USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Trivia Quiz

Answer: 316

Over 880 members of the USS Indianapolis went into the ocean; however, only 316 survived. Because of ineffective actions, at different levels of Pacific Command staff, she was not missed for over four days. Several months later, in November 1945, the ship's captain, Captain Charles Butler McVay, was court-martialed for failure to zigzag and failure to order abandon ship in a timely manner.

The USS Indianapolis is considered one of the worst disasters by many naval historians, even though there was an enormous loss of life at sea during World War II: USS Arizona (1104 dead), USS Franklin (724 dead), and the USS Bunker Hill (396 dead). (Reference: "Fatal Voyage: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis," New York: Kurzman, 1991)

Answer: suicide

Captain McVay (July 30, 1898 - November 6, 1968) was the tenth commanding officer of the USS Indianapolis. He assumed command on November 18, 1944. Captain McVay earned the Silver Star for action while on the USS Cleveland, during action off the Solomon Islands. He was court-martialed in November 1945. Upon retirement, in 1949, Captain McVay was promoted to rear admiral; however, the conviction ended McVay's career.

Unfortunately, the relatives of many crew-members aboard the USS Indianapolis held McVay responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. McVay committed suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver at his home in Litchfield, Connecticut. (Reference: "On the Warpath in the Pacific: Admiral Jocko Clark and the Fast Carriers," New York: Reynolds, 2000)

In October 2000, the United States Congress passed a resolution that Captain McVay's record should reflect that "he is exonerated for the loss of the USS Indianapolis." However, the court-martial verdict wasn't removed.

Answer: components for atomic bomb

The USS Indianapolis delivered components and uranium of the atomic bomb known as "Little Boy." Afterwards, the USS Indianapolis departed Tinian for Guam. While at Guam they received orders to travel to Leyte, in the Philippines, to participate in target practice with the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) in preparation for the invasion of Japan. Captain McVay requested an escort, from a destroyer, because his ship lacked anti-submarine detection equipment; however, his request was denied. On July 28, 1945, the USS Indianapolis departed Guam, thus becoming the only ship to transit across the Philippine Sea without an escort during the war. On August 6, 1945, "Little Boy" was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. (Reference: "Clash of the Carriers : The True Story of the Marianas Turkey Shoot of World War II," New York: Coonts, 1998.)

Answer: 12 minutes

The survivors of the USS Indianapolis estimate it took approximately 12 minutes for her to sink. The two Japanese torpedoes tore into her side, igniting an explosion that broke the ship in two. The ship dipped her bow, rolled to starboard and slip beneath the sea. The sinking happened so quickly that 880 of the 1,196 men are estimated to have never made it off. (Reference: "Only 317 Survived!" Indianapolis: Murphy, 2002.)

Unfortunately, because of the speed of the sinking, most rafts went down with the ship. Most life jackets worn provided very little buoyancy. And, many crew members did not have a raft nor life jacket and simply had to tread water to survive. However, life jackets became available when shipmates died.

Answer: True

He commanded the Japanese submarine I-58 and was brought to Washington, D.C., via an armed escort, to provide testimony at Captain McVay's court-martial. Hashimoto blasted the prosecution by stating he would have been able to sink the USS Indianapolis regardless if it had been zigzagging or not.

Unfortunately, his testimony had no impact, as McVay was found guilty. Hashimoto was returned to Japan, where he would serve as a captain in the Japanese merchant marine. Later, he became a Shinto priest in Kyoto, Japan. He died on October 25, 2000, at the age of 91. (Reference: "In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors," Hudson: Stanton, 2003.)

Answer: Franklin Delano Roosevelt

The USS Indianapolis was commissioned on November 15, 1932, and following an overhaul at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, sailed to Maine to pick-up President Roosevelt (January 30, 1882-April 12, 1945) at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, on July 1, 1933. And, again on November 18, 1936, President Roosevelt embarked on her in Charleston, South Carolina, for a cruise to South America. http://members.tripod.com/IndyMaru/indymaru2.htm

Answer: Yes

Contrary to popular belief, a distress signal was reported to have been sent out by the USS Indianapolis, but was not acted on. Naval intelligence decoded a message, from the I-58, to its headquarters in Japan that it had sunk an American battleship along the route of the USS Indianapolis. Naval authorities stated the USS Indianapolis sank too quickly to send out a distress signal. (Reference: "The Battle Of Leyte Gulf: The Last Fleet Action," New York: Willmott, 2005.)

A radioman crew member testified, at a Senate hearing, he saw the ship's transmitter needle signal a distress signal had been successfully transmitted. Several other sources related they were aware of a distress signal being received from the sinking ship.

Answer: true

On August 2, 1945, at approx. 11:00 A.M., while flying on routine patrol, Gwinn's aircaft came across antenna wire had reeled off, for a second time, and when he knelted down at the tunnel window, to take a look at the antenna, he suddenly jumped up and headed for the front of the aircraft.

His co-pilot, William Colwell, asked, "... what's the matter?" Gwinn shouted, "Look down and you will see." http://www.amhf.org/ussindpls.shtml

Answer: All are correct

Approx. 880 men went into the water, for five nights and four days, with very few lifeboats. Roughly 300 of the 1,196 men were killed when the two torpodoes initially hit the ship. Some reports state that 320 men came out of the water; however, only 317 ultimately survived.

The Discovery Channel stated the sinking of the USS Indianapolis resulted in the most shark attacks on humans in history. The majority of the attacks were attributed to the oceanic whitetip shark.

The impact of this unexpected disaster sent shock waves of hushed disbelief throughout Navy circles in the South Pacific. A public announcement of the loss of the Indianapolis was delayed for almost two weeks until August 15, thus insuring that it would be overshadowed in the news on the day when the Japanese surrender was announced by President Truman. (Reference: "Only 317 Survived!" Indianapolis: Murphy, 2002.)

Answer: It participated in all three battles

The USS Indianapolis earned 10 battle stars for World War II service. On December 7, 1941, she was exercising off Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. She saw her first action in 1942, in the South Pacific, deep in Japanese-dominated waters.

In November 1943, after refitting at Mare Island, she became the flagship of Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commanding the U.S. 5th Fleet. On Novemeber 19, 1943, she acted as a fire-support ship during battle of Tarawa. In June 1944, she participated in the "Marianas Turkey Shoot." On February 19, 1945, she participated as support ship during the critical preinvasion bombardment of Iwo Jima.

In November 1943, after refitting at Mare Island, she became the flagship of Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commanding was hit by an enemy aircraft that crashed into the port side of the main deck. Even though the aircraft landed in the ocean, a bomb it was carrying went through the deck armor, the crew's mess hall, and the fuel tanks, before crashing through the bottom of the ship and exploding in the water under the ship. The concussion killed nine nine crewmen. Though the Indianapolis received serious damaged, she was able to successfully make the trip back across the Pacific, to the Mare Island Navy Yard, for major repairs. (Reference: "Only 317 Survived!" Indianapolis: Murphy, 2002.)