Lost WW2 warship USS Indianapolis found after 72 years

The World War Two heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis has been found in the Pacific Ocean, 72 years after its sinking by a Japanese submarine.

The warship was discovered 18,000 feet (5.5km) beneath the surface. The Indianapolis was destroyed, on 30 July 1945, returning from its secret mission to deliver parts for the atomic bomb which was later used on Hiroshima. It was hit by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine

Of the 1,196 men on board, just 316 were rescued - the largest loss of life at sea in the history of the US Navy. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who led the civilian search team, said the discovery was "truly humbling".

The ship's rapid sinking - in just 12 minutes - and the lack of a distress call meant the ship's location had long been a mystery. Researchers knew the ship was the Indianapolis (CA-35) because of its hull markings

Source: Duta

UCJ, UNILORIN.