USS Indianapolis

2 Pages 589 Words

A Tragedy at Sea

Specific Purpose:

By the end of this speech, the audience will have a clear understanding of the horrific ordeal the USS Indianpolis and it's crew experienced.

Thesis:

According to the Naval Historical Center website, the USS Indianapolis served from Pearl Harbor tothe last operation of World War II, only to tragically
sink during a mission two weeks before the end of the war.

Outline:

I. Thesis: According to the Naval Historical Center website, the USS Indianapolis served from Pearl Harbor to the last operation of World
War II, only to tragically sink during a mission two weeks before the end of the war.

II. Body
A Last completed mission
1. Delivery of first operational atomic bomb- 26 July 1945 to Tinian
2. Reported to CINPAC Headquarters at Guam for further orders

B The Last Order
1. Orders to join battleship USS Idaho at Leyte Gulf in Philippines to invade Japan
a. Captain McVay requests a destroyer escort
b. Orders were given to ship Captain McVay directing him to zigzag at his descretion depending on weather
and visibility
2. USS Indianapolis left Guam unescorted heading for Leyte Gulf
a. Unknown to the USS Indianapolis is that the I-58 was known to be prowling the Phillippine Sea
b. Information was withheld in order to insure that the Japanese wouldn't find out that we'd broken their codes.

C The Sinking
1. Shortly before midnight Captain McVay issued orders to cease zigzagging becuase of bad visability
a. Within 10 minutes after the order the clouds part, revealing the moon and the I-58 surfaces at the same time.
b. 14 Min. past midnight on 30 July 1945 midway btwn. Guam and Leyte Gulf she was hit by 2 of the 6 torpedoes
fired by the I-58 Japanese submarine.
2. Ship went down within 12 minutes
a. APROX 900 out of 1,196 made it into the water before she sank
b. Few rawfts were released, most wore standard life ...