Thread: Remember the WW2 Explosives Ship in the Thames estuary?

No, quite some years before my time. Please enlighten us with your first hand experience, Des.

I remember that. When Boris Johnson was mayor of London, he was told by marine engineers that the wreck (SS Richard Montgomery) wasn’t dangerous enough to prevent work on airport works. He would be in a pickle if the 1,500 tons of unstable munitions it contained went up though! There is talk of removing the masts to help reduce strain on the hull of the wreck.

Originally Posted by cripesamighty

I remember that. When Boris Johnson was mayor of London, he was told by marine engineers that the wreck (SS Richard Montgomery) wasn’t dangerous enough to prevent work on airport works. He would be in a pickle if the 1,500 tons of unstable munitions it contained went up though! There is talk of removing the masts to help reduce strain on the hull of the wreck.

In undoing the rusted nuts some poor bugger will drop his spanner & as they say, "the rest is history"

Ian, if you are serious, Google. Richard Montgomery.Thames Estuary. Oh alright then, I know you've had a **** day.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2...-of-the-thames

There is a thread on her on here. They are/were offering a reward of 5 Million quid for some clown to salvage her &/or remove the explosives. I wonder if they got any takers?

Yeah roight.


Hang about Des, how can a her ship have a butch moniker ?. Cest La vie

Oh, that one. When we discussed it previously, I was under the impression that it was in The Channel. Your latest comments referred to a vessel in the Thames, hence my confusion.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Oh, that one. When we discussed it previously, I was under the impression that it was in The Channel. Your latest comments referred to a vessel in the Thames, hence my confusion.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2...-of-the-thames

I'm not aware of any Ammo Wrecks in the Channel but plenty of mundane ones, even a Car Carrier stacked with cars (Volvo, BMW etc) that they cut up with Diamond impregnated cables & ran those from two adjacent Barges like a bandsaw. Cut through Brand new vehicles where ever the cable started on the hull. Some would say "They were only Volvos so what?".

The huge sections were taken away on barges & scrapped. Roughly about 18 years ago from memory.


https://www.marineinsight.com/mariti...ship-accident/

"splitting MV Tricolor wreck into 9 sections of 3000 Tonnes each"

You'd need a big lorry to deliver them to Sims.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

"splitting MV Tricolor wreck into 9 sections of 3000 Tonnes each"

You'd need a big lorry to deliver them to Sims.

Maybe a "Jobs for the boys". Know anyone, nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more.

In theory you might have a worry in Australia according to this report..
Beirut explosion raises fresh concern about Newcastle's much larger ammonium nitrate stockpile

Beirut explosion raises fresh concern about Newcastle'''s much larger ammonium nitrate stockpile - ABC News