Select a region
The Royal Navy have had to help local bomb disposal officers deal with two unexploded mines which have been found on the sea bed near Castle Cornet, more than 70 years after they were dropped.
One was detonated in a controlled explosion yesterday, Saturday 31 March and the second is due to be dealt with today.
Guernsey Police said its Bomb Disposal team worked with the Royal Navy Bomb Disposal to remove the WW2 British Ground "Parachute" mine after it was found close to Castle Cornet. It is believed to have been one of a number that were dropped between June and August 1944 during efforts to blockade St Peter Port harbour to prevent craft sailing from Guernsey and interfering with the Allied Invasion at Normandy.
While the item was described as "partially corroded" when it was found, and it didn't contain the "entire 870 Lbs of high-explosive" it would have done originally, it was recovered and destroyed as is routine with these discoveries
The Royal Navy is expected to carry out further operations in the Russell today to explore and potentially detonate a second item also located near Castle Cornet.
Any mariners using the Harbour should listen to Channel 16 for safety warnings; "broadcasts will be given prior to any action" said Guernsey Police.
The image in the above post was given to Guernsey Police for use by diver Richard Keen.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.