AI Image

UK Finally Removes Masts From Sunken WWII Bomb Ship-and Leaves the Explosives

Gizmodo • November 3, 2026 • world

Key Points:

The U.K. government has begun removing parts of the SS Richard Montgomery, a World War II cargo ship that sank in the Thames Estuary in 1944 with around 1,400 metric tons of explosives still onboard.
Engineers successfully retrieved the ship’s three masts after experts warned in 2020 that their weight was causing structural strain, raising concerns about a potential detonation.
Despite the removal of the masts, approximately 13,700 explosive devices remain underwater, posing an ongoing risk as the ship continues to deteriorate.
The SS Richard Montgomery has been a known hazard for decades, with authorities aware since 1967 that the bombs are watertight but the fuses are vulnerable to seawater, which could trigger a massive explosion impacting nearby Sheerness.
No comprehensive plan has been implemented to fully secure or remove the explosives, and current efforts focus on monitoring the site, with restrictions on flying nearby still enforced.

Trending Business