Select a region
A team of Royal Navy divers have carried out a controlled detonation of the Second World War ordnance that was recently discovered near the entrance to the QE2 Marina.
The United States Mk 54 depth charge was safely disposed of at 12:05.
The device, which is believed to have laid undisturbed on the sea bed for over 70 years, was discovered during a routine dive in the area surrounding the Reffee Buoy.
The team of six from the Royal Navy’s Southern Diving Unit 2 based in HMNB Portsmouth, included divers and support crew to allow them to operate in a bubble and not rely on local support for "infection control" measures.
.@RoyalNavy divers have safely disposed of the ordnance near the QE2 marina. @gsyharbours @GuernseyPolice @Govgg pic.twitter.com/xKwrTGSKxS
— Guernsey Coastguard (@GsyCoastguard) November 16, 2020
Lieutenant Commander Al Magill, Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy’s Southern Diving Group, said: “There were testing environmental conditions, and although diving is never routine our specialist divers are well trained for these types of operations. This is the first of that type we have dealt with in a number of years, and although it was overgrown it was still intact.”
The Royal Navy team was supported by Guernsey Ports’ workboat Sarnia alongside the States of Guernsey and Bailiwick Law Enforcement vessel Leopardess.
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.