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Sharks and the Military
The fear of sharks is common to anyone visiting America's beaches. While shark encounters were rare, when they occur, they can be deadly, and create sensational headlines. US Naval sailors faces this fear on a regular basis while on duty on coastal and island naval bases and onboard ships in areas where sharks were common. Military personnel serving in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea during World War II often reported low morale due to the fear of shark attacks.
Perhaps the most well-known shark attack in the history of US Navy occurred following the loss of the USS Indianapolis in 1945. Returning from Guam to the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines after a top-secret mission, it was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945. Out of a crew of 1,196 sailors and Marines, approximately 800 men were set adrift in the water, many without floatation [sic] devices. Rescue operations were delayed until August 2 and 3, at which time only 317 individuals survived. Most of the casualties were due to injuries from the torpedo explosion, dehydration, overexposure, and drowning. However, rescue reports and eyewitness accounts indicate that dozens of sharks were attracted to the disaster and fed on the injured and the remains of dead servicemen floating in the water over the entire five-day period.
Following the USS Indianapolis disaster, efforts to create a viable shark repellent increased dramatically. A version of shark repellant called Shark Chaser was incorporated as standard issue for military servicemen. Shark Chaser continued to be issued until the 1970s, when it was withdrawn from use due to lack of effectiveness.
In recognition of Shark Week and the history of military encounters with sharks, NMHM presents items of anatomical, forensic, archival, and historical significance that pertain to shark physiology, shark bite treatment, and shark associated casualties. |