yard.
On 6 September, Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson
broke his flag in Indianapolis for an inspection tour
of the Pacific, visiting the Canal Zone, Hawaii, and the fleet
in the San Pedro-San Diego area. He debarked at San Diego 27
October, and Indianapolis became flagship of the
Scouting Force 1 November 1933. Following maneuvers off the
West Coast, she departed Long Beach, Calif., 9 April 1934 and
arrived New York City 29 May. There she again embarked the
President and his party for a review of the Fleet. She arrived
Long Beach 9 November 1934 for tactical war problems with the
Scouting Fleet.
Indianapolis acted as flagship for the remainder of
her peacetime career, and again welcomed President Roosevelt
at Charleston, S.C., 18 November 1936 for a
"Good-Neighbor" cruise to South America. After
carrying President Roosevelt to Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires,
and Monte video for state visits, she returned to Charleston
15 December where the presidential party left the ship.
As international tension built up during ensuing years and
the United States girded to meet aggression, the heavy
cruiser's intensified training program fused ship and -crew
into a fighting machine of high efficiency ready to defend the
Nation from any enemy who might attack.
When Japanese bombs struck Pearl Harbor, Indianapolis,
then making a simulated bombardment of Johnston Island,
immediately joined Task Force 12 and searched for Japanese
carriers reportedly still in the vicinity. She arrived Pearl
Harbor 13 December and entered Task Force 11 for operations
against the enemy.
Her first action came in the South Pacific deep in
enemy-dominated waters about 350 miles south of Rabaul, New
Britain. Late in the afternoon of 20 February 1942, the
American ships were attacked by 18 twin-engined bombers,
flying in 2 waves. In the battle that followed, 16 of the
planes were shot down by accurate antiaircraft fire of the
ships and fighter planes from Lexington. All ships
escaped damage and they splashed two trailing Japanese
seaplanes.
On 10 March the Task Force, reinforced by carrier Yorktown,
attacked enemy ports at Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea,
where the enemy was marshalling amphibious forces.
Carrier-based planes achieved complete surprise by flying in
from the south, crossing the high Owen Stanley mountain range,
and swooping in to strike Japanese harbor shipping. As they
inflicted heavy damage on Japanese warships and transports,
the American flyers knocked down many of the enemy planes
which rose to protect the ports. American losses were
exceptionally light.
Indianapolis then returned to the United States for
overhaul and alterations in the Mare Island Navy Yard.
Reinvigorated, Indianapolis escorted a convoy to
Australia, then headed for the North Pacific where Japanese
landings in the Aleutians had created a precarious situation.
The weather along this barren chain of islands is noted for
continuous coldness; persistent and unpredictable fogs;
constant rain, snow, and sleet; and sudden storms with violent
winds and heavy seas.
By 7 August, the task force to which Indianapolis was
attached finally found an opening in the thick fog which hid
the Japanese stronghold at Kiska Island, and imperiled ships
in the treacherous and partially uncharted nearby coasts. Indianapolis'
8-inch guns opened up along with those of the other ships.
Although fog hindered observation, scout planes flown from the
cruisers reported seeing ships sinking in the harbor and fires
burning among shore installations. So complete was the
tactical surprise that it was 15 minutes before shore
batteries began to answer; and some of them fired into the
air, believing they were being bombed. Most of them were
silenced by accurate gunnery from the ships.
Japanese submarines then appeared but were promptly
depth-charged by American destroyers. Japanese seaplanes also
made an ineffective bombing attack. The operation was
considered a success despite the scanty information on its
results. It also demonstrated the necessity of obtaining bases
nearer the Japanese-held islands. Consequently, U.S. forces
occupied the island of Adak later-in the month, providing a
base suitable for surface craft and planes further along the
island chain from Dutch Harbor.
In January 1943, Indianapolis supported the U.S.
occupation of Amchitka, which gave us another base in the
Aleutians.
On the night of 19 February 1943, while Indianapolis and
two destroyers patrolled southwest of Attu, hoping to
intercept enemy ships running reinforcements and supplies into
Kiska and Attu, she contacted a Japanese cargo ship, Akagane
Maru. When challenged, the enemy tried to feign a reply
but was shelled by Indianapolis' 8-inch guns. Since the
maru exploded with great force and left no survivors, she was
presumably laden with ammunition.
Throughout the spring and summer of 1943, Indianapolis operated
in Aleutian waters escorting American convoys and covering
amphibious assaults. In May the Navy took Attu, the first
territory stolen by the Japanese to be reconquered by the
United States. After Attu was proclaimed secure, the U.S.
forces focused their attention on Kiska, the last enemy
stronghold in the Aleutians. However, the Japanese managed to
evacuate their entire garrison under cover of persistent,
thick fog before our landings there 15 August.
After refitting at Mare Island, the ship next moved to
Hawaii where she became flagship of Vice Admiral Spruance
commanding the 5th Fleet. She sortied from Pearl Harbor 10
November with the main body of the Southern Attack Force of
the Assault Force for Operation "Galvanic," the
invasion of the Gilbert Islands. On 19 November 1943, Indianapolis,
in a force of cruisers bombarded Tarawa and next day
pounded Makin. The ship then returned to Tarawa and acted as a
fire-support ship for the landings. That day her guns splashed
an enemy plane and shelled enemy strong points as valiant
landing parties struggled against fanatical Japanese defenders
in an extremely bloody and costly battle. She continued this
role until the leveled island was declared secure 3 days
later.
The conquest of the Marshall Islands followed hard on
victory in the Gilberts. Indianapolis was again 5th
Fleet Flagship. She rendezvoused with other ships of her task
force at Tarawa, and on D-Day minus 1, 31 January 1944, she
was a unit of the cruiser group which bombarded the islands of
Kwajalein Atoll. The shelling continued on D-Day with Indianapolis
silencing two enemy shore batteries. Next day she
obliterated a blockhouse and other shore installations and
supported advancing troops with a creeping barrage. The ship
entered Kwajalein Lagoon 4 February and remained until all
resistance disappeared.
During March and April of 1944, Indianapolis, still
flagship of the 5th Fleet, attacked the Western Carolines.
Carrier planes struck at the Palau Islands 30-31 March with
shipping as their primary target. They sank 3 destroyers, 17
freighters, 5 oilers and damaged 17 other ships. In addition,
airfields were bombed and surrounding waters mined to
immobilize enemy ships. Yap and Ulithi were struck on the 31st
and Woleai on 1 April. During these 3 days, enemy planes
attacked the U.S. fleet but were driven off without damaging
the American ships. Indianapolis shot down her second
plane, a torpedo bomber, and the enemy lost 160 planes in all,
including 46 destroyed on the ground. These attacks
successfully prevented enemy forces from the Carolines from
interfering with the U.S. landings on New Guinea.
During June, the 5th Fleet was busy with the Marianas
assault, raids on Saipan which began with carrier-based planes
on the 11th followed by surface bombardment, in which Indianapolis
had a major role, from 13 June. On D-Day, 15 June, Admiral
Spruance received reports thata large fleet of battleships,
carriers, cruisers, and destroyers was headed south to relieve
their threatened garrisons in the Marianas. Since amphibious
operations at Saipan had to be protected at all costs, Admiral
Spruance could not draw his powerful surface units too far
from the scene. Consequently, a fast carrier force was sent to
meet this threat while another force attacked Japanese air
bases on Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima in the Bonin and Volcano
Islands—bases for dangerous potential enemy air attacks.
A combined fleet met the enemy on 19 June in the Battle of
the Philippine Sea. Enemy carrier planes, which hoped to use
the airfields of Guam and Tinian to refuel and rearm and
attack our off-shore shipping, were met by carrier planes and
the guns of the escorting ships. That day the Navy destroyed
402 enemy planes while losing only 17 of her own. Indianapolis,
which had operated with the force which struck Iwo Jima
and Chichi Jima, shot down one torpedo plane. This famous
day's work became known throughout the fleet as the "Marianas
Turkey Shoot." With enemy air opposition wiped out, the
U.S. carrier planes pursued and sank two enemy carriers, two
destroyers, and one tanker and inflicted severe damage on
other ships. Indianapolis returned to Saipan on 23 June
to resume fire support there and 6 days later moved to Tinian
to smash shore installations. Meanwhile, Guam had been taken;
and Indianapolis was the first ship to enter Apra
Harbor since that American base had fallen early in the war.
The ship operated in the Marianas area for the next few weeks,
then moved to the Western Carolines where further landings
were planned. From 12 to 29 September she bombarded the Island
of Peleliu in the Palau Group, both before and after the
landings. She then sailed to Manus in the Admiralty Islands
where she operated for 10 days before returning to the Mare
Island Navy Yard.
Overhauled, Indianapolis joined Vice Adm. Marc A.
Mitscher's fast carrier task force on 14 February 1945 2 days
before it made the first attack on Tokyo since General
Doolittle's famous raid in April 1942. The operation covered
American landings on Iwo Jima, scheduled for 19 February 1945,
by destroying Japanese air facilities and other installations
in the "Home Islands". Complete tactical surprise
was achieved by approaching the Japanese coast under cover of
bad weather, and attacks were pressed home for 2 days. On 16
and 17 February, the American Navy lost 49 carrier planes
while shooting down or destroying on the ground 499 enemy
planes. Besides this 10-to-l edge in aircraft victories,
Mitscher's Force sank a carrier, 9 coastal ships, a destroyer,
2 destroyer escorts, and a cargo ship. Moreover, they wrecked
hangers, shops, aircraft installations, factories, and other
industrial targets. Throughout the action, Indianapolis played
her vital role of support ship.
Immediately after the strikes, the Task Force raced to the
Bonins to support the landings on Iwo Jima. The ship remained
there until 1 March, aiding in the bloody struggle for that
little island by protecting the invasion ships and training
her guns on any targets spotted on the beach. The ship
returned to Admiral Mitscher's Task Force in time to strike
Tokyo again on 25 February and Hachijo off the southern coast
of Honshu the following day. Although weather was extremely
bad, the Americans destroyed 158 planes and sank 5 small ships
while pounding ground installations and demolishing trains.
A large base close to the home islands was needed to press
the attack, and Okinawa in the Ryukyus seemed ideal for the
part. To capture it with minimum losses, airfields in southern
Japan had to be pounded until they were incapable of launching
effective airborne opposition to the impending invasion.
Indianapolis, with the fast carrier force, departed
Ulithi 14 March 1945, and proceeded toward the Japanese coast.
On 18 March, from a position 100 miles southeast of Kyushu,
the flat-tops launched strikes against airfields on the
island, ships of the Japanese fleet in the harbors of Kobe and
Kure on southern Honshu. After locating the American Task
Force 21 March, Japan sent 48 planes to attack the ships, but
24 planes from the carriers intercepted the enemy aircraft
some 60 miles away. At the end of the battle, every one of the
enemy planes was in the sea.
Preinvasion bombardment of Okinawa began 24 March and for 7
days Indianapolis poured 8-inch shells into the beach
defenses. Meanwhile, enemy aircraft repeatedly attacked the
ships; and Indianapolis shot down six planes and
assisted in splashing two others. On 31 March, the day before
the invasion, the ship's sky lookouts spotted a Japanese
single-engined fighter plane as it emerged from the morning
twilight and roared at the bridge in a vertical dive. The
ship's 20-millimeter guns opened fire, but less than 15
seconds after it was spotted the plane was over the ship.
Tracer shells crashed into the plane, causing it to swerve;
but the enemy pilot managed to release his bomb from a height
of 25 feet and crash his plane on the port side of the after
main deck. The plane toppled into the sea, causing little
damage; but the bomb plummeted through the deck armor, the
crew's mess hall, >the berthing compartment below, and the
fuel tanks still lower before crashing through the bottom of
the ship and exploding in the water under the ship. The
concussion blew two gaping holes in the ship bottom and
flooded compartments in the area, killing nine crewmen.
Although Indianapolis settled slightly by the stern and
listed to port, there was no progressive flooding; and the
plucky cruiser steamed to a salvage ship for emergency
repairs. Here, inspection revealed that her propeller shafts
were damaged, her fuel tanks ruptured, her water-distilling
equipment ruined; nevertheless, the battle-proud cruiser made
the long trip across the Pacific to the Mare Island Navy Yard
under her own power.
After repairs and overhaul, Indianapolis received
orders to proceed at high speed to Tinian, carrying parts and
nuclear material to be used in the atomic bombs which were
soon to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Due to the
urgency of her mission, Indianapolis departed San
Francisco on 16 July, foregoing her postrepair shakedown
period. Touching at Pearl Harbor 19 July, 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.
After delivering her top-secret cargo at Tinian, Indianapolis
was dispatched to Guam where she disembarked men and
reported for onward routine to Leyte. From there she was to
report to Vice Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf for further duty off
Okinawa. Departing Guam 28 July, Indianapolis proceeded
by a direct route, unescorted. Early in the morning, 12:15
a.m., 30 July 1945, 2 heavy >explosions occurred against
her starboard side forward, and she capsized and sank in 12
minutes, at 12°02' N., 134°48' E. Indianapolis had
been hit by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine /-58,
Commander Machitsura Hashimoto in command. The seas had been
moderate; the visibility, good; Indianapolis had been
steaming at 17 knots. When the ship did not reach Leyte on the
31st, as scheduled, no report was made that she was overdue.
This omission was due to a misunderstanding of the Movement
Report System. Thus it was not until 1025 on 2 August that the
survivors were sighted, mostly held afloat by life jackets,
although there were a few rafts which had been cut loose
before the ship went down. They were sighted by a plane on
routine patrol; the pilot immediately dropped a life raft and
a radio transmitter. All air and surface units capable of
rescue operations were dispatched to the scene at once, and
the surrounding waters were thoroughly searched for survivors.
|
Indianapolis (CA-35) and
line of battleships in fleet review at New York 31
May 1934 |
Upon completion of rescue operations, 8 August, a radius of
100 miles had been combed by day and by night, saving 316 of
the crew of 1,199 men.
Captain Charles B. McVay, III, USN, commanding officer of Indianapolis
at the time of her sinking, was vindicated from any blame
concerned with the loss of his ship. All personnel involved in
the failure to report the ship's absence from Leyte were also
exonerated, after all the evidence had been carefully weighed.
Traditionally the flagship of the powerful 5th Fleet,she
had served with honor from Pearl Harbor through the last
campaign of the war and had gone down in action a scant two
weeks before the war's end.
Indianapolis earned 10 battle stars for World War II
service.
9/30/2013
Robert J. Cressman
|
|
|
|
|
|