The Uss Richard Montgomery

[Bazile]

Watching a program on the telly last night

I did not know, that i did not know, that the above ship , with it's deadly cargo was lying just off the coast of Sheppey .

Did you ?


http://www.kentnews.co.uk/news/ss_richard_montgomery_fresh_3d_pictures_show_remarkable_image_of_stricken_munitions_ship_off_sheppey_coast_1_4367788

[Bazile]

That should be 'SS'

[dunnitall]

Yes known for years and have even sailed within the permitted distance of it. Wish I'd known about the programme though.

[Old_Geezer]

No. But there again I assume there is a lot of sunken ships out off the coast somewhere; probably best known to divers.

Would the munitions still be viable ? Maybe they need some kind of water break around it and set it off under controlled conditions. Seems irresponsible just to leave it there.

[Old_Geezer]

Can one get 17' floating water breaks ?

[Baldric]

We live a few miles from it on Herne Bay Seafront, fortunately not in direct line of sight, Whitstable gets in the way

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7082/7257103520_8305ddc615_z.jpg

[Baldric]

OG, I would suggest it could be difficult to control this lot
///It has been suggested that were the fragile cargo to be detonated it could generate a 1,000ft wide column of water and debris 10,000ft in the air, and generate a 16ft wave which would flood nearby areas///
///The cargo makes for scary reading. It includes 1407 TNT bombs weighing 500lbs each; another 800 TNT bombs weighing 1,000lbs and 1,500 weighing 250lbs. In all, it adds up to a ground shaking 1,400 tonnes///

[atalanta]

Known about this for years. Was mentioned in the "new Scientist" many years ago. (If you have a subscription you could look it up) Could cause a minor tidal wave even capable of affecting the London tube system. It might seriously mess up any estuary Airport, mightn't it. When Boris was asked about it, he dismissed it airily, saying "we can deal with the Richard Montgomery", but he omitted to say how. If it was that easy, it would have been sorted out by now.

[Old_Geezer]

Investment needed ?

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/green-tech/a17203/mutant-plant-digests-tnt/

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/1999-10/940452802.Mi.r.html

[retrocop]

No worries folks. The RN Mines and Underwater demolition teams check on the condition of the ordnance annually. Seems they are happy to let salt water erode the casings and the tides to eventually disperse the explosive fillings. I doubt the bombs are fused until last minute of need. A controlled explosion would act as a fuse and ptentially explode the lot.

[MargoTester]

Sorry to interrupt Bazile. Retro I understand you are back in hospital again. I do hope they manage to sorry things out for you finally. All the very best, old friend xx

[MargoTester]

^ sort

[dannyk13]

Ditto from me Retro

[retrocop]

Thats right Margo.
Query cardiac failure and/or Acute Kidney Injury. Same old grief just juggling and fumbling with different meds to achieve the correct balance. I hate hospitals now and are becoming institutionalised. Think my front door has been repainted twice since I have been inside :-) xxx

[MargoTester]

At least you are managing to retain your sense of humour:-)

[Old_Geezer]

Anything to get out of painting the door !

[HongKongphooey]

People like me who were born and brought up around the Medway towns have known about it for years. Its far too dangerous to move. I used to work on a tourist paddle steamer called the Kingswear Castle, and we used to pass it everyday on our trips up the river from Chatham dockyard.