Indianapolis

(Military History/ Film History) "The" USS Indianapolis to be precise. The warship was commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 15 November 1932. On 30 JULY 1945, while sailing from Guam to Leyte, Indianapolis was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-58. The ship capsized and sank in twelve minutes. Survivors were spotted by a patrol aircraft on 2 AUGUST. 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. Upon completion of the day and night search on 8 AUGUST, 316 men were rescued out of the crew of 1,199. * The description of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis is immortalised by actor Robert Shaw's superbly acted monologue in the memorable scene of Jaws (USA, 1975).