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The USS Indianapolis Trivia Quiz

Humans were the main course for sharks during this ordeal.

A multiple-choice quiz by blakey. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
blakey

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
142,750

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1264

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Where was the Indianapolis coming from when she was torpedoed by a Japenese submarine? Hint

Guadalcanal

Leyte

Guam

Pearl Harbor

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was her secret cargo? Hint

A new communications device

Components for the atomic bomb

A radar system

A sonar system

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Question 3 of 10

3. Out of eleven hundred men, approximatly how many made it to the water safely? Hint

about 500

about 900

about 700

about 800

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Question 4 of 10

4. How long were they in the water before being rescued? Hint

5 days

1 day

3 days

6 days

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Question 5 of 10

5. How many sailors were rescued? Hint

100

432

250

316

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who was Captain of the Indianapolis? Hint

Captain Husband Kimmel

Captain Charles B. McVay

Captain Joseph Hunt

Captain Isadora Fish

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the pilot who found the survivors really looking for? Hint

Japanese destroyers

Japanese aircraft carriers

Japanese submarines

Japanese cruisers

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Question 8 of 10

8. Why did it take so long for her to be reported as missing? Hint

The Navy was waiting for her next supply order

She was late and presumed missing at sea.

A Navy foul up

It was a secret mission no-one knew she was there

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Question 9 of 10

9. Why was there a Congressional Inquiry into her sinking? Hint

President Truman's son was onboard

A Congressman's son died

It was protocol at the time

Henry Cabot Lodge had a son onboard

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who came to the aid of the defense of the Captain during his court martial? Hint

President Truman

Mochitsura Hashimoto

Douglas Macaurthur

Chester Nimitz

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where was the Indianapolis coming from when she was torpedoed by a Japenese submarine?

Answer: Guam

She was headed for Leyte but was torpedoed approximately five minutes after midnight on July 29th 1945.

2. What was her secret cargo?

Answer: Components for the atomic bomb

She had delivered the components at Tinian Island. The day after they were rescued, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

3. Out of eleven hundred men, approximatly how many made it to the water safely?

Answer: about 900

The ship sank in 12 minutes but about 900 hundred made it to the water. One survivor wrote that he remembered as he entered the water a head floated by him and recognized the face as a Machinist Mate by its gold tooth.

4. How long were they in the water before being rescued?

Answer: 5 days

For five days the remaining crew floated in salt water feeling as if they were going to die as sharks mustered around them. The sharks attacked them at will, pulling their victims under the water.

5. How many sailors were rescued?

Answer: 316

Three hundred and sixteen survived the ordeal. Among the dead was the Executive officer, he was found one morning with his face in the water. When the Captain pulled his face out of the water, to give him air, his body turned upside down with his legs missing.

6. Who was Captain of the Indianapolis?

Answer: Captain Charles B. McVay

Captain McVay was court martialed over the sinking for not zig zagging his ship. He was convicted and discharged. However, he was reinstated after Admiral Nimitz intervened but the conviction stayed. He shot himself 24 years later. He was officially exonerated in 2001.

7. What was the pilot who found the survivors really looking for?

Answer: Japanese submarines

He thought he saw a sub and dived down to deliver his payload when he noticed that it was not a sub but people in the water.

8. Why did it take so long for her to be reported as missing?

Answer: A Navy foul up

It was a misunderstanding of the Movement Reporting system.

9. Why was there a Congressional Inquiry into her sinking?

Answer: A Congressman's son died

A Congressman's son was killed trying to get sailors out of a life raft for the sick and injured. The Congressmen was wondering how his son died ...

10. Who came to the aid of the defense of the Captain during his court martial?

Answer: Mochitsura Hashimoto

He was the submarine commander who sank the Indianapolis. McVay was being accused of not zig zagging his ship while the submarine commander was showing why it made no difference, he would have sunk it anyway.

Source: Author blakey

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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