1.) Chief Petty Officer Andy Torres, assigned to Indianapolis, greets his family after arriving at Naval Station Mayport. .........................................................191126-N-JS726-0172
2.) Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Michael Jeffus hugs his children after arriving at Naval Station Mayport. ........................................................................................191126-N-JS726-0140
3.) Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Michael Jeffus, assigned to Indianapolis, kisses his wife after arriving at Naval Station Mayport. ........................................191126-N-JS726-0147
4.) Lieutenant (j.g.) Kevin Holdren, assigned to Indianapolis, greets his wife and child after arriving at Naval Station Mayport. ...........................................191126-N-JS726-0160

Sailors assigned to the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) visited their ship’s namesake city 27-31 May 2021, and participated in Memorial Day celebratory events leading up to the Indianapolis 500 race. Highlighting the trip, the five sailors joined Indiana National Guard and reserve units from five branches of the military in the Memorial Day tribute at the Indianapolis 500. During the trip, the Indianapolis sailors participated in the pre-race parade, joining all the Indianapolis 500 racers in greeting citizens and race fans. Following the parade, the sailors joined some of the racers for a meet and greet at local fans' homes, taking part in photo opportunities and presenting challenge coins. Between race-related events, the Sailors toured the Indiana War Memorial Museum and attended the American Legion’s Memorial Day ceremony to honor the state of Indiana’s military history and the legacy of the Portland-class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35).

1.) Sailors assigned to USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) view exhibits in the Indiana War Memorial Museum. .......................................210527-N-YD864-1090
2.) Mineman 2nd Class Shane Cohen views an exhibit in the Indiana War Memorial Museum. ............................................................210527-N-YD864-1009
3.) Operations Specialist 1st Class Zachary Coffman views an exhibit in the Indiana War Memorial Museum. ..............................210527-N-YD864-1030
4.) Chief Operations Specialist Marcos Lucero views an exhibit in the Indiana War Memorial Museum. ..........................................210527-N-YD864-1074

1.) Sailors assigned to USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) honor the Portland-class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35). ...........................210528-N-YD864-1054
2.) Culinary Specialist Seaman Chai Stony-Jackson places a flag on a local veteran’s grave at Anderson Cemetery. ...................................210528-N-YD864-2037
3.) Chief Operations Specialist Marcos Lucero places a flag by a local Veteran’s grave at Anderson Cemetery. ............................................210528-N-YD864-2014
4.) Chief Operations Specialist Marcos Lucero places a flag by a local Veteran’s grave at Anderson Cemetery .............................................210528-N-YD864-2018

1.) Operations Specialist 1st Class Zachary Coffman honors the Portland-class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35) while visiting her memorial. ...........210529-N-YD864-2002
2.) Operations Specialist 1st Class Zachary Coffman reads about USS Indianapolis (CA 35) while visiting her memorial. ..................................................................210529-N-YD864-2019
3.) Sailors assigned to LCS 17 lay a wreath at the memorial site of the Portland-class heavy cruiser Indianapolis. ..................................................................................210529-N-YD864-2043
4.) Mineman 2nd Class Shane Cohen honors the Portland-class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35) while visiting the ship's memorial. .............................210529-N-YD864-2036
5.) Lt. Carter Bowman and Chief Operations Specialist Marcos Lucero participate in the Indianapolis 500 pre-race parade ................................................................210529-N-YD864-1095
6.) Lt. Carter Bowman greets the defending Indy 500 champion, Takuma Sato, following the Indianapolis 500 pre-race parade. .......................................................210529-N-YD864-1216

Left Photo: Lcdr. Jake Lunday, engineering duty officer at OPNAV N4 and additive manufacturing analyst, organizes 3D-printed parts aboard USS Indianapolis (LCS 17). Lunday is providing 3D-printing support to ships at Naval Station Mayport.
Center Photo: Damage Controlman 3rd Class Isaak Castro checks the fitting of a 3D-printed clamp on a carbon dioxide extinguisher aboard the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17).
Right Photo: Lcdr. Jake Lunday, right, shows Engineman 1st Class Anier Carrillo a 3D-printed hand wheel aboard the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17).

A memorial service was held aboard Indianapolis to commemorate the loss of her predecessor, USS Indianapolis (CA 35). In July 1945, Indianapolis completed a top-secret high-speed trip to deliver uranium and other components for "Little Boy", the first nuclear weapon used in combat, to the Tinian Naval Base, and subsequently departed for the Philippines on training duty. Since her mission was "secret", no one was informed of her departure or expected arrival at Leyte. At 0015 on 30 July, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, and sank in 12 minutes. Of 1,195 crewmen aboard, about 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. The Navy learned of the sinking four days later, when survivors were spotted by the crew of a PV-1 Ventura on routine patrol. A U.S. Navy PBY flying boat crew landed to save those in the water. Only 316 survived. No U.S. warship sunk at sea has lost more sailors.

1.) Sailors stand at attention during a ceremony held in remembrance of the attack on the Portland-class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35). .......................................................................220729-N-YD864-1014
2.) Sailors bow their heads in prayer during a ceremony held in remembrance of the attack on the Portland-class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35). .......................................................220729-N-YD864-1022
3.) Lt.(jg) Joseph Lupinski and OSC Marcos Lucero prepare to lay the wreath during a ceremony held in remembrance of the attack on the cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35). ...............220729-N-YD864-1038
4.) Chief Boatswain's Mate Jeremia Johnson strikes the bell of USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) during a ceremony held in remembrance of the attack on USS Indianapolis (CA 35). ...........220729-N-YD864-1052
5.) The crew of Indianapolis (LCS 17) renders a salute during a ceremony held in remembrance of the attack on the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35) ................................................220729-N-YD864-1020
6.) The rifle detail renders a 21-gun salute aboard Indianapolis during a ceremony held in remembrance of the attack on the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35). ................................220729-N-YD864-1032

The littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) Blue Crew returned to Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Dec 20, following a historic six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet areas of operations for a Freedom-variant LCS crew. Indianapolis Blue Crew, along with the “Dragon Whales” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, Detachment 6, deployed on July 5, 2023, becoming the first LCS to execute an Exchange of Command and full Crew Swap in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf. The deployment provided an opportunity for Indianapolis Blue Crew to gain experience as the longest deployed freedom-variant littoral combat ship to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility through multiple exercises, maritime security operations, theater security cooperation engagements, and freedom of navigation patrols – keeping critical maritime commerce routes open, deterring conflict and coercion, and strengthening partnerships with other countries. Indianapolis Blue Crew navigated over 15,000 nautical miles, conducted 12 sea and anchor details, 10 underway replenishments, and port visits to Jebal Ali, UAE and Hamad, Qatar. Under their watch, Indianapolis participated in Operational Exercise Digital Talent as a staging base and command center for a host of unmanned systems during live weapons firing exercises in the international waters of the central Arabian Gulf, in Operational Exercise Infinite Defender, and escorted M/V Royal Blue through the Strait of Hormuz.

1.) Family and friends of the crew of Indianapolis Blue Crew wave in anticipation as they wait to be reunited with their loved ones. ..................................................................................................................231220-N-DB801-1039
2.) Chief Machinist’s Mate Jollie Williams, left, and Chief Gunner’s Mate Daniel Thomas hug their loved ones following the crew’s return. ....................................................................................................231220-N-DB801-1083
3.) Electronics Technician 3rd Class Harrison Stith kisses his fiancé Reagan Watkins following the crew’s return to Naval Station Mayport. .....................................................................................................231220-N-DB801-1108
4.) Cmdr. Matthew Arndt, commanding officer of Indianapolis Blue Crew, hugs his two daughters following the crew’s return to Mayport. .....................................................................................................231220-N-DB801-1092
5.) Lt. Ayifa Brooks, assigned to LCSRON 2, photographs Cmdr. William Green, the XO of Indianapolis Blue, as his family reunites for the crew’s return to Mayport ................................................231220-N-DB801-1126

The littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) returned to Naval Station Mayport, Fla. following a deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet, 6th Fleet, and 2nd Fleet areas of operations. Indianapolis deployed in March 2024 as a dual-crewed command, conducting two exchanges of command between LCS Crew 112 and LCS Crew 118. This final deployment marked LCS Crew 118’s second 5th Fleet deployment in 2024 and the consolidation of the crews into a single command. LCS Crew 118 deployed on 05 May 2024 to the U.S. 5th Fleet operating area to support the U.S. Navy’s mission to promote freedom of navigation and the rules-based international order. Shortly after arriving at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, LCS crews 118 and 112 merged and integrated a detachment from the “High Rollers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 into the crew. Indianapolis and HSC 28 supported operations as part of Task Force 52. The ship also worked with Task Force 59, the Navy’s first unmanned and artificial intelligence development force, to validate crewless technology and mesh networks. Indianapolis also supported other interoperability initiatives and aviation training events with regional partners. Indianapolis validated the littoral combat ship concept both operationally and through administrative successes. During the final months of an 18-month deployment, Indianapolis completed a Mobility Aviation Reset, two Initial Ship Aviation Team Training events to support HSC 28.7 and HSC 28.9, certified in Explosive Safety and Cyber Security, and demonstrated navigational excellence during a mobility navigation assessment. The ship’s deployed maintenance and repair experiences were supported by Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) and included maintenance availabilities in locations throughout the Middle East region, and Rijeka, Croatia.

1.) Information Systems Technician 1st Class Alec Davis hugs his family following his return with the crew to Naval Station Mayport. .....................................................240516-N-DB801-2032
2.) Lt. Zach Budde hugs his family following his return with the crew to Naval Station Mayport. .................................................................................................................................240516-N-DB801-2039
3.) Gas Turbine Systems Technician 1st Class Luis Ubiera hugs his wife Leyma Jimenez, following his return to Naval Station Mayport. ..................................................240516-N-DB801-2051
4.) Machinist Mate 1st Class Sheldon Tan takes a selfie photo with his girlfriend Taylor Hunton, following his return with the crew to Naval Station Mayport. ........240516-N-DB801-2072
5.) Gunners Mate 1st Class Shannon McClamy hugs her friend Cynthia Alexander, following her return with the crew to Naval Station Mayport. .................................240516-N-DB801-2088
6.) Cmdr. Matt Appleton, commanding officer of Indianapolis Gold, hugs his wife Elaine, following his return with his crew to Mayport. ...............................................240516-N-DB801-2101
7.) Cmdr. Matt Appleton, CO of Indianapolis (LCS 17) Gold, poses in a photo with his children following his return to Naval Station Mayport. ...................................240516-N-DB801-2112