Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
You must have the back story to understand the Indy tragedy...
Built as a treaty cruiser during the 1930's, her armor was reduced to meet the 10,000 ton weight limit.
By 1945, she was no longer a front line ship...
She left San Francisco loaded to the max, headed for war. Extra spare parts, food, ammo, etc, loaded.
Topside weight had been greatly increased, lookout platforms and I believe early radar had been added.
She now wallowed in turns...
Metacentrically unstable...
After delivering the fissionable core to bomb, she left for not only another port, but for another Division,
General MacArthur,'s I believe...
Only enough fuel was loaded to make the journey at max economy speed, very important.!
McVay could not have zig zagged, he would have run out of fuel.!
Most men were sleeping on deck, common in a natural draft ship,.
Once hit, the Indy rolled and sank in 3 minutes.
The Indy may have been chosen for the mission of charring part of the " device " because of speed ?
I may be wrong , but I thought on her return voyage , she was sent back to the states ?
Thanks ,