Alayna

Anyone who didn't manage to escape from the lower decks would either be burned alive or drown in the flood. Oh, my God. So it's just awful, screaming, just pain, awful, awful scene. With the entire communication system now out, McVeigh ran back to his room to get clothing on because it's the middle of the night. Right. And he ran into the damage control officer, Casey Moore.

Anyone who didn't manage to escape from the lower decks would either be burned alive or drown in the flood. Oh, my God. So it's just awful, screaming, just pain, awful, awful scene. With the entire communication system now out, McVeigh ran back to his room to get clothing on because it's the middle of the night. Right. And he ran into the damage control officer, Casey Moore.

Lieutenant Moore had been down to the bow after the first hit and told McVeigh the ship was, quote, going down rapidly by the head, sinking bow first.

Lieutenant Moore had been down to the bow after the first hit and told McVeigh the ship was, quote, going down rapidly by the head, sinking bow first.

And he asked whether McVeigh wanted him to give the order to abandon ship. Now, at the time, the ship was only listing about three degrees. And thinking back on the last time the Indianapolis was attacked in Okinawa, McVeigh thought they would be, you know, they could still steer the ship safely because they were able to do that before. Yeah.

And he asked whether McVeigh wanted him to give the order to abandon ship. Now, at the time, the ship was only listing about three degrees. And thinking back on the last time the Indianapolis was attacked in Okinawa, McVeigh thought they would be, you know, they could still steer the ship safely because they were able to do that before. Yeah.

So he told Moore, hold off for a second on giving that order. A few minutes later, though, Commander Joseph Flynn, the second in command, told McVeigh, we are definitely going down and I suggest that we abandon ship. And McVeigh has said he had complete faith in Flynn's judgment and abilities. So he said, abandon ship.

So he told Moore, hold off for a second on giving that order. A few minutes later, though, Commander Joseph Flynn, the second in command, told McVeigh, we are definitely going down and I suggest that we abandon ship. And McVeigh has said he had complete faith in Flynn's judgment and abilities. So he said, abandon ship.

Now, Captain McVeigh's hesitancy to give the order to abandon ship would later become a matter of great debate. But at the time, McVeigh had yet to fully comprehend the damage that the Indianapolis had sustained.

Now, Captain McVeigh's hesitancy to give the order to abandon ship would later become a matter of great debate. But at the time, McVeigh had yet to fully comprehend the damage that the Indianapolis had sustained.

Exactly. That's the thing. It's like there was no way for him to completely assess the damage of the entire ship in that one second. So he is listening and trying to lean on his officers to tell him, like one of them tells them, I think we're going to need to abandon ship. And he's like, okay, hold on a second. Let me take a minute.

Exactly. That's the thing. It's like there was no way for him to completely assess the damage of the entire ship in that one second. So he is listening and trying to lean on his officers to tell him, like one of them tells them, I think we're going to need to abandon ship. And he's like, okay, hold on a second. Let me take a minute.

And you can understand why that's not the first thing that you want to do. That's not what you want to do. That's drastic. And then another officer who he has even more faith in is saying, we got to get out of here. So now you got two people saying it. Yeah. And he said immediately he did it.

And you can understand why that's not the first thing that you want to do. That's not what you want to do. That's drastic. And then another officer who he has even more faith in is saying, we got to get out of here. So now you got two people saying it. Yeah. And he said immediately he did it.

The I-58 that hit them was outfitted with Japanese Type 95 torpedoes, which were designed to deliver a massive explosive and then had a secondary effect, like, that they tacked onto it, which would apply a huge amount of pressure when it happened to basically buckle whatever the target was, its internal framing. Oh. So it was made to cause severe structural damage.

The I-58 that hit them was outfitted with Japanese Type 95 torpedoes, which were designed to deliver a massive explosive and then had a secondary effect, like, that they tacked onto it, which would apply a huge amount of pressure when it happened to basically buckle whatever the target was, its internal framing. Oh. So it was made to cause severe structural damage.

When the torpedoes hit the side of the Indianapolis, they not only ripped a hole in the side of the ship, but they really compromised its structural integrity like right away. It was taking on a shit ton of water. At the same time, the explosion from the blast had ignited the ship's fuel stores.

When the torpedoes hit the side of the Indianapolis, they not only ripped a hole in the side of the ship, but they really compromised its structural integrity like right away. It was taking on a shit ton of water. At the same time, the explosion from the blast had ignited the ship's fuel stores.

which caused a massive fire that, quote, incinerated or severely burned anyone below deck in the forward part of the ship. So they just met on fire.

which caused a massive fire that, quote, incinerated or severely burned anyone below deck in the forward part of the ship. So they just met on fire.