Typhoon Cobra

Typhoon Cobra
Eye structure captured on radar
Meteorological history
FormedDecember 14, 1944
DissipatedDecember 19, 1944
Category 5-equivalent super typhoon
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC)
Highest winds260 km/h (160 mph)
Lowest pressure924 hPa (mbar); 27.29 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities790 U.S., unknown elsewhere
Areas affectedPhilippine Sea
[1][2]

Part of the 1944 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Cobra, also known as the Typhoon of 1944 or Halsey's Typhoon (named after Admiral William Halsey Jr.), was the United States Navy designation for a powerful tropical cyclone that struck the United States Pacific Fleet in December 1944, during World War II. The storm sank three destroyers, killed 790 sailors, damaged 9 other warships, and swept dozens of aircraft overboard off their aircraft carriers.

Task Force 38 (TF 38) had been operating about 300 mi (260 nmi; 480 km) east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea, conducting air raids against Japanese airfields in the Philippines and had been trying to refuel their ships. Information given to Halsey about the typhoon was incorrect, and despite warning signs of worsening conditions, the ships remained on station until December 17 when Halsey ordered the Third Fleet into the center of the typhoon.

With currently available data,[3] it was the 23rd and last known Western Pacific tropical cyclone formed during the 1944 season.

  1. ^ US Dept of Commerce map (1944)
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Baldwin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship". www.atms.unca.edu.