1944 — Dec 18, USN Task Force 38, typhoon, Hull, Spence, Monaghan capsize off Philippines–790

— ~790 US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy…Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”
— ~790 US Dept. Navy, Naval Historical Center. “U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm…”
— 790 NH&HC. “Personnel Casualties Suffered by Third Fleet, 17-18 Dec 1944…” 4-14-2007.
— 2 Alywin (dead or missing)
— 1 Baltimore (dead or missing)
— 1 Benham (dead or missing)
— 1 Cache (dead or missing)
— 1 Cowpens (dead or missing)
— 3 Donaldson (dead or missing)
— 1 Hilbert (dead or missing)
–202 Hull (dead or missing)
— 1 Independence (dead or missing)
–256 Monaghan (dead or missing, approximately)
— 3 Monterey (known dead)
–317 Spence (dead or missing)
— 1 Twining (dead or missing)
— 790 Wikipedia. “Typhoon Cobra.” 6-23-2020 edit.
— 779 Baldwin. Sea Fights and Shipwrecks. Hanover House, 1955. Cited by Wikipedia.
–202 Hull (202 drowned and 62 survived).
–256 Monaghan (256 drowned and six survived).
–317 Spence (317 drowned and 23 survived).
— 1 Cowpens (ship’s air officer Robert Price).
— 3 Monterey (from hangar deck fire).
— >769 Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 411.
–202 Hull
–250 Monaghan
–317 Spence
— >730 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 702.
–139 Hull
–250 Monaghan
–341 Spence

Narrative Information

Cornell: “The U.S. Navy’s Third Fleet under the command of Admiral William F. (“Bull”) Halsey steamed east after its decisive victory in the Battle of Leyte Gulf for a refueling rendezvous some 500 miles off Luzon [north Philippines]. Despite spotty reports of bad weather ahead, the fleet sailed straight into a typhoon. Seas were so heavy on December 17 that all fueling operations were canceled. Already low on fuel and empty of ballast in preparation for the refueling operation, the ships were ill-equipped for the storm, pitching and rolling badly in the boiling waves. By the forenoon watch, December 18, the typhoon winds had risen to 124 knots [142 mph]. Ships of all sizes became derelict, drifting and tossing at the mercy of the wind and waves. The smaller ships were the worst hit, with the destroyers Spence and its 317 men, Hull with 202 men, and Monaghan with 250 men capsizing. Several other light carriers and destroyers were severely damaged. Nearly 150 airplanes were lost overboard or damaged beyond repair and scores of men were seriously injured. The storm caused higher losses than the navy would experience in any single battle of the war. Responsibility for the damage fell squarely on Halsey, but no actin was taken because of his extraordinary campaign record. The experience of the typhoon would lead to new naval designs and procedures, including a policy of only partial ballast pumping and the lightening of topside loads. (The Third Fleet would be caught in a second typhoon June 5, 1945, which also caused severe damage.)” (Cornell. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 411.)

Naval History and Heritage Command: “Task Force 38 struck by typhoon off the Philippines. Destroyers USS Hull (DD-350), USS Spence (DD-512), and USS Monaghan (DD-354) capsized and sank, at least 28 other vessels damaged. About 790 killed and 80 injured. 18 Dec. 1944.” (Naval History and Heritage Command. “U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm/Weather Related Incidents.” 4-28-2010.)

U.S. Dept. of the Navy: “On 17 December 1944, the ships of Task Force 38, seven fleet and six light carriers, eight battleships, 15 cruisers, and about 50 destroyers were operating about 300 miles east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea. The carriers had just completed three days of heavy raids against Japanese airfields, suppressing enemy aircraft during the American amphibious operations against Mindoro in the Philippines. Although the sea had been becoming rougher all day, the nearby cyclonic disturbance gave relatively little warning of its approach. On 18 December, the small but violent typhoon overtook the Task Force while many of the ships were attempting to refuel. Many of the ships were caught near the center of the storm and buffeted by extreme seas and hurricane force winds. Three destroyers, USS Hull, USS Spence, and USS Monaghan, capsized and went down with practically all hands, while a cruiser, five aircraft carriers, and three destroyers suffered serious damage. Approximately 790 officers and men were lost or killed, with another 80 injured. Fires occurred in three carriers when planes broke loose in their hangars and some 146 planes on various ships were lost or damaged beyond economical repair by fires, impact damage, or by being swept overboard. This storm inflicted more damage on the Navy than any storm since the hurricane at Apia, Samoa in 1889. In the aftermath of this deadly storm, the Pacific Fleet established new weather stations in the Caroline Islands and, as they were secured, Manila, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. In addition, new weather central offices (for coordinating data) were established at Guam and Leyte.” (U.S. Navy Dept., Naval Historical Center. “U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm…”)

Sources

Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1982.

Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours – A Narrative Encyclopedia of Worldwide Disasters from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Pocket Books, Wallaby, 1977, 792 pages.

Naval History and Heritage Command. “Personnel Casualties Suffered by Third Fleet, 17-18 December 1944, Compiled from Official Sources.” 4-14-2007. Accessed 7-20-2020 at: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/p/pacific-typhoon-18-december-1944/personnel-casualties-suffered-by-third-fleet-17-18-december-1944-compiled-from-official-sources.html

Naval History and Heritage Command. “U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm/Weather Related Incidents.” 4-28-2010. Accessed 7-20-2020 at: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/u/us-navy-ships-lost-in-selected-storm-weather-related-incidents.html

United States Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center. See “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.” Washington, DC: Washington Navy Yard. Accessed at: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/NHC/accidents.htm

Wikipedia. “Typhoon Cobra.” 6-23-2020 edit. Accessed 7-20-2020 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Cobra