Captain Sherman ordered Wasp abandoned at 1520 after consulting the admiral. Wounded men were lowered into rafts or rubber boats, while unwounded crew had to leave from aft. The intense forward fires prevented escape there and made the forward life rafts and lifesaving equipment unavailable. The evacuation remained orderly and took roughly 40 minutes. At about 1600, Sherman searched the ship for anyone left aboard before abandoning it himself. A captain's final search carried the responsibility of finding people who would otherwise be left to die.
Notable Point · 2:40:50-2:42:33
Wasp's orderly evacuation through the stern
Forward fires restricted Wasp's evacuation routes and lifesaving equipment, yet the crew left in order while Sherman made a final search.