Typhoon Cobra

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Typhoon of 1944

Unknown strength typhoon (SSHS)

Eye structure captured on radar

Formed

December 17, 1944

Dissipated

December 18, 1944

Highest
winds

75+ knots (1-minute sustained)

Lowest pressure

≤907 mbar

Damage

Three destroyers lost

Fatalities

790 U.S., unknown elsewhere

Areas
affected

Philippine Sea

Part of the
1940-1944 Pacific typhoon seasons

Typhoon Cobra, also known as the Typhoon of 1944, was the United States Navy designation for a tropical cyclone which struck the United States Pacific Fleet in December 1944, during World War II.

On December 17, Task Force 38 (TF 38) was operating about 300 miles east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea. TF 38 consisted of seven fleet carriers, six light carriers, eight battleships, 15 cruisers and about 50 destroyers. The carriers had been conducting raids against Japanese airfields in the Philippines and ships were being refuelled, especially many destroyers running low on fuel. However, due to worsening weather, attempts to refuel generally failed.

1 Storm history
2 Impact
3 Other
4 See also
5 References
6 Bibliography

[edit] Storm history

On December 17, the typhoon was first observed, surprising a fleet of ships in the open western Pacific Ocean. Barometric pressures as low as 26.8 inHg (907 mbar) and wind speeds up to 120 knots in gusts were reported by some ships. The storm was last seen on the 18th.

[edit] Impact

Some ships experienced rolls up to 70 degrees and damage suffered by the fleet was severe. A number of warships had been refueling from tankers as the storm grew in intensity, and the procedure had to be aborted. Three destroyers, Spence, Hull and Monaghan had empty fuel stores, lacked the stabilising effect of the extra weight and thus they were relatively unstable. They were sunk either by capsizing or as a result of water downflooded through their smokestacks and disabling their engines, leaving them at the mercy of the wind and seas.

Many other ships of Task Force 38 suffered various degrees of damage, especially on radar and radio equipment which severely compromised communications within the fleet. Several carriers suffered fires on their hangars and 146 aircraft were wrecked or blown overboard. A total of 790 lives were lost. Nine ships — including one cruiser, three light carriers and two escort carriers — suffered severe damage and had to be sent for repairs. In the words of Admiral Chester Nimitz, the typhoon's impact "represented a more crippling blow to the 3rd Fleet than it might be expected to suffer in anything less than a major action". After the storm passed, the fleet was scattered. Over the next three days, ships and aircraft conducted search and rescue missions. Ninety-two survivors from the lost destroyers were picked up.

[edit] Other

This storm is sometimes confused with Typhoon Louise, which hit the U.S. fleet off Okinawa in 1945.

Lieutenant Gerald Ford served on the light aircraft carrier Monterey (CVL-26), which was damaged during the storm. Ford later recalled nearly going overboard as the ship rolled 25 degrees.[1]