In WWII during Typhoon Cobra (AKA "Halsey's Typhoon"), at around Latitude 15 deg in the Phillipine Sea, three US Navy destroyers were sunk and 790 sailors died. Remarkably a few survived, 62 from the USS Hull, 6 from the USS Monahan, and 23 from the USS Spence.

While a few of these survivors were on small rafts or other debris, the majority of them were floating in kapok life jackets. Many were in the water for more than 48 hours. The last survivor recovered alive was from the Spence, which capsized and sank around 1100 on December 18. He was spotted floating in his life jacket on the the afternoon of December 21.

The book "Halsey's Typhoon" (2007) by Drury and Clavin is a good read.