The word insurance fraud springs to mind regarding the MV Hercules. She just happened to be a VLCC at a time when they unprofitable. I've spoken to an RN Bomb disposal officer about this and he said that the story about being too difficult to move was complete bo**ox. You emtpy the ship dump the fuse and if it works the ship is safe. If it isn't then it goes down anyway. Many RN ships, particularly Argonaut had several difficult bombs to dispose of. Were they scuttled - no. QED