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.

WESTFIELD — Colts owner Jim Irsay sounded hopeful that center Ryan Kelly will ultimately remain in Indianapolis after this season.

Kelly, who is the team’s longest-tenured player and headed into the final year of the four-year, $50 million extension he signed in 2020, opened training camp by saying the franchise did not see an extension as a priority before the end of this season.

Irsay struck a different tone in his meeting with local media at training camp Sunday.

“We love Ryan,” Irsay said. “A guy like Ryan’s always a priority. You just love him as a person, and he’s a talented player, he’s been to Pro Bowls. … No question, a Pro Bowl center is a priority.”

Kelly, 31, has made four Pro Bowls in the past five seasons, bouncing back after the offensive line’s struggles in 2022 by making the Pro Bowl a year ago.

“We made it known that we wanted to stay, and that we wanted to have an extension,” Kelly said at the opening of camp. “They didn’t see it as part of their priority.”

Faced with a similar decision on defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, the Colts extended the team’s defensive leader with a two-year, $46 million extension this summer that keeps Buckner in Indianapolis through the 2026 season.

But Kelly has dealt with at least three concussions in his career, and Indianapolis drafted Wisconsin center Tanor Bortolini in the fourth round of April’s draft.

“Every case is different,” Colts general manager Chris Ballard said after Kelly made his comments. “I think one thing we’ve proven since we’ve been here is we’re really to players that have been good players. I think that will work itself out over time.”

The Colts did bring back nearly all of the players who reached free agency last season, signing 11 of its 15 free agents to come back to Indianapolis, including stars in Kelly’s position, heading into their third NFL contract like nose tackle Grover Stewart, cornerback Kenny Moore II and middle linebacker Zaire Franklin.

Even if Kelly makes it to free agency, he could end up reaching his ultimate goal, to continue playing in Indianapolis.

“I hope that things work out well, and I know Chris is talking with the agent,” Irsay said. “We’re hopeful.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Missing Persons detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 64-year-old man with dementia.

Jeffrey Miller, 64, is described as a black male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 164 pounds, with brown eyes and bald hair.

Miller was last seen when he left his residence in 2600 block of Adams St. on July 28 at approximately 1 a.m. Police said Miller walked off his front porch in an unknown direction.

He was wearing stone washed jeans, a multiple color shirt, and a blue jean jacket.

Miller’s family says he has been diagnosed with dementia. He may be in need of immediate medical assistance.

If located, contact IMPD or Missing Persons at 317-327-6160 or 317-327-3811.