US CRUISER USS INDIANAPOLIS

The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was an American heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1930, launched in November 1931, and commissioned by the US Navy in 1932. The total length of the ship was 186 m, width 20.1 m, and standard displacement - at the time of launching - 10,100 tons. The maximum speed was up to 32.7 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 9 203 mm guns in three turrets of three guns each, and the secondary armament was mainly 8 127 mm guns. USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was one of two Portland-class heavy cruisers. Units of this type were originally ordered as Northampton type, but their design was changed during construction. The changes concerned the reinforcement of secondary weapons and the improvement of armor. The torpedo armament was also abandoned. Generally, however, they were successful units, with a combat value similar to the Northampton and New Orleans cruisers. USS Indianapolis was built at New York Shipbuilding in Camden, NJ. At the outbreak of World War II, the unit was not stationed at Pearl Harbor, and thus avoided any damage. In February and March 1942, it covered the USS Lexington aircraft carrier as part of Task Force 11. In the same year and at the beginning of 1943, the unit served in the North Pacific and took an active part in the fighting in the Aleutian region. In November 1943, she supported the US Marines operations in Tarawa and Makin. In 1944, the cruiser supported American landing operations in the Caroline Archipelago and took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In the course of operations in the Pacific, the cruiser often acted as the flagship of the V Fleet commanded by Adm. Raymond Spruance. In July 1945, the USS Indianapolis carried nuclear payloads for Little Boy and Fat Man bombs from the US west coast to Tinian Island as part of a top secret mission. The USS Indianapolis was sunk on its way back by the Japanese submarine I-58 on July 30, 1945. Of the 1,195 crew, only 316 sailors were rescued.