In July 1945, the USS Indianapolis was ⁠⁠torpedoed⁠⁠ by the ⁠⁠Imperial Japanese Navy⁠⁠ submarine ⁠⁠I-58⁠⁠, and sank in 12 minutes. Of 1,195 crewmen aboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship.⁠⁠⁠⁠

The remaining 890 faced ⁠⁠exposure⁠⁠, ⁠⁠dehydration⁠⁠, ⁠⁠saltwater poisoning⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠shark attacks⁠⁠ while stranded in the open ocean with few lifeboats and almost no food or water.