USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

[Swede]

On 30 July 1945, shortly after delivering critical parts for the first atomic bomb to be used in combat to the United States air base at Tinian, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, sinking in 12 minutes. Of 1,196 crew aboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship. The remaining crew of 880 faced exposure, dehydration and shark attacks as they waited for assistance while floating with few lifeboats and almost no food or water. The Navy learned of the sinking when survivors were spotted four days later by the crew of a PV-1 Ventura on routine patrol. Only 317 sailors survived.<2> Indianapolis was one of the last U.S. Navy ships sunk by enemy action in World War II.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Indianapolis_(CA-35)

[T Wolf]

1. Karma or not - it made for a good scene in Jaws. nt

[damntexdem]

3. Karma? Those sailors had no idea what they carried to Tinian.

They were just doing their jobs in a war that was almost over -- a short time later, and they would not have died, with the survivors going through a terrible ordeal.

[JVS]

2. I just realized that this event is the impetus for "Shark Week"