Indianapolis, IN

A disaster turns 79. USS Indianapolis sinking leads to world’s worst shark attack

Published

1 year ago

July 29, 2024

A disaster turns 79. USS Indianapolis sinking leads to world’s worst shark attack

It was 79 years ago when a Japanese submarine torpedoed the USS Indianapolis, a heavy cruiser carrying nearly 1,200 sailors and Marines. The ship was sailing back to the Philippines after delivering components for “Little Boy,” the atomic bomb that helped end World War II. It sank in 12 minutes.

What followed next resulted in the greatest single loss of life at sea, on a single ship, in the history of the U.S. Navy.

Read IndyStar’s prior coverage about the doomed heavy cruiser and the men who survived its tragedy.

When did the USS Indianapolis sink?

The USS Indianapolis sank shortly after midnight on July 30, 1945. The heavy cruiser was struck by two Japanese torpedoes. The first torpedo blew the bow off the ship, according to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. A second torpedo blasted into its midsection near the powder magazine, creating an explosion that literally split the ship in two.

How big was the USS Indianapolis?

The USS Indianapolis was 610 feet 3 inches (186 meters) long, according to Britannica. Roughly 900 men survived the ship sinking, of which only a little more than a third would be pulled from the water.

USS Indianapolis survivor: ‘That first morning, we had sharks’

In a story published July 24, 2014, IndyStar reporter Diana Penner interviewed Corporal Edgar Harrell, just 20 years old on July 29, 1945. Harrell had finished his watch on the USS Indianapolis at midnight. It was, he said, unbearably hot and stifling where his berth was, so he got permission to make a pallet on deck, right under the barrels of the No. 1 forward turret.

Harrell had just dozed off. And then, a few minutes into July 30, the world exploded.

USS Indianapolis survivor: ‘That first morning, we had sharks’

What kind of sharks attacked the crew of the USS Indianapolis?

It’s believed oceanic whitetip sharks attacked the surviving members of the USS Indianapolis in what became known as the “worst shark attack in history.” These grayish brown sharks, which can reach up to 11 feet in length, are considered a top predator in the tropical and subtropical waters they hunt, according NOAA Fisheries.

They are opportunistic predators, feeding on bony fish and squid but have been known to eat large tuna, marlin, sea birds, other sharks, rays, marine mammals and even garbage.

How long before the USS Indianapolis crew was rescued?

The ship sank on July 30, 1945. After four days, the survivors were discovered by accident on Aug. 2, 1945.

How many people died on the USS Indianapolis?

Accounts of how many people died in the sinking of the USS Indianapolis have long varied by one. Were there 1,195 sailors and Marines aboard the ill-fated ship — or 1,196? Did 879 men perish in the attack, in the water, or after rescue — or 880?

Two historians collaborated on a paper that helps explain the discrepancy, which boiled down to a record-keeping error.

USS Indianapolis death toll: Historians resolve mystery of how many men died in 1945 attack

The famous Indianapolis speech from the movie ‘Jaws’

Actor Robert Shaw delivered perhaps one of the most haunting movie monologues in cinema history during the 1975 film, “Jaws,” which itself heralded the age of the summer blockbuster. In the scene, Shaw’s character, “Quint,” reveals he was one of the doomed sailors serving aboard the USS Indianapolis when it sank into the Pacific. The moment is fraught with tension as he describes what happened when the sharks arrived.

“Sometimes that shark looks right at ya. Right into your eyes. And the thing about a shark is he’s got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll’s eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn’t even seem to be livin’… ’til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then… ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin’. The ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin’ and your hollerin’ those sharks come in and… they rip you to pieces.
Actor Robert Shaw in the film “Jaws”

Shaw’s speech is quietly horrifying, underscored to perfection with music by composer John Williams. Ironically, while most of what Shaw says is factual, his monologue contains one glaring error — the date.

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Quint says the disaster occurred on June 29, 1945, when in reality the sinking didn’t happen until a month later.
Putting that aside, the scene remains iconic, offering a rare glimpse into what survivors of the USS Indianapolis endured.
James Briggs: ‘My grandfather survived the USS Indianapolis sinking. I never asked how he did it.’

Long before his work appeared in IndyStar, James Briggs’ grandfather was in this newspaper. In 2020, the 75th anniversary of the USS Indianapolis sinking filled Briggs with regret over questions he never asked.
“He was one of 316 men, out of a crew of 1,195, who lived to tell his story. He survived sliding down his ship into the water, he survived being covered in ship fuel and he survived spending five days in the shark-ridden Pacific Ocean with no drinkable water or food,” Briggs wrote in his column.
James Briggs: My grandfather survived the USS Indianapolis sinking. I never asked how he did it.
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Wreckage of USS Indianapolis found in Philippine Sea

In 2017, researchers discovered the wreckage of the USS Indianapolis at 18,000 feet below the Philippine Sea. News of the discovery came from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who led a 13-person team to find the lost ship.
Wreckage of USS Indianapolis: How researchers found the doomed ship at the bottom of the Philippine Sea
Learn more about the heroes of the USS Indianapolis:

▶ Rest in peace: Closure, finally, for USS Indianapolis survivor
▶ Retro Indy: The sinking of the USS Indianapolis
▶ The ones they left behind: Remembering their lost ‘sailor boys’
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former IndyStar reporters Dawn Mitchell, Leigh A. Hedger contributed to this article.
John Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at JTuftsReports.

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Indianapolis, IN

If Anthony Richardson Can’t Beat Out 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers, That’s A Big Problem

Published

5 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

If Anthony Richardson Can’t Beat Out 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers, That’s A Big Problem

Indianapolis’s playoff chances collide with player development as Rivers challenges a cleared Richardson for QB1.

PublishedDecember 15, 2025 2:55 PM EST•UpdatedDecember 15, 2025 2:55 PM EST

After Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles, the Indianapolis Colts turned to 44-year-old Philip Rivers. Rivers, who hadn’t taken an NFL snap since January 2021, immediately stepped into the team’s starting lineup and nearly led the team to a shocking upset over the Seattle Seahawks.

But there’s a new wrinkle. Anthony Richardson, the quarterback the Colts selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was cleared to return to football activities. Richardson suffered a freak pregame orbital fracture on Oct. 12.

Now the question for the Colts is simple: Who starts at quarterback when Richardson is healthy enough to play? The decision would be easy if the Colts were out of playoff contention. They would start the young quarterback and hope he shows some of the flashes he displayed during his very short rookie season.

But the Colts are still very much in the AFC postseason picture, currently sitting at 8-6. They are one game behind the Houston Texans for the seventh and final playoff spot with a game against Houston scheduled for Week 18.

They are also two games behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for the AFC South lead, and the two teams meet in Week 17. The Colts don’t control their own postseason destiny; even if Indianapolis wins out, the Texans would get in over the Colts if Houston wins its other two remaining games.

Still, the first step is to win the final three games. That starts with a Monday Night Football matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. Rivers is going to start that game, according to head coach Shane Steichen.

This isn’t surprising news, since Richardson hasn’t practiced yet. But there’s going to be a decision between the two starters soon. Who gives them the best chance to win once both QBs are healthy?

Richardson vs. Rivers for Colts QB1

If the answer is Rivers, that’s a death knell for the career of Richardson. Losing the starting job to Daniel Jones was one thing, but failing to start over a 44-year-old QB who spent nearly five years out of the NFL is another matter entirely.

With Anthony Richardson cleared for football activities, the Indianapolis Colts are likely to have to make a decision between the young quarterback and the recently-signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers.

(Imagn Images)

Despite going 6-5 as a starter last season, Richardson completed less than 50% of his passes and threw more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (8). Of course, Richardson does a lot of his damage on the ground, rushing for 499 yards and 6 touchdowns in his 11 starts in 2024.

Rivers didn’t light up the Seahawks’ defense on Sunday, but he was efficient. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. The interception came on a desperation heave on the team’s final possession with the game virtually out of reach. Rivers got the ball out quickly, taking only one sack against a very good Seattle defense.

Head coach Shane Steichen was hired prior to the team drafting Richardson, so he has some motivation to ensure Richardson succeeds in the NFL. But he’s not going to put that above the team’s short-term future, which includes an opportunity to reach the playoffs.

Ultimately, Steichen is going to start the quarterback he believes gives him the best chance to win the next three games. If that quarterback is Philip Rivers, it means Anthony Richardson’s NFL future is very, very bleak.

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Indianapolis, IN

Philip Rivers fell one throw short of storybook ending in his couch-to-Colts return

Published

17 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Philip Rivers fell one throw short of storybook ending in his couch-to-Colts return

He had one last throw left in that 44-year-old wing of his. For most of the afternoon, he’d been able to fool Father Time and frighten 68,771 Seattle Seahawks fans inside Lumen Field who’d come to bury Philip Rivers and, instead, watched him push their football team to the very brink of an impossible upset.

There had been a moment when it seemed Rivers might actually pull off the damn thing, too. That was with 1 minute and 55 seconds left in the game. The Colts led for so much of the game and were behind Seattle 15-13, but the ball was in the old man’s hands now. All day, he’d been careful and efficient. It got him a 13-3 lead at one point. Now, he needed to make a play.

And damned if he didn’t make a play.

Damned if he didn’t throw a 16-yard back-shoulder special to wide receiver Alec Pierce. Damned if that ball didn’t mean the Seahawks were now going to burn all of their timeouts because, in the NFL in 2025, just making it past midfield — as that throw did — means you’re in field goal range.

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Indianapolis, IN

Philip Rivers comes out of retirement for Indianapolis Colts: NFL world reacts

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Philip Rivers comes out of retirement for Indianapolis Colts: NFL world reacts

The Indianapolis Colts have cooled considerably as the season has progressed, going from the NFL’s best record to out of the playoff picture entering Week 15 action.

But one of today’s notable storylines is the return of quarterback Philip Rivers after five years away from the NFL. He’s on the Colts’ active roster as they prepare to play the Seattle Seahawks.

The 44-year-old was on Lumen Field hours before kickoff, taking mental reps.

Colts QB Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending injury last week, and backup Riley Leonard suffered a knee injury, though he remains on the active roster. With Brett Rypien the only other QB on their roster and list of available QBs lacking, the Colts called the last signal-caller to lead them in a playoff game (after the 2020 season).

His comeback has piqued the interest of a former Colts coach and players, his former teammates on the Chargers, former NFL quarterbacks and even those from outside football.