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Photos: Lost in WW2, USS Indianapolis wreckage found after 72 years

The USS Indianapolis, sunk by a Japanese torpedo during World War II has been discovered 72 years later in the Philippine Sea. The ship was instrumental in transporting uranium for the 'Little Boy' atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Updated on: Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM IST

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The wreckage of the Second World War cruiser USS Indianapolis has been found 18,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, seven decades after it was torpedoed by an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine. The discovery of the wreckage in the Philippine Sea was made by a civilian research team headed by philanthropist Paul Allen, with the exact resting place of the cruiser currently undisclosed by the US Navy. (US NAVY / AFP)

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM

The wreckage of the Second World War cruiser USS Indianapolis has been found 18,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, seven decades after it was torpedoed by an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine. The discovery of the wreckage in the Philippine Sea was made by a civilian research team headed by philanthropist Paul Allen, with the exact resting place of the cruiser currently undisclosed by the US Navy. (US NAVY / AFP)

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The World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35), which was lost July 30, 1945 is seen off the Mare Island Navy Yard in California on July 12, 1945, after her final overhaul and repair of combat damage. The ship was sunk in the South Pacific after completing a secret mission delivering components of the ‘Little Boy’ atomic bomb used in Hiroshima that brought an end to the war in the Pacific theater. (REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM

The World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35), which was lost July 30, 1945 is seen off the Mare Island Navy Yard in California on July 12, 1945, after her final overhaul and repair of combat damage. The ship was sunk in the South Pacific after completing a secret mission delivering components of the ‘Little Boy’ atomic bomb used in Hiroshima that brought an end to the war in the Pacific theater. (REUTERS)

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Spare parts from the USS Indianapolis on the floor of the North Pacific Ocean. Most of the ship’s 1,196 sailors and Marines survived the sinking only to succumb to dehydration, drowning and shark attacks. According to the US Navy, 316 people survived of which only 22 are alive today. (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM

Spare parts from the USS Indianapolis on the floor of the North Pacific Ocean. Most of the ship’s 1,196 sailors and Marines survived the sinking only to succumb to dehydration, drowning and shark attacks. According to the US Navy, 316 people survived of which only 22 are alive today. (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

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A wreckage of the USS Indianapolis, which appears to be one of the two anchor windlass mechanisms from the forecastle of the ship. The wreck was located by the expedition crew of Allen’s research vessel Petrel, a 250 foot ship equipped with state of the art equipment capable of diving to 6,000 metres. (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM

A wreckage of the USS Indianapolis, which appears to be one of the two anchor windlass mechanisms from the forecastle of the ship. The wreck was located by the expedition crew of Allen’s research vessel Petrel, a 250 foot ship equipped with state of the art equipment capable of diving to 6,000 metres. (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

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The USS Indianapolis carried enriched uranium, almost half of the world’s supply of Uranium 235 at the time for the atomic bomb —‘Little Boy’ which was later dropped on Hiroshima on 6th August 1945, the first of the two atomic bombs used in the warfare. An estimated 70,000-80,000 people were killed as an immediate result of the bombing. (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM

The USS Indianapolis carried enriched uranium, almost half of the world’s supply of Uranium 235 at the time for the atomic bomb —‘Little Boy’ which was later dropped on Hiroshima on 6th August 1945, the first of the two atomic bombs used in the warfare. An estimated 70,000-80,000 people were killed as an immediate result of the bombing. (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

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Allen has been involved in other missions associated with naval history, including the discovery of the Japanese battleship Musashi in the Philippines’ Sibuyan Sea. Allen was quoted by AFP saying, ‘I hope everyone connected to this historic ship will feel some measure of closure at this discovery so long in coming.’ (REUTERS)

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM

Allen has been involved in other missions associated with naval history, including the discovery of the Japanese battleship Musashi in the Philippines’ Sibuyan Sea. Allen was quoted by AFP saying, ‘I hope everyone connected to this historic ship will feel some measure of closure at this discovery so long in coming.’ (REUTERS)

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The Indianapolis was involved in multiple campaigns during World War II including the New Guinea and Aleutian island campaigns and was involved in the bombarding of the islands of Kwajalein Atoll. In 1945, it was used to launch an attack on Tokyo to with a mission to destroy Japanese air facilities and other installations in the ‘home island.’ (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM

The Indianapolis was involved in multiple campaigns during World War II including the New Guinea and Aleutian island campaigns and was involved in the bombarding of the islands of Kwajalein Atoll. In 1945, it was used to launch an attack on Tokyo to with a mission to destroy Japanese air facilities and other installations in the ‘home island.’ (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

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‘To be able to honour the brave men of the USS Indianapolis and their families through the discovery of a ship that played such a significant role in ending World War II is truly humbling,’ Allen said. (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

Updated on Aug 21, 2017 10:14 AM

‘To be able to honour the brave men of the USS Indianapolis and their families through the discovery of a ship that played such a significant role in ending World War II is truly humbling,’ Allen said. (Courtesy of Paul G. Allen / AP)

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