The following information, written on September 18, 1945, was taken from recordings in the ship's log of events starting September 13, 1945. The author is an Aerographer and a member of the crew of the USS PCE 884, but his name is unknown. Here is his account:
"The accurate recording of this high tensioned experience is only possible with the aid of date recorded at the time of the observations. For the recent nervous effects are such that the typhoon is foremost in our memory, while the period of time prior to and during the occurrence is almost a negligible era. In retrospect, we can say that the typhoon is "it," "The "killer-diller-diller," the experience of a lifetime. Very few men, comparatively speaking, have been through as intense a typhoon as we have, and I doubt if there is a handful who have been through two typhoons. So, if you should be stationed in front of a long, well polished "juice" dispensing machine and if there should be standing by your side some "Salt" with poised container and wagging tongue, say to him, "I betcha five I've had an experience you haven't had", will either get you the five or at the most an even break. Moreover, be prepared to be called a liar, for the facts and figures are astounding.
On Thursday, the 13th a storm warning was issued to all ships. There it was in the embryo stage just East of Guam, small and unassuming. It was an ordinary storm expected to intensify during its movement to the West. But there was a lack of certainty. It was moving at 12 knots with winds up to 30 and 40 knots 50 miles from the center.(a knot is a unit of speed, one nautical mile per hour, approximately 1.15 statute miles per hour.) It was very obvious that once the storm passed through the Marianas, it would be free to intensify and move over the open ocean. All storms move in the direction of the least resistance. In practical terms, this storm was moving toward the area of the lowest atmospheric pressure from its original position of higher pressure. As can be seen from the path of the storm on the accompanying chart (not available) the area of the lowest pressure was Westward and slightly to the North beyond our station position. (WE were on station "Zebra" at 22 degrees North and 133 degrees 50 Minutes East.)
One of the earlier confusions was the fact that the typhoon center was not accurately established. This was probably the result of varying plane reports as to the exact nature and location of the center. This can be seen from the irregular progression of the storm centers drawn on the chart. By the morning of the 14th the storm had intensified to such a degree (Beaufort Scale 12 or 64-71 knots of wind) that it could be classified as a typhoon. In the case of a typhoon, the average wind experienced is force 12 at 35 miles from the center, force 11 at 50 miles from the center, gradually decreasing outward. Our "Pride and Joy" had now intensified to 12-12 Beaufort, 50 miles from the center continued its movement at 10 knots in a Northwesterly direction. It was now 500 miles from us.
By the evening of the 14th, the swells and waves had increased so that the ship was rolling more than usual. The center of the typhoon was located 350 - 500 miles SSE of our position. At midnight on the 14th the barometer started its fall at the rate of 1 millibar every three hours. It was a gradual slope, nothing alarming. By noon on Saturday, the 15th, a typhoon warning was issued. The estimated center was 18 North 132.6 East, 250 miles SSW of our position. Our wind velocity was now up to 43 knots and was steadily increasing. The sea was recorded as rough and there was difficulty distinguishing between rain and spray. During the afternoon an order was received to go Westward. (Emphasis added) After considerable difficulty in swinging the ship about, we started off to rendezvous with what has proven to be one of the most awesome spectacles of nature. By 2100, the waves were 40-50 feet high, and shortly afterwards the ship took its first 45 degree roll.
At midnight Saturday 15th the visibility was reduced to less than one half mile by rain and spray. Unlimited visibility wouldn't have been worth a dime for the solid water was breaking over the flying bridge. The waves were easily 60 feet high from trough to crest. We were being beaten along from behind by mountainous waves. The wind velocity had now reached 75 knots, the barometer commenced its downward plunge as though there were a vacuum in existence We were now in the inner sanctum of the raging fury. With steadily increasing blasts from the wind and the tremendous smashes from the mountainous waves, it wasn't easy to forget the three "Cans" (Destroyers) that went down under similar circumstances. It was difficult to erase the memory of the (Cruiser) Pittsburg with its 104 feet of missing bow, the CVE (Converted aircraft carrier escort) with half a flight deck and an endless list of human and material casualties. The barometer continued its downward plunge. The wind gusts drove the anemometer recorder up to its maximum 80 knots. The indicator stopped, but the winds kept on increasing. From the sound and intensity it was estimated that100 knot gusts were reached. The winds may have been greater, but being conservative at the time had an interesting effect. Inwardly there was insurmountable tension and incomparable fortitude and we were prepared for worse that was being forced upon us.
At 0300, a momentous decision was made by the Captain. A decision which not only shortened our typhoon experience, but also saved us from a worse plight, the extent of which we will never know. For we were moving with the typhoon, closer and closer toward the more dangerous unnavigable sector. By bringing the ship around to 090 degrees true, we headed into the sea, a much more favorable situation from the navigational standpoint. At 0430 Sunday morning 16th, the barometer hit bottom- 970 millibars, or 28.64 inches. The winds were raging somewhere between 80 and 100 knots. It was difficult to determine whether or not it was raining, for solid water was coming down upon us from all sides. With the huge waves of 60 to 80 feet coming upon us, one every minute, our vision was limited to less than one half mile and sometimes not more than 30 feet. We were literally shut off from the outside world. Rolling was excessive, there are no exact figures of the rolling, but a conservative estimate establishes it at 50 degrees. At any rate our mast looked like a magnified deepsea fishing rod in action - we were the bait. Little can be added in words to enhance the perilous situation as it existed for each of us.
At this time we were closest to the center of the typhoon and in the unnavigable sector. It is estimated that we passed within 50 miles of the center. Between 0430 and 1100 the barometer maintained almost phenomenal rise as it did it's fall. It took 5 and one half hours to get back up to 990 millibars again. Normal pressure prior to the typhoon was 1010 millibars, so 990 still indicated a low pressure area of considerable importance. The wind intensity between 0430 and 0900 was as great as at any other moment. The maximum gusts were reached during this period. Again our estimation will have to be established at slightly above 100 knots, a conservative estimate. The waves were still mountainous, and were estimated at 50 to 70 feet in height. The height of the waves from crest to trough and gazing almost directly upward was proof enough that the total wave height was almost twice the height of the mast.
At 1200 noon the 16th , we knew that we had successfully survived and mastered the monstrous fury. The barometer read 992 millibars and was still rising. The wind velocity decreased to 60-75 knots and the waves had subsided to 50 feet. A weather plane report identified the storm center at 23.6 North 130.4 East, moving at 22 knots toward the coast of Japan.
From then on the facts are relatively unimportant although we were still within the typhoon area. All weather elements continued to relax toward the normal. The highlights of this unique experience are as follows:
Lowest barometric pressure 970 millibars, or 28.64 inches occurring at 0430 A.M the 16th, Sunday. This was also the time at which we were closest to the center which was estimated to be within 50 miles. Maximum wind intensity 100 knots or 120 miles per hour.
A typhoon consists of two semicircles, one navigable and one unnavigable. It is thought that we were just about holding our own in the unnavigable portion for approximately 6 hours.
The temperature of the air and sea water did not vary more than 2 to 4 degrees throughout the entire storm.
The duration of the typhoon was 12 hours. This duration is established on the basis of wind intensity - the minimum for typhoon classification being 64 knots. However, we were within the 200-300 mile typhoon radius for almost 48 hours and within the 100 mile radius for almost 24 hours.
The maximum height of the waves from the trough to the crest was approximately 110 feet. The approximate height of waves itself 60-70 feet.
The maximum roll is considered 50 degrees but no doubt it was greater.
In six hours there were 580 engine speed changes, 207 of them occurring within 30 minutes.
The material contained herein is an evaluation of all the available recorded data and visual observations of crewmembers. This is proof that we were in the midst of a typhoon. If no one will believe you, it will still make a good story."
