The Mariana's Turkey Shoot

The first American ship into upper harbor during the war was CA 35 Indianapolis. She drew more water than a destroyer, but she could get in close enough to provide some really heavy, accurate eight-inch rifle fire. Nobody knows how many airplanes were shot down by Indiana, plus or any other ship that was out there. But it is definitely, without a doubt, absolutely positive that naval gunfire support saved a lot of American lives.