The story of the USS Indianapolis and the subsequent court-martial of Captain Charles B. McVay III remains one of the most poignant and controversial episodes in United States naval history. This incident involves a distinguished warship, a tragic failure of protocol, and a commanding officer held accountable for events beyond his control. The legacy of the Indianapolis and the conviction of McVay continue to resonate, sparking debate over responsibility, loyalty, and the often-harsh realities of military justice.
The Final Voyage of the USS Indianapolis
Completed in 1932, the USS Indianapolis was a Portland-class heavy cruiser that served as the flagship for numerous Pacific Theater commanders during World War II. By July 1945, the ship had earned a formidable reputation, having delivered components of the atomic bomb "Little Boy" from San Francisco to the island of Tinian under the command of Captain Charles B. McVay III. Following this critical mission, the Indianapolis was ordered to join the USS Idaho off the coast of Guam for training exercises. Unbeknownst to the crew, this routine transit would become a nightmare that defined the remainder of the ship's legacy.
Lapses in Security and the Shark Attack
Departing from Guam on July 28, 1945, the Indianapolis was routed through the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines without zigzagging, a standard anti-submarine maneuver that McVay had requested but was denied. The Navy had failed to inform the ship that newer destroyer escorts were operating in the area, and crucially, they did not mark the ship's position on operational charts. Shortly after midnight on July 30, the Japanese submarine I-58 struck the Indianapolis with two torpedoes, sinking the vessel in just twelve minutes. The attack resulted in the loss of approximately 300 men immediately, with the remaining 300-plus crew members floating in the open ocean, where they faced dehydration, exposure, and relentless attacks by sharks over the next four days.
The Court-Martial and Conviction
Rescue came only after a routine anti-submarine patrol discovered the survivors, a miracle largely attributed to Lieutenant (junior grade) Wilber "Chuck" Gwinn, who spotted the life rafts while on a routine flight. While the survivors were being treated as heroes, a board of inquiry was convened to investigate the sinking. The board cited Captain McVay III for failing to zigzag and ordered a court-martial. In December 1945, McVay was found guilty of "failure to order his ship to zigzag" and " hazarding his ship by not following proper anti-submarine procedures," resulting in the loss of the vessel. He was sentenced to lose 600 months of seniority and was reprimanded by the Secretary of the Navy.
A Questionable Verdict
The conviction of Captain McVay has long been viewed as a miscarriage of justice. Unlike previous court-martials for ship losses, which typically focused on systemic failures or command negligence, McVay bore the sole burden of blame. The court ignored critical context, such as the fact that the Navy had denied his request to zigzag and failed to warn him about enemy submarine activity. Furthermore, the "zigzag" maneuver, while standard procedure, was not a foolproof guarantee against submarine attacks, especially when the ship was alone and unescorted. McVay’s conviction effectively made him a scapegoat for the systemic failures of the U.S. Navy.
Posthumous Exoneration and Legacy
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