SS Richard Montgomery to be dismantled
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SS Richard Montgomery to be dismantled
Sunken warship in River Thames with explosives on board could cause ‘mass damage and loss of life’
SS Richard Montgomery to be dismantled by Royal Navy after warnings that further deterioration could cause devices to detonate
The Royal Navy has been called in to dismantle a sunken warship in the River Thames, as the latest assessment says 1,400 tonnes of unstable explosives on board could cause “mass damage and loss of life”.
Bomb disposal experts trained in underwater demolitions have been tasked with making safe the SS Richard Montgomery, after the latest survey warned any further deterioration of the ship could “trigger the unexploded ordnance”.
SS Richard Montgomery to be dismantled by Royal Navy after warnings that further deterioration could cause devices to detonate
The Royal Navy has been called in to dismantle a sunken warship in the River Thames, as the latest assessment says 1,400 tonnes of unstable explosives on board could cause “mass damage and loss of life”.
Bomb disposal experts trained in underwater demolitions have been tasked with making safe the SS Richard Montgomery, after the latest survey warned any further deterioration of the ship could “trigger the unexploded ordnance”.
Brave lads and lasses...
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The Richard Montgomery is not a "sunken warship"
It is an American built Liberty ship
Avoid imitations
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Gnome de PPRuNe
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Age: 58
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I think it's something like a mile off Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey which is the nearest point on the coast. If you haven't been to Sheerness best go quickly in case Sheerness comes to you...
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Heaven forfend. If Sheerness isn't the last place God made, he was running short of parts by then.
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An example of what the authorities are worried about - Nova Scotia 1917
:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion
:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion
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They’re taking the masts off because if the fall they could detonate it, a bit of a stupid situation , they wouldn’t touch it when it was relatively stable but now 50 years plus later when it’s unstable they are attempting to do something.
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Jack
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'Security by obscurity' is the modern term for 'head in the sand'. If this was Lebanon, we might be politely smirking behind our palms, but right there, in the middle of the Thames, in plain sight of thousands of passing immigrants with a chip on their shoulder....
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And an encyclopaedic knowledge of WWII history?
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I would love you elaborate or justify that last sentence.
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As the surrounding land on both N and S banks of the thames Estuary are low lying for some distance, the resulting shockwave of a major explosion would blow out 100,000's of windows, plus as has been mentioned the refinery/storage and distribution facilities, and to add an aviation context, Southend Airport.
I suppose the SS RM has been left alone (head in sand/whatever) because it IS such a tricky and complex salvage operation, with a more than acceptable risk of death and injury to the salvage crew and the risk of destruction onshore. I've no doubt that with today's technology it can be done, but the utmost care and concentration will be needed over many months. I trust that the residents in Essex and Kent will be informed if this goes ahead.
I suppose the SS RM has been left alone (head in sand/whatever) because it IS such a tricky and complex salvage operation, with a more than acceptable risk of death and injury to the salvage crew and the risk of destruction onshore. I've no doubt that with today's technology it can be done, but the utmost care and concentration will be needed over many months. I trust that the residents in Essex and Kent will be informed if this goes ahead.
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https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-...laying-5464584
A contractor is being sought to carry out the removal of the masts from the SS Richard Montgomery.
The masts, which are visible above the water line, are thought to be placing undue stress on the rest of the vessel’s structure, and thus the plan to cut them down in height.
The Ministry of Defence is offering to pay £5million to any company prepared to remove the rusting masts.
The masts, which are visible above the water line, are thought to be placing undue stress on the rest of the vessel’s structure, and thus the plan to cut them down in height.
The Ministry of Defence is offering to pay £5million to any company prepared to remove the rusting masts.