16/01/2022 Regno Unito, Inghilterra, Kent, Swale, Sheppey, Sheerness
“If you ever come across anything suspicious like this item, please do not pick it up, contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance”
By Mick Hamer
Three masts sticking up above the waves near the coastal town of Sheerness in the UK mark the spot where a deadly wreck has been rusting for almost 80 years. They belong to the SS Richard Montgomery, a US second world war-era ship that ran aground in August 1944 with a cargo of bombs. The half-submerged wreck, just 2 kilometres from land, still has 1400 tonnes of TNT in its holds. Almost 20 years after I mounted an investigation for New Scientist into the dangers posed by this doomsday wreck, the UK government has now announced plans to cut back the thick steel masts this year to reduce their weight. This is to prevent them collapsing into the holds, where they would fall onto the bombs and set off an explosion. A spokesperson for the Department for Transport says the wreck “is in a relatively stable condition” and added that “expert wreck assessors are now undertaking detailed surveys” to determine how much to shave off the masts. When I began our investigation in 2004, I wanted to find out the dangers posed by this wreck. What were the chances of an explosion? And how serious would it be? The answers were far from reassuring. A large part of the cargo was removed in 1944. But work stopped after the Admiralty – the UK government department responsible at the time – refused to pay workers danger money for unloading the bombs. This was the best chance the government would ever have to make the ship safe. Sixty years later, the wreck was disintegrating and the explosives were unstable.
Photo-Source: newscientist.com
If you find anything that appears to be an explosive device, do not touch it, leave it where it is and call the police. We will contact the appropriate agencies to properly dispose of the item.
Dear editors, Biography of a bomb is aimed at highlighting the danger caused by unexploded bombs. Moreover, the most important aspect is that we work completely non profit, raising awerness about this topic is what drives us. We apologize if we make use of pictures in yours articles, but we need them to put a context in how findings are done. We will (and we always do) cite source and author of the picture. We thank you for your comprehension
