The deadliest shark attack in history.

The USS Indianapolis, a U.S. Navy ship, sank during World War II, leading to one of the worst shark attacks in history, resulting in 150 deaths.

Great whitetip sharks typically live near the surface of the water. Photo: atese

Shark attacks are extremely rare. But during World War II, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis led to the most famous shark attack tragedy in history. The explosion attracted the apex predators, igniting a massacre that lasted for days, according to Live Science .

In July 1945, the USS Indianapolis completed a voyage to the naval base on Tinian Island in the Pacific Ocean to transport uranium and other components used to create the "Little Boy" nuclear bomb. As the first nuclear weapon used in war, the US military later dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.

After transporting equipment, the USS Indianapolis departed for the Philippines to participate in a training mission. Shortly after midnight on July 30th, the ship was struck by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine, causing extensive damage. A massive amount of water flooded the Indianapolis, causing it to sink in just 12 minutes. Of the 1,195 crew members on board, approximately 300 perished with the ship, but nearly 900 were left adrift. Many died from exhaustion, starvation, and seawater poisoning. However, according to Smithsonian Magazine, an estimated 150 sailors died from shark attacks.

Unlike some other predators such as lions and wolves, most sharks hunt alone, according to Nico Booyens, a marine biologist and research director at the Shark Research Unit in South Africa. Different shark species have different hunting techniques, but many sharks are solitary hunters, relying on their eyesight, sense of smell, and electroreceptors to locate prey.

Sharks also possess a specialized system called the lateral line organ to pick up vibrations in the water. This sensory ability allows them to detect the movements of the soldiers underwater as they struggle to surface. Once the sharks locate the sailors, they have little chance of survival, especially the injured. According to survivor accounts, many victims were attacked near the surface. This has led to speculation that the great whitetip shark ( Carcharhinus longimanus ) participated in the attack, as they are a species that lives near the surface.

"When sharks find prey, they typically use their sharp teeth and powerful jaws to tear apart the flesh," Booyens shared. "Some shark species, such as the tiger shark ( Galeocerdo cuvier ), are known for swallowing their prey whole, while the bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas ) will attack and bite its prey repeatedly until it is weakened or immobilized."

Although great white sharks are at the top of the food chain, their meals are few and far between, so they often hunt opportunistically. According to the Florida Museum, great white sharks are often the first to arrive in disaster zones and were a major cause of death after the RMS Nova Scotia sank in 1942. Their tenacious, unpredictable, and bold nature makes them particularly dangerous to humans.

In the case of the USS Indianapolis, the dead and wounded became the first targets. Corporal Edgar Harrell, one of the survivors, recounted: "The first morning we encountered sharks. When the soldiers were separated, the sharks targeted them. You hear a scream that freezes the blood in your veins, then your body is dragged down, and in the end, only your life vests float."

The soldiers were so terrified they didn't dare eat or move for fear of becoming shark prey. According to a survivor's report, one sailor opened a can of meat but was surrounded by sharks, ultimately leading to a frenzied fight over the food. "Frenzied fighting often occurs when food is suddenly abundant, like a large school of fish trapped in a small area. The smell of blood and the struggling of prey can stimulate a fight, causing sharks to lunge and snatch the available food," Booyens explained.

Many shark species can participate in hunting, becoming very aggressive and attacking each other as well as their prey. However, the opportunistic feeding behavior, as well as the size and strength of the great white shark, makes it particularly dangerous for sailors. "The competition for food can be very dangerous for people underwater because sharks cannot distinguish between prey and humans," Booyens said.

For four consecutive days, no rescue ships appeared. Although the U.S. Navy received a report that a Japanese submarine had sunk an American ship, the message was believed to be a hoax designed to lure American rescue ships into a trap. Meanwhile, the survivors tried to stay afloat in groups, but under the scorching sun, many died from dehydration. Others died from hypernatremia after being forced to drink seawater.

Finally, a Navy plane flew by and spotted the surviving sailors from the USS Indianapolis, who were sending out a radio distress signal. Food, water, and life rafts were dropped for the sailors before Lieutenant Adrian Marks piloted a seaplane to rescue some from the sharks. Eventually, the USS Cecil J. Doyle helped pull the survivors to the surface. In total, only 316 people survived.

An Khang (According to Live Science )

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