Typhoon "Louise" The 9 October 1945 Storm at Okinawa.
On 4 October a typhoon developed just north of Rota as a result of a
barometric depression and the convergent flow of equatorial air and tropical
air. Guam Weather Central called the storm of apparently weak intensity
"Louise" and put out the first weather advisory on it at 041200Z, with
further advisories following at intervals of six hours. Up to that time of the
16th advisory (080600Z), the storm was following a fairly predictable path to
the NW, and was expected to pass between Formosa and Okinawa and on into the
East China Sea. At this time, however, the storm began to veer sharply to the
right and head north for Okinawa. The 17th advisory at 081200Z (081100I) showed
this clearly, and units began to be alerted for the storm late in the evening of
the 8th. The forecast for Okinawa was for winds of 60 knots, with 90 knot gusts
in the early morning of 9 October, and passage of the center at 1030(I).
"Louise", however, failed to conform to pattern, and that evening, as
it reached 25º N (directly south of Okinawa) it slowed to six knots and greatly
increased in intensity. As a result, the storm which struck in the afternoon of
the 9th has seldom been paralleled in fury and violence; the worst storm at
Okinawa since our landings in April.
The sudden shift of the storm 12 hours before its expected maximum , from a
predicted path 150 miles west of Okinawa to an actual path that brought the
center of the storm less than 15 miles east of Okinawa's southeast coast, caught
many craft in the supposedly safe shelter of Buckner Bay without time to put to
sea far enough to clear the storm. The ninth of October found the Bay jammed
with ships ranging in size from Victory ships to LCV(P)s. All units, both afloat
and ashore, were hurriedly battening down and securing for the storm.
By 1000 the wind had risen to 40 knots, and the barometer was down to 989
millibars, visibility was less than 800 yards, the seas were rising, and the
rain was coming down in torrents, liberally mixed with salt spray. By 1200,
visibility was zero, and the wind was 60 knots from the east and northeast, with
tremendous seas breaking over the ships. Small craft were already being torn
loose from their anchors, and larger ships were, with difficulty, holding by
liberal use of their engines. At 1400 the wind had risen to 80 knots, with gusts
of far greater intensity, the rain that drove in horizontally was more salt than
fresh, and even the large ships were dragging anchor under the pounding of 30 to
35-foot seas. The bay was now in almost total darkness, and was a scene of utter
confusion as ships suddenly loomed in the darkness, collided, or barely escaped
colliding by skillful use of engines, and were as quickly separated by the heavy
seas. Not all ships were lucky; hundreds were blown ashore, and frequently
several were cast on the beach in one general mass of wreckage, while the crews
worked desperately to maintain watertight integrity and to fasten a line to
anything at hand in order to stop pounding. Many ships had to be abandoned.
Sometimes the crews were taken aboard by other ships; more often they made their
way ashore, where they spent a miserable night huddled in caves and fields. A
few were lost.
By 1600 the typhoon reached its peak, with steady winds of 100 knots and
frequent gusts of 120 knots. At this time the barometer dipped to 968.5
millibars. This was the lowest reading that the barometers recorded, and was
probably the point of passage of the center of the typhoon, but the maximum
winds continued unabated for another two hours, the gusts becoming more fierce,
if anything. During this period, the wind shifted to the north, and then to the
northwest, and began to blow ships back off the west and north reefs of the Bay
and across to the south, sometimes dragging anchor the entire way. These wild
voyages by damaged ships caused a nightmare series of collisions and near
escapes with other drifting ships and shattered hulks.
A typical experience was that of FLAGLER (AK). Her anchors dragged at 1200, and
despite the use of both engines she was blown ashore a mile north of Baten Ko by
1315, colliding with LST 826 on the way. Grounded, she began to pound, and all
power was lost. At 1710, as the wind changed, FLAGLER was blown off the reef and
back across the bay, grazing a capsized YF and continuing on, with a 13º port
list, no power, and the lower spaces and after engine room beginning to flood.
One anchor was lost, the other dragged across the bay. By 1800 she had moved two
miles across the bay and had grounded on the east side of Baten Ko, alongside a
DE hulk. Lines were made fast to the DE, but flooding continued, and AT 0545
ship was abandoned. A small party remained on board, however, and successfully
stopped flooding as the typhoon subsided. FLAGLER was later salvaged.
Many other ships had similar stories. SOUTHERN SEAS (PY) rammed or was rammed by
five other ships, before sinking. NESTOR (ARB) was forced to start maneuvering
as early as 1020, in order to avoid INCA (IX), which had started to drag at
0950. In dodging INCA, NESTOR slipped nearer to the beach, and was forced to put
all engines ahead one third in order to hold position on her anchor. At 1230
NESTOR again had to maneuver to narrowly avoid a collision with LST 826, which
was dragging anchor very rapidly; but in so doing, NESTOR nearly ran down ARD
27. Another LST, the 823, was being slowly driven towards NESTOR. While
maneuvering clear of 823, NESTOR's anchor chain fouled the buoy to which an LCI
was secured, and NESTOR had to slip her anchor chain. Despite the full use of
all engines, NESTOR was being driven on shore by the increasing winds. The
starboard anchor was let go but would not hold, and in clearing two more ships
dragging anchor (ARD 22 and LCI 463), NESTOR moved perilously close to the
beach. At this time the winds were constantly rising, seas were breaking clear
over the ship, and the conn was being deluged with salt water and torrents of
rain.
No sooner had the last two ships been cleared than YP 289 closed dead ahead, and
it became necessary to back all engines to avoid a collision, but this put
NESTOR so close to the beach that she soon grounded. It was now 1345, only an
hour and a quarter after first dodging LST 826. While grounded, NESTOR was
struck by YF 1079, was holed, and began to pound badly. At 1420 a sudden shift
of wind drove NESTOR off the beach, flipped her around end for end, and drove
her back on the beach alongside OCELOT (IX 110). Breakers 20 to 30 feet high now
pounded NESTOR, flooding all starboard compartments aft of frame 25. At 1530 the
wind again shifted, driving NESTOR's stern against APL 14, completely crushing
the stern, while the bow penetrated the side of OCELOT at frame 10. A few
minutes later, NESTOR settled in 24 feet of water. At 1945 all personnel and
records were evacuated to APL 14.
Conditions on shore were no better. Twenty hours of torrential rain soaked
everything, made quagmires of roads, and ruined virtually all stores. The
hurricane winds destroyed from 50% to 95% of all tent camps, and flooded the
remainder. Damage to Quonset huts ran from 40% to 99% total destruction. Some of
these Quonsets were lifted bodily and moved hundreds of feet; others were torn
apart, galvanized iron sheets ripped off, wall boarding shredded, and curved
supports torn apart. Driven from their housing, officers and men alike were
compelled to take shelter in caves, old tombs, trenches, and ditches in the open
fields, and even behind heavy road-building machinery, as the wind swept tents,
planks, and sections of galvanized iron through the air.
At the Naval Air Bases some 60 planes of all types were damaged, some of which
had been tossed about unmercifully, but most of which were reparable.
Installations suffered far more severely. The seas worked under many of the
concrete ramps and broke them up into large and small pieces of rubble. All
repair installations were either swept away or severely damaged. At Yonobaru,
all 40' by 100' buildings were demolished, the same being true at the NATS
terminal. Communication and meteorological services were blown out at most bases
by 1900.
The storm center of typhoon "Louise" passed Buckner Bay at about 1600,
from which time until 2000 it raged at peak strength. The storm was advancing at
the rapid rate of 15 knots in a northerly, then northeasterly, direction, and by
2000 the center was 60 miles away. The winds gradually began to subside.
Conditions in Buckner Bay were at this time somewhat improved by the wind's
having veered to the northwest across the land mass of Okinawa, which reduced
the size of the seas, and probably saved many more damaged ships from being
driven off the reefs and sunk in deep water. Nevertheless, the subsidence at
2000 was a relative one, from "super-typhoon" to typhoon conditions,
with steady winds of 80 and 60 knots throughout the night, and some gusts of
higher velocity. A wild, wet, and dangerous night was spent by all hands, afloat
or ashore. It was not until 1000 on the 10th that the winds fell to a steady 40
knots and rains slackened.
Having left Okinawa, the storm proceeded NNE on a curving track. Ships of
occupation groups anchored in Amami O Shima anchorage had a rough time, with
winds over 70 knots; and Japan, from Nagasaki to Tokyo, was alerted for the
storm. On the night of 10-11 October, "Louise" ran into cold air from
over Japan; as a result the center of the typhoon occluded, moved aloft to the
north, and eventually dissipated. Our forces from Nagasaki to Wakayama
experienced winds of 40 to nearly 60 knots on the 11th and 12th. Ships at sea
were enabled to maneuver clear of the worst of the storm, and sustained only
minor damage, despite heavy seas.
This ended typhoon "Louise", but the damage it left behind on Okinawa
was tremendous. Approximately 80% of all housing and buildings were destroyed or
made unusable. Very little tentage was salvageable, and little was on hand as a
result of previous storms. Food stocks were left for only 10 days. Medical
facilities were so destroyed that an immediate request had to be made for a
hospital ship to support the shore activities on the island.
Casualties were low, considering the great numbers of people concerned and the
extreme violence of the storm. This was very largely due to the active and well
directed efforts of all hands in assisting one another, particularly in
evacuation of grounded and sinking ships. By 18 October, reports had been sifted
and it was found that there were 36 dead and 47 missing, with approximately 100
receiving fairly serious injuries.
The casualty list of ships was far greater. (See Appendix III following). A
total of 12 ships were sunk, 222 grounded, and 32 damaged beyond the ability of
ships' companies to repair. ComServDiv 104 under Commodore T.J. Kelleher, was
assigned to the salvage work. By 19 November, 79 ships had been refloated, and
132 were under repair. The remaining 53 badly damaged vessels still afloat had
been, or were being, decommissioned, stripped, and abandoned. On 14 November,
ComServPac, (Vice Admiral W. W. Smith) inspected the damage, and decided that
only 10 ships were worth complete salvage, out of some 90 ships with major work
to be done on them. This decision was made chiefly because similar types of
ships were rapidly being decommissioned in the United States, and the cost of
salvage would have been excessive for unneeded ships.
Repair work went on rapidly ashore. As a result of the experience in the earlier
typhoon in September, extra stocks of food and tentage were to be stored on
Okinawa. These were enroute on 9 October, and in less than a week after the
storm, supplies were fairly well built up; emergency mess halls and sleeping
quarters had been erected for all hands, and 7500 men had been processed for
return to the United States.
Appendix III. Typhoon Damage at Okinawa. (Based Upon Progress Reports to 19
November)
Hull Number Vessel Name | Damage |
AFD 13 | Grounded - required tow to rear area for docking. Strip, abandonment. Decommissioned 11/24/45 |
AFD 14 | Damaged - considered unsalvageable. Limited local repairs, for local use. |
AFDL 32 | Damaged - salvage doubtful. Strip, abandonment. |
AK 156 ALAMOSA | Damaged - extent unknown |
AK 181 FLAGLER | Refloated 10/29. Recommended return rear area and decommissioning |
AMc 86 | Grounded. Overturned. Flooded to main deck |
AN 23 MAHOGANY | Refloated 10/23. Captain Black recommends tow to rear area. |
AN 42 CLIFFROSE | Grounded |
AN 52 SNOWBALL | Grounded. Beyond economical repair |
AOG 4 WABASH | Damaged - extent unknown |
AOG 25 CALAMUS | Refloated 10/24. Retain in service, repair |
AOG 27 ESCATAWPA | Refloated 10/10/45 |
AOG 31 KANAWHA | Grounded. Refloated 10/19/45 |
AOG 40 SACANDAGA | Grounded. Strip, abandonment. Decommissioned 11/24/45 |
APA 68 BUTTE | Damaged - extent unknown |
APC 19 | Grounded. |
APC 103 | Grounded. Decommissioned 11/23/45. |
APD 86 HOLLIS | Grounded. Not considered salvageable. |
APD 36 GREENE | Grounded. Not considered salvageable. Decommissioned 11/24. |
APL 12 | Refloated 10/25/45. Limited local repairs, for local use |
APL 13 | Grounded. Decommissioned 11/23/45. |
APL 14 | Grounded. Recommended for stripping. |
APL 33 | Refloated 11/24/45 |
ATF 117 WATERSEE | Sunk |
ATF 115 | Refloated 10/10/45 |
ARB 6 NESTOR | Grounded - recommended for decommissioning |
ARB 7 SARPEDON | Damaged - extent unknown |
ARV 3 | Damaged - extent unknown |
ARV 5 | Damaged - extent unknown |
ARG 9 MONA ISLAND | Refloated 10/15/45 |
ARS 16 EXTRICATE | Grounded - extent unknown |
ATR 9 | Damaged - extent unknown |
ATR 191 | Grounded |
ARD 21 | Grounded - salvage doubtful. Recover, tow to Guam, dock, refloated 11/20/45 |
ARD 22 | Refloated 10/12/45 |
ARD 29 | Refloated 10/12/45 |
ATA 177 | Refloated 10/12/45 |
ATA 181 | Grounded. Refloated 10/14/45 |
ATA 191 | Grounded. Beyond economical salvage. |
ATA 200 | Refloated 10/12/45 |
Barge K-4058 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
CM 12 WEEHAWKEN | Grounded. Beyond economical salvage. |
DE 444 OBBERENDER | Refloated 11/3/45 |
DMS 2 LAMBERTON | Grounded |
DMS 10 SOUTHARD | Grounded |
DMS 17 DORSEY | Grounded |
Dredge MACKENZIE | Refloated 10/24/45 |
FS 406 | Grounded |
FS 409 | Grounded |
FS 411 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
FS 552 | Grounded |
IX 91 | Sunk |
IX 110 OCELOT | Stripped, abandonment 10/29/45. Decommissioned |
IX 163 CINNABAR | Stripped, abandonment 10/29/45. Decommissioned |
IX 162 LIGNITE | Grounded |
LCI 31 | Grounded - Refloated 10/15/45. Captain Pohl recommends decommissioning and strip of all salvageable material |
LCI 57 | Grounded. |
LCI 67 | Grounded |
LCI 73 | Grounded - Refloated 10/14/45 |
LCI 127 | Grounded. |
LCI 230 | Refloated 10/23/45 |
LCI 337 | Grounded |
LCI 339 | Grounded |
LCI 397 | Grounded |
LCI 399 | Grounded |
LCI 407 | Damaged - extent unknown |
LCI 410 | Refloated 11/5/45 |
LCI 370 | Refloated 11/7/45 |
LCI 463 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
LCI 460 | Refloated 10/12/45 |
LCI 470 | Refloated 10/21/45 |
LCI 486 | Grounded |
LCI 550 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
LCI 727 | Refloated 10/21/45 |
LCI 728 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
LCI 763 | Grounded - Probably total loss |
LCI 796 | Refloated 10/23/45 |
LCI 903 | Grounded |
LCI 992 | Refloated 10/30/45 |
LCI 993 | Damaged - extent unknown |
LCI 678 | Refloated 11/3/45 |
LCI 771 | Grounded |
LCI 1399 | Damaged - extent unknown |
LC(FF) 486 | Grounded - strip, abandonment |
LCS 4 | Grounded - Refloated 10/19/45 |
LCS 69 | Grounded |
LCS 460 | Grounded |
LCS 550 | Grounded |
LCT 444 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
LCT 507 | Grounded |
LCT 586 | Grounded |
LCT 763 | Grounded |
LCT 1231 | Grounded |
LCT 1261 | Grounded |
LCT 1276 | Grounded |
LCT 1330 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
LCT 1382 | Refloated 11/5/45 |
LCT 1420 | Refloated 10/24/45 |
LSM 15 | Sunk |
LSM 9 | Grounded |
LSM 51 | Grounded |
LSM 79 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
LSM 137 | Grounded - strip, abandonment |
LSM 141 | Grounded |
LSM 143 | Grounded |
LSM 170 | Grounded |
LSM 200 | Grounded |
LSM 273 | Grounded |
LSM 307 | Grounded |
LSM 334 | Grounded - Refloated 10/11/45 |
LSM 356 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
LSM 344 | Grounded |
LSM 361 | Grounded |
LSM 365 | Grounded |
LSM 406 | Grounded |
LSM 408 | Grounded |
LSM 437 | Damaged - extent unknown |
LSM 444 | Grounded |
LSM 458 | Grounded |
LSM 465 | Grounded - refloated 10/14/45 |
LSM 468 | Refloated 10/21/45 |
LSM 1120 | Grounded |
LST 169 | Grounded |
LST 494 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
LST 501 | Grounded |
LST 534 | Sunk |
LST 561 | Grounded |
LST 568 | Refloated 10/13/45 |
LST 675 | Decommissioned |
LST 684 | Grounded |
LST 690 | Grounded |
LST 717 | Refloated 10/21 (CSD104 10/12) |
LST 823 | Grounded - Beyond economical salvage |
LST 826 | Grounded - Beyond economical salvage |
LST 830 | Grounded |
LST 876 | Grounded - Refloated 10/14/45 |
LST 890 | Grounded - Refloated 10/19/45 |
LST 896 | Grounded |
LST 1001 | Grounded - Refloated 10/1/45 |
LST 1128 | Damaged - extent unknown |
PB 37 | Grounded |
PC 584 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair |
PC 814 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair |
PC 590 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair |
PC 1018 | Damaged |
PC 1120 | Grounded |
PC 1128 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair |
PC 1178 | Refloated 10/24/45. (CSD 104 refloated 10/16/45) |
PC 1238 | Refloated 10/19/45. Capsized. Heavily damaged. Decommissioned 11/23/45 |
PC 1239 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
PC 1245 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
PC 1418 | Damaged - extent unknown. Beyond economical repair |
PC 1419 | Grounded |
PC 1461 | Grounded |
PC 1126 | Grounded - Decommissioned 11/23/45 |
PCS 1418 | Grounded - Beyond economical salvage |
PCS 1461 | Grounded |
PGM 27 | Grounded - Beyond economical salvage |
PGM 23 | Refloated 10/21/45 |
PGM 1421 | Grounded |
PD 992 | Refloated 11/7/45 |
PY SOUTHERN SEAS | Sunk |
SC 275 | Grounded |
SC 454 | Grounded |
SC 606 | Grounded |
SC 686 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair |
SC 716 | Refloated 11/5/45 |
SC 727 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair |
SC 999 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair. Decommissioned 11/23/45 |
SC 995 | Grounded |
SC 996 | Grounded |
SC 1012 | Grounded - Deleted by CincPac 132145 |
SC 1306 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair |
SC 1311 | Damaged - extent unknown Refloated |
SC 1314 | Damaged seriously but afloat |
SC 1326 | Grounded |
SC 1328 | Refloated 10/15/45 |
SC 1338 | Refloated 10/24/45 |
SC 1368 | Grounded |
SC 1418 | Grounded |
SC 1461 | Grounded |
SC 1474 | Refloated. Temporary repairs completed. Ready to proceed to U.S. |
YMS 454 | Grounded - Beyond economical salvage |
YMS 90 | Refloated 10/24/45. Return rear area, decommission |
YMS 146 | Grounded - Abandonment |
YMS 148 | Grounded |
YMS 151 | Grounded - Strip, abandonment |
YMS 193 | Refloated 11/6/45 (CSD 104 has refloated 10/45) |
YMS 86 | Damaged seriously but afloat |
YMS 99 | Refloated 11/2/45 |
YMS 193 | Refloated 11/6/45 |
YMS 275 | Grounded - Beyond economical repair. Strip, abandonment |
YMS 292 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
YMS 348 | Grounded |
YMS 381 | Damaged - extent unknown |
YMS 308 | Refloated 11/6/45 |
YMS 383 | Grounded - Sunk, strike from register |
YMS 384 | Sunk |
YMS 424 | Grounded - Beyond economical salvage |
YMS 442 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
YMS 590 | Grounded |
YSD 48 | Sunk |
YSD 64 | Grounded |
YSD 77 | Damaged seriously but afloat |
YF 552 | Grounded |
YF 606 | Grounded - Refloated 11/20/45 |
YF 626 | Grounded |
YF 627 | Grounded - Refloated 11/21/45 |
YF 718 | Refloated 10/12/45 |
YF 731 | Refloated 10/12/45 |
YF 739 | Grounded - Recommended for stripping |
YF 747 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
YF 750 | Grounded |
YF 744 | Refloated 10/24/45 |
YF 756 | Damaged seriously but afloat |
YF 757 | Sunk |
YF 739 | Damaged - extent unknown. In service present location, then strip. |
YF 442 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
YF 292 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
YF 993 | Grounded |
YF 1079 | Grounded - Recommend for stripping |
YO 111 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
YO 112 | Grounded |
YO 122 | Refloated 10/19/45 |
YOG 40 | Grounded |
YOG 75 | Sunk, strip, abandonment |
YOG 80 | Refloated 11/20/45 |
YOGL 13 | Grounded |
YOGL 16 | Grounded |
YP 42 | Grounded. Refloated 10/12/45 |
YP 235 | Grounded |
YP 236 | Grounded |
YP 239 | Grounded - Recommended for stripping |
YP 289 | Sunk |
YP 520 | Grounded - Recommended striking from register |
YP 529 | Grounded |
YP 620 | Damaged - extent unknown |
YTB 379 CANUCK | Sunk |
YTB 386 | Grounded |
YTB 411 | Sunk |
YT 80 | Grounded |
YT 289 | Grounded |
YT 618 | Refloated 11/5/45 |
YTL 422 | Refloated 10/22/45 |
YTL 423 | Refloated 10/24/45 |
YTL 550 | Refloated 10/24/45 |
YTL 551 | Grounded |
YTL 552 | Refloated 10/21/45 |
YDG 6 | Damaged seriously afloat |
YNG 28 | Damaged - extent unknown |
SS MONROE VICTORY (XAK) | Grounded. |
SS JACK SINGER | Grounded. |
SS WILLIAM RALSTON | Grounded. |
SS RICHARD J. OGLESBY | Grounded. |
SS HARRINGTON EMERSON | Refloated 10/27/45 |
SS JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON | Grounded |
SS OVID BUTLER | Refloated 10/12/45 |
SS BROCKHOLST LIVINGSTON | Damaged seriously but afloat |
SS AUGUSTINE HEARD | Damaged - extent unknown |
SS GUTZON BORGLUM | Damaged - extent unknown |
SS DAVID S. BARRY | Damaged - extent unknown |
SS FRANCIS WILSON | Damaged - extent unknown |
SS JOHN M. MILLER | Damaged - extent unknown |
SS EDGAR W. NYE | Damaged - extent unknown |
SS JOSEPH HOLT | Refloated 10/18/45 |
Source: Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas Report, Serial 0395 of 11 February 1946, World War II Command File, Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, Washington, DC.