James1979
Member
- Messages
- 8,434
- Location
- Orkney
Peter Gurney? I have his book somewhere
- Thread starter daedalusminos
- Start date
daleyd
Member
- Messages
- 10,255
- Location
- Wrexham, North Wales
Was chatting with a clearance diver many years ago and asked him how he stayed calm on jobs like this, his very matter of fact answer was along the lines of “I can only do what I can, if not then very suddenly it’s not my problem any more”. Can’t remember the exact phrase but something like that.
I’m not sure brave really covers it….
I’m not sure brave really covers it….
Shox Dr
Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango
- Messages
- 18,011
- Location
- East Yorkshire
Down the gulf we got called to action stations at 2 in the morning because we almost hit a “mine”.
Turned out to be a dead bloated sheep - the legs sticking out made it look like a classic sea mine with prongs
Having stood close to an exploding Cow. I can attest. I'd risk (the BOOM) it for a swisskit
Seadog
Save the planet. It's the only one with rum!
- Messages
- 12,382
- Location
- NE London - UK
Upload to YouTube then post the link.Few of my friends who are there have WhatsApped better videos. I can’t upload them here
James1979
Member
- Messages
- 8,434
- Location
- Orkney
A classic sea mine with Pongs!Down the gulf we got called to action stations at 2 in the morning because we almost hit a “mine”.
Turned out to be a dead bloated sheep - the legs sticking out made it look like a classic sea mine with prongs
On a more serious note here is a link to the MAIB report on the near loss of the fishing boat Galwad-y-mor back in 2020. She was hauling a string of crab pots east of the wash & the pot line caught up on what turned out to be a bomb on the sea bed. It exploded & caused severe damage & injuries to the boat & her crew. It is sobering reading, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61e6a244d3bf7f054a1da1a3/Galwad-Y-Mor-Report.pdf ,
James1979
Member
- Messages
- 8,434
- Location
- Orkney
Skipper finally died last week of his injuries.
Tragedy as hero skipper dies two years after WW2 bomb blew up under ship
The hero skipper who saved the lives of his crew when a Luftwaffe bomb exploded underneath his boat off Cromer has died.
www.northnorfolknews.co.uk
CompoSimmonite
Member
- Messages
- 5,827
- Location
- Werrington, Staffordshire Moorlands.
Can you imagine what it must have been like during WWII with such explosions all around during the Blitz
Craig-SM
Member
- Messages
- 1,871
- Location
- Heckmondwike
I'm not sure that’s correct. The standard procedure is to disarm or immunise the fuse, normally done by drilling into the fuse pumping salt water in until the mechanism is jammed with salt crystals. Then the fuse can be removed and the explosives in the shell, relatively safe without a fuse, can be transported to field to be detonated. If the fuse is too unstable then a controlled explosion on site would be required.
The water jet is called a distruptor or Pig Stick. A thick pipe with an explosive charge at one end, filled with water and a bung at the other end. Point the bung end at the target, the timing power unit, detonate the charge and a jet of water is fired so fast it smashes the target to pieces before the fuse can be ignited.
Craig-SM
Member
- Messages
- 1,871
- Location
- Heckmondwike
Could have been will they were pumping salt water into the fuse but it’s not to remove the explosive or done by water jet
daedalusminos
Member
- Messages
- 2,264
- Location
- Norwich
Their first plan was to perform a controlled explosion on site. But has pipes located under the bomb meant they had to resort to plan B,...
Cut out the fuse, perform a controlled explosion on that and then take the main charge out to sea to detonate. The water used did destabilise the sand bag wall so on to plan C....
Burn out the main charge.
Cut out the fuse, perform a controlled explosion on that and then take the main charge out to sea to detonate. The water used did destabilise the sand bag wall so on to plan C....
Burn out the main charge.
daleyd
Member
- Messages
- 10,255
- Location
- Wrexham, North Wales
I’m responsible for at least 2 4.5” shells somewhere off the coast 
Both were damaged during practice firings, one had pierced the propellant casing when a micro switch failed and it hit a part it shouldn’t. Procedure at the time (I’m guessing it still is?) if it was damaged beyond a certain point that it be lowered over the side into the water rather than risk carrying it back. Iirc they were both practice rounds so no HE just the cordite and primer.
Both were damaged during practice firings, one had pierced the propellant casing when a micro switch failed and it hit a part it shouldn’t. Procedure at the time (I’m guessing it still is?) if it was damaged beyond a certain point that it be lowered over the side into the water rather than risk carrying it back. Iirc they were both practice rounds so no HE just the cordite and primer.
Richard Stowe
Member
- Messages
- 277
- Location
- Potter Heigham
so your the one been firing at us then
daleyd
Member
- Messages
- 10,255
- Location
- Wrexham, North Wales
We mostly tried to chip away at the top north west corner of Scotland a little bit at a time!!so your the one been firing at us then
Shox Dr
Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango
- Messages
- 18,011
- Location
- East Yorkshire
We mostly tried to chip away at the top north west corner of Scotland a little bit at a time!!
I cant imagine what it would have felt like in Kyle of Lochalsh when a Mine laying ship broke its moring full of mines. It nearly blow most of the West coast to bits.
There's a sea Mine in the town, detailing the ordeal. I cant find anything on it, its worth a read.
colnerov
Member
- Messages
- 4,849
- Location
- Nr Gatwick UK
That's why there's an exclusion zone around the SS Richard Montgomery in the Thames estuary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Richard_Montgomery
Colin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Richard_Montgomery
Colin
