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A shipwreck in the Thames Estuary, near the United Kingdom, with an explosive charge from the Second World War, has kept authorities on alert for 80 years.
Off the coast of the United Kingdom lies the SS Richard Montgomery, a sunken ship carrying a dangerous legacy from the Second World War: a veritable time bomb for the United Kingdom. With 1.400 tons of explosives still stored in its holds, the wreck represents a mix of fascination and apprehension, and is being closely monitored by the authorities.
The shipwreck that became a legend
The SS Richard Montgomery had a crucial mission in 1944: transport more than 6 thousand tons of ammunition and explosives to support Allied forces in Europe. Built in the early 1940s in the United States, this Liberty-class ship had a short and troubled career. Her last voyage, however, made her part of one of the most curious stories of World War II and the United Kingdom.
After anchoring in the Thames Estuary near Sheerness, UK, the ship ran aground on a sandbank due to unfavorable tidal conditions and possible structural misfortune. Days later, operations to remove the cargo began, but were halted when the SS Richard Montgomery broke in half. Despite removing half of the cargo, around 1.400 tons of explosives remained in the wreck, making it a dangerous underwater memory.
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An explosive legacy in the UK
The UK’s sinking has since become a sensitive issue. As the decades have passed, explosives stored in the forward holds of the SS Richard Montgomery remain intact, posing a remote but potentially devastating risk. British authorities monitor the site constantly, with 24-hour radar and regular inspections. Although the risk of explosion is considered low, the ship’s structure is deteriorating rapidly, raising concerns.
In 2023, reports indicated that the front section of the wreck was becoming more unstable, with parts of it collapsing. The removal of the masts visible on the surface, planned to ensure the safety of the structure, has been postponed again. Meanwhile, speculation about the damage from a possible explosion continues to surface in the UK.
Catastrophic consequences?
Experts such as Professor David Alexander of University College London have advocated removing the explosives, even though they acknowledge the enormous challenges and costs involved. A 1972 report estimated that an explosion could shatter windows at Sheerness and create a huge column of debris, mud and explosive charge. Some have even described the sinking as the potential “end of the world”, given the environmental and social implications of a possible accident.
The SS Richard Montgomery is today a vivid example of how the legacies of war can be perpetuated over time, challenging technologies and authorities. This ticking time bomb in the United Kingdom, with its 1.400 tons of explosives, continues to arouse curiosity and fear, keeping the story alive in a submerged danger that seems far from being solved.
I worked at the company that manufactured the arms for cutting the masts.
Water jet cutting.
I lived in this village “Sheerness on sea”.
The problem at the moment is that the masts are causing an imbalance and the ship seems to want to list, hence the possible cutting of the masts.
The hundreds of ships that pass there will always continue to sail, without entering the area directly, even if their masts are cut.
The news seems a little superficial and poorly written as it says that half of the 1 tons were removed and then at the end it says the same 400 tons. Where do we stand?
Is it 1 or just half 400 tons???