Secrets, Sharks, and Survival: USS Indianapolis

On August 6th, 1945, a historic event unfolded, forever altering the course of history. The US military deployed the first atomic weapon on Hiroshima, followed by a second on Nagasaki three days later, resulting in the deaths of approximately 200,000 individuals.

Amid the covert construction of these bombs, the USS Indianapolis, a heavy cruiser, played a crucial role. After delivering bomb components to Tinian, the ship set sail, only to face a sudden torpedo attack by a Japanese submarine on July 30th. Within minutes, the ship sank, leaving around 900 survivors in the Pacific Ocean's chaos.

Stranded, the men grappled with dehydration, injuries, and a horrifying new threat: large Oceanic whitetip sharks. Over the next few days, the survivors battled shark attacks, sunburns, and dehydration. Rescue seemed distant as the Navy remained unaware of the sinking. Finally, after four harrowing days, a US plane spotted the survivors, leading to their rescue by the USS Doyle. The USS Indianapolis sinking remains the deadliest shark attack in history, claiming around 600 lives.