USS Indianapolis survivor relives horrifying experience

“Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side, Chief….” The opening line of not just one of the greatest screen monologues ever but the start of the retelling of possibily he most tragic real life stories ever told.

At 00:15 on 30 July 1945, Indianapolis was struck on her starboard side by two Type 95 torpedoes, one in the bow and one amidships, from the Japanese submarine I-58, captained by Commander Mochitsura Hashimoto, who initially thought he had spotted the New Mexico-class ba Idaho.

The explosions caused massive damage. Indianapolis took on a heavy list (the ship had had a great deal of armament and gun-firing directors added as the war went on, and was therefore top-heavy) and settled by the bow. Twelve minutes later, she rolled completely over, then her stern rose into the air and she sank. Some 300 of the 1,195 crewmen aboard went down with the ship With few lifeboats and many without life jackets, the remainder of the crew was set adrift.

WW2 Veteran Edgar Harrell of the United States Marine Corps was aboard the ill-fated USS Indianapolis when it was sunk, in the middle of the Pacific ocean, by a Japanese submarine. Harrell and the rest of the ship’s crew spent four days afloat in the open sea, fending off shark attacks and starvation, fighting to maintain the will to live.

Further reading: Quint’s USS Indianapolis Speech

Words by Ross Williams

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