You Know Jaws? That Movie Was Practically a Rom-Com Compared to the USS Indianapolis
The USS Indianapolis: a ship that delivered the world's first atomic bomb, then promptly got into a disagreement with a very large, very toothy submarine. But that's not even the worst part. Oh no, friends, the worst part involved an open-water buffet involving hundreds of hungry sharks.
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| How Many Men Did The Sharks Get On The Uss Indianapolis |
So, How Many Men Became Shark Snacks?
Here's the thing: nobody really knows for sure. Estimates range from a few dozen to a whopping 150. The whole ordeal was a bit chaotic, what with the whole "ship sinking" thing, and keeping track of how many crewmates were chumming the water wasn't exactly high on the priority list.
What we do know is this:
Tip: Slow down when you hit important details.
- The Indianapolis went down in a hurry, leaving around 900 crew members splashing around in the Pacific Ocean with nothing but a life jacket and a desperate hope of survival.
- Those hopes were quickly dashed by the arrival of a welcoming committee with fins and a taste for human.
- After four brutal days adrift, only 316 sailors were left to tell the tale.
Sharks vs. Exposure vs. Dehydration: The Great Survivor Smackdown!
While the sharks undoubtedly took a big bite out of the crew (pun intended), they weren't the only enemy. Exposure, dehydration, and saltwater poisoning all played a nasty role in reducing the number of Indianapolis survivors.
So, the real answer is: it wasn't just the sharks. It was a perfect storm of oceanic unpleasantness that claimed the lives of hundreds of brave sailors.
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But hey, at least they weren't eaten by a giant squid, right? (Right?....)
How To Avoid a Similar Fate (Hopefully)
While we can't exactly guarantee you won't end up in a shark feeding frenzy, here are a few tips to improve your odds:
QuickTip: Slow down when you hit numbers or data.
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How to Avoid Being on a Sinking Ship:
- Don't volunteer for sub duty.
- Make friends with the captain. Maybe bring them cookies?
How to Survive Being Lost at Sea:
QuickTip: Repetition reinforces learning.
- Befriend a dolphin. They're practically Flipper in real life, right?
- Pack a lifetime supply of beef jerky. Sharks hate beef jerky. (Probably.)
How to Befriend a Shark:
- Sing them show tunes. Everyone loves a good musical!
- Offer them a Snickers bar. You're not you when you're hungry! (Don't actually do this.)
How to Deal with Post-Traumatic Sharkophobia:
- Therapy. Lots and lots of therapy.
- Buy a goldfish. You can slowly work your way up the fear ladder.
How to Time Travel and Stop the Sinking of the Indianapolis:
- This one's a bit tricky. Maybe ask a scientist? But hey, if you figure it out, let us know! We'd all love to avoid that whole shark situation.
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