In late summer 1945, WWII was heating up in the Pacific for a final showdown. The heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis suffered an attack by a Japanese bomber, and while undergoing repairs, got orders for a secret cargo mission back to the Pacific front. 

With the cargo delivered and mission complete, an enemy submarine fired on the ship, sinking it in 12 minutes. Hundreds of sailors and marines ended up in the water, awaiting rescue. 

However, a major miscommunication among a handful of people meant that nobody knew the Indianapolis had sank - so the men in the water fought sunburn, dehydration, starvation, delirium and constant shark attacks while they waited for ANY help at all. 

This week we tell the amazing story of these survivors, and discuss the major plot twists in the aftermath of the sinking.