The anniversary of a horrible Naval Disaster on the horizon

[BOSSHOG]

62 years ago next monday the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by a rogue Japanese Sub in the Pacific Ocean shortly before the end of WWII. Approximately two thirds of the crew spent a week in the water, many being eaten by sharks. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were in the news, with scant mention of the Indianapolis. The plight of these Sailors was nothing short of horror.

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq30-1.htm

This Sunday at 9:00 eastern the Discovery Channel will be airing "Ocean of Fear" about the ship and its crew.

[commander bunnypants]

1. wow

did not know it was today. I read the book. Horrific

CB

[rockymountaindem]

2. Thanks for reminding us n.t.

[elehhhhna]

3. My FIl snlisted in the Navy with his two best friends--

they were assigned to the same ship -- The Indy -- and he to another.

Both his buddies actually survived the sinking.

[BOSSHOG]

4. About a third of the crew were rescued

after a week in the water. The ship's CO committed suicide years later after receiving lots of ugly mail blaming him for what happened. I've researched this sinking extensively and I can't blame the CO.

[elehhhhna]

8. I've read extensively, also, and

the Co was railroaded by the Navy.

[rsdsharp]

5. One of the saddest and most horrific episodes

in the history of the US Navy. The Indy, of course was returning home after having the atomic bombs to the Pacific for eventual deliver on Japan.

I do wonder what is it about the I58 that made it a "rogue" submarine?

[BlooInBloo]

6. Probably just means "no specifc tactical orders, just told to kill opportunistically",

[BOSSHOG]

7. My terminology

The war was coming to an end, no one thought a Jap sub would be out there in the path of a Cruiser between Guam and the Phillipines and the sub just got incredibly lucky.

[rsdsharp]

9. OK, I agree.

To me "rogue" meant going against orders, or violating the rules of war. As terrible as this incident was, the I58 was merely executing its mission. It sunk an enemy ship of the line during war time.

[Thothmes]

10. 40th Anniversary

Think today is the 40th Anniversary of the USS Forestall fire in the South China Sea.

[BOSSHOG]

11. Gratuitous kick to spread the word to weekend DUers

[leftofthedial]

12. robert shaw in jaws