Lost in Typhoon Cobra
While preparing to refuel from a fleet oiler and having pumped sea water ballast out of fuel tanks, rough seas caused fueling to be canceled. Ship commenced taking in water from main engineering spaces which shorted out electrical equipment. After taking a 72 degree roll to port all shipboard electrical power was lost and ship’s engines failed. Without any propulsion to turn into the sea, Spence found herself in the wave trough and soon capsized and sank. ... There were 300 that perished in the incident. There were 24 survivors.
