Abandon Ship!: The Saga of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the Navy's Greatest Sea Disaster

by Richard F. Newcomb

Sailing across the Pacific, the battle-scarred heavy cruiser U.S.S. Indianapolis had just delivered a secret cargo that would trigger the end of World War II. Heading westward, she was sunk by a Japanese submarine. In twelve minutes, some 300 men went down with her. More than 900 other spent four horrific days and five nights in the ocean with no water to drink, savaged by a pitiless sun and swarms of sharks. Incredibly, no one knew they were there until a Navy patrol plane accidentally discovered them. In the end, only 316 crewmen survived. How could this have happened -- and why? This updated edition of Abandon Ship! , with an Introduction and Afterword by Peter Maas, supplies the chilling answer. A harrowing account of military malfeasance and human tragedy, Abandon Ship! also scrutinizes the role of the U.S. Navy in the disaster, especially the court-martial of the ship's captain, Charles Butler McVay III. Maas reveals facts previously unavailable to Richard Newcomb and chronicles a forty-year crusade to right a wrong, a crusade Abandon Ship! inspired.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military History, War, American History, Military Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

Reviews

[Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, where do I begin? First off, the Indianapolis should have had a Destroyer escort, being since it was an older ship and did not have any submarine detection devices. People in the loop knew that enemy sub activity had been reported and verified in the very path that the Indianapolis was to take. Yet, she was not sent with an escort. That's one thing. Secondly, the other half of the debacle should never have occurred either. The men were in the water for 4 days and 5 nights, even though they sent out TWO S.O.S. messages, 8 1/2 minutes apart (ship sank in 12min). It was not known by the crew if they had actually gone through...well, they did! Three separate people received the distress messages (one officer, two enlisted) and then went to their commanding officers to notify them, and to seek action as to what course to take. One commanding officer assumed that it was a Japanese trick. That a ship the size of the Indianapolis could not go down that quickly. He assumed...and we all know what that does to us. The second commanding officer could not be immediately contacted because he had left strict orders not to be disturbed because he was in a card game. Yes, a card game. This, however, was not an enlisted man that received the S.O.S., but, was a lower grade officer. So on his own, he dispatched two tugs to the last known coordinates of the Indianapolis. Well, shortly thereafter -I guess the asshole had lost the card game- the commanding officer discovered what the Jr. officer had done, and he immediately canceled the orders and recalled the tugs. The third man to hear the distress calls, upon entering the room to notify his commanding officer, said that the smell of alcohol immediately hit him upon entering said room. When asked what action to take, the drunken asshole told the enlisted man that no action was to be taken at that time, but if another distress call came through, to notify him immediately. Of course there was not another distress call because the ship went down so quickly -in 12min. Yet NONE of these idiots were ever held accountable, never went through a court martial...nothing. The Navy instead, 'scapegoated' the Captain of the ship, Charles McVay III. It was said later, by someone "in the know", that in the upper echelons of the Navy, it was once said about the disaster that, "It was better for one man to hang, instead of all of them hanging together." It's a good damn thing that the U.S. Navy has SEAL teams...at least that counterbalances the self-severing morons throughout the rest of the organization.

Having said all of that, it was a very good read, with A LOT of information. A little slow to start, but, it gets going rather quickly. Oh yeah, and thank God I decided (many years ago), on the Air Force instead of the Navy!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly detailed, clear, non-biased account into a great tragedy of WWII. Well-written and engaging.

The last voyage of the ship U.S.S. Indianapolis was one of those events where everything goes wrong. The sinking was only the beginning of the nightmare for the 900 men who went alive into the water. Many days (and many deaths) later, only 316 were alive tell of it.

This is not a happy story: injury, dehydration, insanity, and sharks all claimed victims in the water. This isn’t even a story with a single clear “bad guy.” Who caused the disaster? Was it the man who fired the torpedo, the submarine commander, Hashimoto? He is described in great detail here: a loyal Japanese military man, also a family man with a wife and kids, and a man of honesty and dignity. Or was the disaster caused by the U.S. Navy brass, who refused the Indianapolis’ request for an escort? Or by the internal workings of the navy itself, whose SOPs at the time made it all too easy for the ship, once sunk, not to be missed? How many lives might have been saved if the navy had only gone looking for the ship and its crew? And who was blamed for the senseless loss of life? The Indianapolis’ captain, McVay, remains the only skipper in US navy history to be courtmartialed for losing a ship a wartime. His conviction and subsequent suicide—tragedies compounded on an already-tragic situation—were shocking and infuriating.

The book’s afterward offers a look at some of the survivors, and it describes an unexpected turn of events regarding McVay’s conviction. An 11-year-old schoolboy, while watching the movie Jaws, became deeply moved at the scene which mentions the Indianapolis. He began investigating the tragedy, met with survivors, was named an honorary survivor, and, along with many of McVay’s surviving crew, spearheaded the movement to get the former captain exonerated. I am in awe of this child who took on the navy, of the survivors whose strength allowed them to endure unthinkable suffering, and of the victims whose deaths were keenly felt, not only by their loved ones, but the whole nation. This book provides a clear account of some shocking casualties of war, as well as of the courage and cowardice that so often go hand-in-hand.

[Megan Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very good. It did a good job of representing the U.S.S. Indianapolis tragedy very well. This was one of the best non-fiction books I have read.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

In July 1945 the cruiser USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Pacific. More than 900 sailors spent four days in the water, under scorching sun amidst swarms of sharks with no water or food. No rescue planes searched for them. A Navy patrol plane accidentally discovered them. Ultimately only 316 men survived. Richard Newcomb provides a well researched account of the sailors’ ordeal and the military blunder. Peter Maas’ afterword adds facts which were previously unavailable to Newcomb. This riveting book is hard to put down.

[Jenn Sevnine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book meant a lot to me. My grandfather was one of the survivors. We were never aloud to talk about it with him and now he is gone so reading is the only way I can learn. My grandfather is actually mentioned in this book :)

[Dee Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible credit 10 hours 40 min. Narrated by Quarie Marshall (5)
4.5 stars
This is the first book published about the terrible disaster that followed the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis on July 29/30,1945. Its publication and instant rise to the best seller list was responsible for reuniting 159 of the survivors fifteen years after their last farewells in Guam. It also sparked future reunions with more survivors and their captain.

This book has the great vantage point of proximity to the event. It was well-researched, and I can understand how its release of new information about the sinking must have caused waves in the Navy and the public in 1958.

In this audio edition, there is an introduction and an afterward written by author Peter Maass who adds more information that brings the story up to the year 2000. It disturbed me that he tried to attach a certain amount of blame to one particular officer who served in the information office on Guam. I regretted listening to those.

[Cynthia Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, tragic story that never should have happened.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author presents a well written and researched account of the events leading up to, during and after the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis near the end of World War II. The greatest tragedy is the Navy’s rush to pin the blame on the Captain of the ship without any solid evidence that he was to blame. It was the result of a number of internal Navy foul ups that turned into a coverup that lasted over 50 years before Captain McVay was vindicated. Unfortunately, he committed suicide many years before primarily due to the abuse he took as a result of the court marshall. This is an unfortunate tragedy that will be infamous in the history of the Navy.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched book. The first half is about the actual event. The second half steps through the investigations and trial (a little more difficult to read through all the details).

[JulS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost unbelievable. A huge Navy fail several times over. My grandfather, who I never met, also served in the Navy in the Pacific during WW2. My Mom found this book to better understand his time in the service. He never spoke about it and after reading this book I can totally understand why.

I was absolutely captivated by the first 2/3rds and then lost interest as it became a court case and skimmed the end. It was so clear to me, and probably to most people then and now, who was not at fault that I didn’t need it rehashed. I really hope the Navy learned from this.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a hot July night in 1945; you’re just 10 degrees north of the equator, and the heavy cruiser on which you’re spending the final days of World War II never seems to cool down. You’re on a real high, since you’ve just made a successful delivery of some top-secret parts to a nearby island. You’ll learn in a few weeks that those parts were combined with others to make up the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. You’ll learn that, if you live, that is.

Such is the story of some 1,200 men on board the U.S.S. Indianapolis, a 13-year-old heavy cruiser that had been hastily refitted in California for the journey west with the precious cylinder aboard. But the cylinder is delivered safely; you’re headed to a new assignment, and because the Japanese navy is pretty much already in tatters, your superiors don’t think you need destroyer escorts. So you’re alone in the South Pacific, several hundred miles away from anything important. Despite the heat, it’s a cloudy night, but those clouds are lifting, and the moon is visible periodically throughout the night. Still, the cloud cover seems enough that you don’t need to zig-zag to evade submarines. Your captain gives a nonchalant order to maintain a straight course and goes to bed.

Ironically enough, on the same day your ship left California, one of the last functioning Japanese submarines left the homeland with a captain hungry and eager for a kill. On board is the latest weaponry his country has produced, including manned suicide torpedoes whose pilots wriggle into the cramped torpedoes and deliberately guide them to the target, knowing that they are about to give their life for the Emperor. On that fateful late July night, the sub surfaces, managing to do so in that one crystal moment in which the moon is visible, a moon which lights up the American target a few miles away. The sub dives, spits out its deadly cargo, and before it all ends, only roughly 300 Americans will survive.

This is the harrowing story of the loss of the Indianapolis, the high toll that loss took on young American lives, the rescue of those few who remained, and a court martial that ultimately cost a captain his career and would eventually brutally end his life. You'll read of naval leadership incompetence—an incompetence that had to be covered up at all costs. It’s the story of a captain whose decisions were ultimately proven correct, but not for decades after his death.

Included here is information about a court-martial that is so bizarre as to include the witness of the enemy submarine captain responsible for the sinking of the Indianapolis. His testimony was borne amidst choruses of outrage by the American people who questioned the veracity of someone who, only months earlier, had sworn to make a kill for the Emperor.

In his 1958 book, Newcomb, a former editor for the Associated Press, comes down firmly on the side of Captain Charles McVay, who directed his crew to cease zig-zag maneuvers because of cloudy weather, and who had to abandon ship shortly thereafter. But it’s the account of naval officials who got a brief distress signal from the Indianapolis and chose to ignore it, since submarines hadn’t been spotted in that area that will disturb you. The book uncovers many of the mistakes that were made by navy officials and ship personnel alike. It is the account of healing and hope on the part of a divided and embittered group of survivors, almost all of whom felt their captain had not failed them. The book is a reminder, too, that an 11-year-old kid can work miracles and move an intransigent Congress and navy staff to do what, according to Newcomb, should have been done at the time of the court-martial.

It’s short; you’ll manage it in one sitting almost, and you’ll learn some things about a disaster and tragedy that was almost entirely swallowed up by news of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

[Bartholomew Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parts of the story of the USS Indianapolis are fairly well-known because of the speech in the movie Jaws where Quint recounts that over 1000 men went into the water when it was sunk and only 316 came out - sharks took the rest. The numbers are slightly different (800-900 went into the water) and there were 321 came out - but 4 died, and 317 survived in total. By all accounts most of these died a slower and more horrible death, being in the ocean for more than four days without food or water and with no shelter from the elements or the sun, life slowly, and painfully ebbed away. Many were taken by sharks, but the sharks took many of the already dead.
That's the story that most people know. What most do not is that this was a major SNAFU by the Navy, because standing directives did not require combatant ships to be listed as late when they did not arrive (no-one wanted the enemy to know where combatants were), the Indianapolis was not reported late and hence no rescue was begun until more than four days later when a plane on a routine patrol happened to see men in the water. The rescue was swift and efficient, but way too late, and literally hundreds of sailors died a horrid death, and those that lived had to deal with that.
To compound the horror the Navy decided to Court-Martial the Captain, and succeeded in ramming it through - the only Commanding Officer of a ship lost during the war who was Court-Martialed.
Later others were given career-ending reprimands, without justification. In the end Captain McVay was exonerated, but in 1968, after years of suffering abuse from those who thought him guilty he committed suicide.
Abandon Ship! was written not long after the sinking and is well-documented. It is a sad and disturbing story because of the tragedy itself, and the horrible and significant loss of life, but also because of the callous action to try and find a scapegoat after the fact. Fortunately rules were changed and others lives probably saved because of what happened, but what happened is a prime example of what happens when the focus is on fixing the blame instead of fixing the problem.

[Danielle Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far I have read 2 others books on this event, and this has been the most reader friendly. It almost feels like a fiction book as it is such a quick and easy read that kept me hooked. Definitely written for the average person (as in not in the military), which was very much appreciated. Terms and situations were explained and described in a way that I could understand without having personal experience in the military. I liked that it focused more on the sinking itself rather than on the details leading up to the incident. And since it was written relatively soon after the incident (compared to some other books) it contained a lot of first person anecdotes. My only complaint is that there were several times that the author's opinion seemed to overpower the story and I sometimes wondered how he knew all the details of some mundane moments. Was it information he got during his research or was some of it assumptions he made...

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to listen to the personal explanation of the Indianapolis disaster from Richard “DICK” Thelen, Lansing, Michigan, Seaman Second Class.
Here is his obituary:

Born March 14th, 1927, in Lansing, the son of the late Harry J. and Rose M. (Halfmann) Thelen, entered eternal rest on Monday, September 13, 2021 at the age of 94.
Dick joined the U.S. Navy before graduating from High School at the age of 17. He is well remembered for his service aboard USS Indianapolis. After delivering the Atomic Bomb, enroute to join the 7th Fleet for the invasion of Japan, his ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Philippine Sea. Dick was left to survive in the ocean for 104 hours before being one of only 316 men rescued.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and easy to read book of a comedy of errors culminating in a terrible loss of life. As with a great many tragedies this was not a single mistake or even a couple or several but one omission followed by incorrect assumptions, etc. The loss of this ship could probably not have been avoided however the extent of loss of life could certainly have been reduced.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true story of the sinking of USS Indianapolis and the subsequent inquiries and courts martial of the men involved. My copy was published in 1961 and I would recommend searching for later editions as the story was not over at that time. I understand later editions feature additional chapters that continue the tale.

[JoAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have very tender feelings about this great tragedy! On this anniversary of the sinking of the U S.S. Indianapolis, I have re-read this story. My husband's grandfather was a survivor, so this has a very personal impact. Each reading of these accounts leaves me with such a tangle of emotions that I will not attempt to explain in this review.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would guess that most of everybody's learning about the USS Indianapolis was from the movie "Jaws." If you recall, the three beer-buzzed shark-hunters are comparing scars when the grizzled Quint tells the story of his WWII heavy cruiser that was sunk in the waning days of the war and whose ocean-bound survivors were relentlessly maimed and devoured by thousands of sharks while they floated on choppy seas hoping for rescue.

"Abandon Ship! The Saga of the USS Indianapolis, the Navy's Greatest Sea Disaster" was published in 1958, long before the 1974 novel that preceded the movie "Jaws," at a time when most of the harrowing ordeal and conspiracy-fueling response by US Navy brass were still relatively unknown to the general public, and while the families of those killed were still seeking answers. Neither the sinking nor the wait for help had to happen.

Newcomb's account of the mission, disaster, response, and survival/loss of the sailors involved is tense, comprehensive, and moves along with a good pace, but because he's also filling a role as investigative journalist and fact-seeker it does have a textbookish blanket on it at times, especially in the final third when Captain McVay is court-martialed for the ship's loss.

Verdict: "Abandon Ship!" is a good read for anyone who likes WWII history reads, Naval history, or disaster and survival tales. As with most WWII nonfictions, it has a strong mix of heroism, duty, resourcefulness, resilience, loss, hope, justice and injustice while the entire world is confronting evil on a scale not imagined possible before. There are also enough factual errors in Quint's "Jaws" story, survivor accounts of the sinking itself, and the heroic (and lucky) rescue that make it a fresh read if you are relying on just Quint's take and would like to learn more about the greatest loss suffered by a single US warship.

Jeff's Rating: 3 / 5 (Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG

[Jacques Hollands · Rating 3 out of 5]

In “Abandon Ship,” Richard F. Newcomb tackles the tragic story of the USS Indianapolis, aiming to shed light on one of the worst events in the U.S. Navy's history. While the book promises an in-depth exploration of the events leading up to and following the sinking of the Indianapolis, it ultimately falls short of expectations. The account, though detailed in certain historical events, disappointingly glosses over the sailors’ intense struggle for survival in the aftermath of the disaster.

One of the most significant oversights in Newcomb’s narrative is the scant attention given to the ordeal faced by the sailors in the water, especially the shark attacks, which are mentioned only in passing. This choice may have stemmed from an intention not to sensationalize the suffering of these incredible men. However, this approach does a disservice to the reality of their experience, failing to fully convey the magnitude of hardship and bravery these sailors endured during their several days adrift at sea.

For readers seeking a comprehensive and emotionally impactful account of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, there are more fulfilling alternatives. Vincent and Vladic’s “Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man” is a brilliant work that not only delves deeply into the incident itself but also highlights the subsequent battle for justice, deserving a five-star rating for its meticulous research and compelling narrative.

Similarly, Dan Kurzman’s “Fatal Voyage: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis” also offers a well-rounded and detailed account, earning a solid four stars.

[Bob Lundquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we know, much of history is influenced by luck. The sinking of the Indianapolis is a strong case supporting this. If events occurred thirty minutes earlier or later, the disaster of the sinking would never have happened. If visibility was not so variable on the night in question, the sinking would never have happened. If the timing was earlier in the war, the Navy would not have tried to sweep it under the rug due to all the events surrounding the end of the war. However, the Navy’s bureaucracy had an overbearing effect. Overhanging the whole debacle was the Navy’s intransigence in arguing that the captain was wrong in not zigzagging when he had no idea whether a sub was in the area. Those with experience in the field were unanimous in saying zigzagging had at best a neutral effect on the sinking of the Indianapolis. But since it was in the regulations, it was seen as a commandment that could not be broken.

This book is a good account of events and that is good and bad. There is minimal analysis of all the facts presented and yet there is no source documentation. The assumption must be that readers will know where to get all the information cited in the book. It is a story with decades of background and action up to the present day. What it boils down to is that the Navy, like any large bureaucracy, takes years to change and update their procedures. In the meantime, the little people get crushed. So, if you want a good factual account, read this book despite the lack of sources.

[Voyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dilemma of "crime and punishment" - tragedy at sea.

It is not surprising that books about human tragedies are usually interesting.
"Abandon Ship" makes no exception to this rule.
When Navy administrative system failed, Captain did not follow given recommendations and unpredictable change of visibility occurred, cruiser "Indianapolis" was torpedoed by Japanese submarine. All this happened 2 weeks before the end of the WWII on the Pacific and few days before the atomic blast destroyed Hiroshima. Ironically "Indianapolis" had just delivered uranium for the bomb to Tinian Island and was on its way to Leyte (Philippines).
It seems that fate was designed for unfortunate ship and its crew, making this sinking a greatest disaster at sea in the history of the USA. Moment of sinking and four days at the sea spent by survivors are presented vividly but with respect to those who died and suffered.
Book gets even more interesting when we read how Navy tried to find who possibly could be blamed for this tragedy and whom to punish. It looked that either many or just one person could have been accused and Navy officials chose the second, easier option. Unprecedented and controversial procedure took place during the investigation - very interesting and dramatic case indeed, that never had happened before.
Afterword by Peter Mass brings reader to year 2000 and sheds light on some unknown facts that have been revealed just recently. This makes the book even more fascinating.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

(SPOILERS) Richard Newcomb took on a controversial topic, writing a book about the sinking of the Indianapolis that had about 2000 people aboard.
The topic is narrow , the ship was torpedoed by the Japanese and over 800 died. Many died from exposure or were eaten by sharks.
I found the story cumbersome, and too much to digest; as most of the book was spent establishing theories and responsibility through numerous interviews. Much of the information was redundant.
I thought the Navy would end up with a decision for establishing responsibility, as there was a public clamor to have higher-ups held accountable.
In spite of the negative publicity, no one was ultimately held accountable. Even after a Court Marshall, and 4 letters of reprimand. All were later withdrawn.
So a land lubber like me didn't stand a chance when all the top officials in the Navy couldn't come to a conclusion.
There were areas that the Navy as a whole screwed up. The Indianapolis should have had an escort, and a statute should have been put into place as to who is responsible for a ship that doesn't show up on time, and what procedures should be followed.

[Charles Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not only an all encompassing telling of the tragedy, but an in depth look at the men. Their psyche, their courage, and their determination are all on display. One of the most compelling parts of this book was during the days after the sinking of the ship. The survivors on their rafts, life jackets, and the swimmers are all in different ways losing their minds. Whether to dehydration, hunger, exhaustion, oil poisoning, or something that can’t be explained unless it’s happened to you. The author does an excellent job going through the thoughts, feelings, delusions, and hallucinations happening to these dying men. Sometimes while not even alluding to the fact they are mirage’s (such as an island, or a plane) until after several paragraphs. It’s an amazing memoir and so very well written. I recommend this to anyone interested In this tragedy or anyone looking for a unique telling of a survival story.

[JerryDeanHalleck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well written, old fashioned book, on the sinking. First published in 1958, the book is more fact filled and more objective then the Kurzman book. The author was a Naval Correspondent during WW II, and authored 6 books on WW II. Like Kurzman, Newcomb writes about the events through the eyes of the participants, but in a brief summary fashion, and uses a large number of people. Newcomb also packs a lot of objective information and facts into the narrative.

The first 65 pages or so are set up. Then next 120 cover the sinking, ordeal in the water, and the rescue. The remaining 100 pages cover the aftermath and trial. There little or nothing about the survivors life after 1947.

Whereas the Kurzman book is more senasationalist, the Newcomb book seemed be aimed at those interested in Naval History and WW II. So, I found it a better read.

[Julius Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a couple of years ago and noticed that it wasn't in in my finished books. Having been a deep-water Sailor, I can imagine what those guys went through -- then again, I can't. The feelings of sheer, utter helplessness, the lonesomeness, the despair and being surrounded by death isn't something one would be able to imagine unless he were there. This book describes each of those feelings as experienced by the few braves souls who survived this attack nearing the end of WWII. Not told like a historical account, this book grips the reader and holds him so tightly, neither can let go until the last page.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but slow read. With all the details and disturbing details it made it a slow read. I like that the book is an unbiased account and did not go over the top with details of the men's suffering but did give you enough to know it was dreadful. I am very surprised there was not more deaths. The book does have the court hearing and what happened after the sentencing. I can understand why is a topic that is still debated today on what should have been done, what really happened and what happened in the aftermath. Yes book does go into the blame game but that is to be expected in a tragedy of this magnitude.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3 1/2). This is not the best written non-fiction book you are ever going to read, but it certainly is one of the best stories you will find. An amazing investigation into the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis. I was not aware of this event (a history buff I am not) but have been intrigued to find that many of my friends were not only totally aware of it but had read this book as well. The Navy does not come off well here, in fact, the whole U.S. Military seems to have made some mistakes in this saga. A really interesting look at a piece of WWII history.

[Stephen Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another dry account of one of the most horrific disasters in US naval history. Normally, I love the hard history, but this book really left me wanting something else. It's difficult to express my opinions on this because parts of the book had great kernels of ideas. Other times, you're left asking "why do I care". To give the author credit, he did get many first hand accounts from survivors, which brings a great authenticity, but the presentation could have been much better.

[Josh Soule · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking and powerful to say the least. I will say that I was familiar with some of the events surrounding the tragedy of the USS Indianapolis. I was not, however, aware of the complexities of the legal proceedings that followed.

Abandon Ship! Not only highlights the people involved, and the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the ship, but the tragic experience in the water thereafter, and the intricate court martial proceedings.

An incredible read.

[Danielle Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this on audio. I've known about the Indy disaster and the terrible hardships the men went thru while waiting for rescue. However, I was unaware of the governments attempt to hide all information regarding the disaster and blame the captain for negligence when it clearly fell on the shore parties not noticing that the ship had not arrived on time and didn't think to look for them. So many men lost. Just heart wrenching.