Photo Archive
Indianapolis 37 small.jpg (26147 bytes)
USS Indianapolis
CA-35
Portland Class Heavy Cruiser

These US National Archives photos show the evolution of the USS Indianapolis from 1937 through her loss in July 1945. This Portland class heavy cruiser is best known for her sinking by the Japanese submarine I58 shortly after transporting the A-bomb to Tinian in the Mariannas Is. Torpedoed en route from Tinian to the Philippines, her overdue arrival went unnoticed. This resulted in great loss of life, as those who survived her sinking died from various causes while awaiting a much delayed rescue.

I have arranged these extraordinarily clear photos in chronological order. These are large files but well worth the wait as they download.

USS Indianapolis CA 35
Vital Statistics
Displacement: 12,979 tonnes full load
Length: 610' oa, 592' wl, Beam: 66'
Armament: nine 8" (3x3), eight 5"25 caliber ( 8x1)
AA Fit: various combinations of 1.1", 20mm and 40mm
Aircraft: four, 2 catapults
Torpedoes: none
Complement: 807

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Indianapolis 37 h53230.jpg (66641 bytes)
Circa 1937
 Indianapolis April 42 Mare Is n29298.jpg (64634 bytes)
April '42		 Indianapolis April 42 Mare Is plan view aft n29300.jpg (131922 bytes)
April '42 plan view aft		 Indianapolis April 42 Mare Is welldeck floatplanes n29299.jpg (131965 bytes)
Apr 42 well deck and floatplanes
Indianapolis May 43 Mare Is 19-N-86911.jpg (122397 bytes)
May '43		 Indianapolis May 43 Mare Is closeup n47568.jpg (137269 bytes)
May '43 midship closeup		 Indianapolis May 43 Mare Is looking aft n47569.jpg (152435 bytes)
May '43 looking aft		 Indianapolis May 43 Mare Is looking fwd n47566.jpg (104728 bytes)
May '43 looking forward
Indianapolis May 43 Mare Is lview aft n47567.jpg (158894 bytes)
May '43 plan view aft		 Indianapolis Dec 44 near Mare Is n76904.jpg (93605 bytes)
Dec '44 near Mari Is.		 Indianapolis May 44 nr SF h83607.jpg (69415 bytes)
May '44 near San Francisco		 Indianapolis Mare Is Dec 44 n76908.jpg (140550 bytes)
Dec '44 plan view forward
Indianapolis Mare Is Dec 44 n76909.jpg (112407 bytes)
Dec '44 midship view		 Indianapolis Mare Is Dec 44 n76910.jpg (99772 bytes)
Dec '44 looking aft		 Indianapolis Mare Is Dec 44 n76911.jpg (129045 bytes)
Dec '44 stern plan view		 Indianapolis July 45 19-N-86911.jpg (57146 bytes)
July '45
Indianapolis July 45 Mare Is n86912.jpg (69675 bytes)
July '45 near Mare Is.		 Indianapolis July 45 Mare Is n86915.jpg (133196 bytes)
July '45 forecastle looking aft		 Indianapolis July 45 Mare Is n86916.jpg (139998 bytes)
July '45 superstructure		 Indianapolis July 45 Mare Is n86917.jpg (135198 bytes)
July '45 midship
Indianapolis July 45 Mare Is n86918.jpg (148898 bytes)
July '45 hangar deck