USS Waterman (DE-740) - Caught in A Typhoon

Caught in A Typhoon

While operating with TG 30.8, Waterman encountered the worst weather of her career — the infamous Typhoon Cobra of 18 December 1944. For approximately 36 hours, the fierce storm battered Admiral Halsey's fleet — large and small ships alike. Winds of 120 knots (220 km/h; 140 mph) threw almost solid clouds of spume and spray and whipped up waves of about 80 feet in height, making life aboard Waterman decidedly "uncomfortable." Upon occasion, the ship rolled as much as 65 degrees. As her commanding officer recounted: "This day was a never to be forgotten one and was indelibly impressed in the minds of the crew."

Before the typhoon had spent itself, three ships — all lightly loaded destroyers, low on fuel — had been sunk and others damaged. On 23 December, two days before Christmas, Waterman steamed back to Ulithi "somewhat battered but in much better condition than a majority of the larger ships."

One week later, the destroyer escort was at sea again, bound for Guam. From 4 January 1945 to 3 March, Waterman saw continuous service screening the fleet service group. She spent much of January supporting the occupation of Luzon from the fueling areas east of the Philippines and, in February, escorted the vital auxiliaries to a rendezvous with the fleet that soon commenced the pre-invasion bombardment of Iwo Jima.