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USS Indianapolis, a 9,800-ton Portland class heavy cruiser, was built at Camden, New Jersey. Commissioned in November 1932, she operated in the Atlantic and Pacific during the peacetime years. During the 1930s, she hosted President Franklin D. Roosevelt on several occasions, among them a voyage to South America in November and December 1936.
Following the U.S. entry into World War II, Indianapolis operated with carrier task forces in the southwestern Pacific until Spring 1942, when she took up station in the Alaska area. She served there for over a year, sinking a Japanese transport in February 1943. Later in 1943, Indianapolis became Fifth Fleet flagship. In that role, into mid-1944, she took part in operations to capture the Gilberts, Marshalls and Marianas, plus strikes on Japanese positions elsewhere in the central Pacific. She also participated in the Peleliu invasion in September 1944.In February and March 1945, Indianapolis, again flagship of the Fifth Fleet, joined in attacks on Iwo Jima, the Japanese home islands and the Ryukyus. During the latter operation, on 31 March 1945, she was damaged by a Kamikaze plane. In late July, following repairs, Indianapolis made a high speed transit from California to Tinian to deliver atomic bomb components. She then sailed for the Philippines. Shortly after midnight on 30 July 1945 she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-58 and sank quickly. Due to communications and other errors, her loss went unnoticed until survivors were seen from a passing aircraft on 2 August. Rescue efforts over several days saved only about a quarter of her nearly 1200-man crew.
This page features a special selection of views of and on board USS Indianapolis, taken throughout her career.
Additional pictures of Indianapolis will be found on the
following pages:
USS Indianapolis in 1932-1941;
USS Indianapolis in 1942;
USS Indianapolis in 1943;
USS Indianapolis in 1944;
USS Indianapolis in 1945;
USS Indianapolis Actions and Activities:
May 1934 Naval Review off New York City;
USS Indianapolis Actions and Activities:
Presidential South American Tour, 1936;
USS Indianapolis Actions and Activities:
Miscellaneous World War II activities;
Loss of USS Indianapolis, 30 July 1945;
and
USS Indianapolis Onboard Views,
1932-1945.
For bibliographical information, see The Sinking of USS Indianapolis
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 53230 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) At Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, circa 1937. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 515 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 53589 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Silhouetted against the sun, while at sea during the 1930s. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 480 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 94640 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) At Cold Bay, Alaska, October 1942. Collection of Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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Photo #: 19-N-86911 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. Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 515 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-231838 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. Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 68037 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. Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 70293 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Ship's complement and flag contingent posed on the forecastle and forward 8" turrets and superstructure, while anchored at Berth Number One, Long Beach, California, in the last half of 1937. Seated in the front row, center, is Vice Admiral William T. Tarrant, Commander, Scouting Force, U.S. Fleet. To his left, also in front row, is Captain Thomas C. Kinkaid, Commanding Officer of USS Indianapolis. Donation of Captain Fred W. Conner, USMC(Retired), 1970. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
Additional pictures of Indianapolis will be found on the
following pages:
USS Indianapolis in 1932-1941;
USS Indianapolis in 1942;
USS Indianapolis in 1943;
USS Indianapolis in 1944;
USS Indianapolis in 1945;
USS Indianapolis Actions and Activities:
May 1934 Naval Review off New York City;
USS Indianapolis Actions and Activities:
Presidential South American Tour, 1936;
USS Indianapolis Actions and Activities:
Miscellaneous World War II activities;
Loss of USS Indianapolis, 30 July 1945;
and
USS Indianapolis Onboard Views,
1932-1945.
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Naval Historical Center home
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30 December 1998