Yokosuka Naval Base hit by Typhoon (USS Vincennes breaks mooring lines, hits the USS Coronado)

Freeper Skwidd (eyewitness) | 10OCT04 | Skwidd

[Skwidd]

Hello, everybody. Typhoon 22 swept through Japan last night and wrecked the Yokosuka Navy base. I happened to have duty last night (onboard the USS Vandegrift) and was connected to the rest of the harbor through the Bridge-to-Bridge circuits, so here's what happened.

We didn't see much of the typhoon until 4 PM, but when it hit, it hit hard. The USS Vincennes was the first to part mooring lines and experience an unexpected underway period. According to the bridge-to-bridge, they shortly thereafter drifted over and hit the USS Coronado. The USS Chancellorsville and two of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense ships also parted lines and experienced an unexpected underway period, but they were able to get control of their ships before they drifted too far.

The bridge-to-bridge also gave alerts of men overboard, though there was some confusion over who they were and what ship they were from. Since yesterday was Saturday in Japan, lots of people were off work and going from place to place, so identities (or even if people were actually in the water) is unknown.

After I got off duty this morning, I went to have a gawk at the Coronado. There was no apparent damage visible from the pier, but then again I don't know exactly where the Vincennes hit them (might have been on the fantail). The most dramatic damage was a sunken pusher boat, but even that looked recoverable. I drove through the base looking for other damage, but all I saw were a few trees knocked over.

[GATOR NAVY]

When I lived out in town before I got into base housing I lived in Minamirinkan, right next to the school. It's part of Yamato City now, not a seperate town anymore.

[GATOR NAVY]

I've seen stronger storms when I was in Sasebo, but this was the strongest storm I've seen in the three years I've been in Kanto. Good thing it was moving pretty fast and the peak winds didn't last too long.