The Royal Navy bomb disposal experts have destroyed a 1,500lb (680kg) German WWII mine yesterday which was discovered on the seabed in The Solent.
The World War Two GD ground mine was found by a crane barge 1.5km off Southsea on Thursday while removing debris from a site being dredged next month in preparation for the arrival of the Navy’s new aircraft carriers.
The bomb disposal team towed the air-dropped device overnight to open waters about 1.5km off Bembridge, Isle of Wight, where they carried out a controlled explosion at 1045 am yesterday morning, according to the Royal Navy.
“These mines were laid in their thousands during WWII but are rarely encountered these days – it’s only the second one we have dealt with in three years“, said Petty Officer (Diver) Richard Ellis, Bomb Disposal team leader.
Footage has been released by the Royal Navy and show the explosion which created a plume that went about 300 metres high (1,000 ft).
Kriegsmarine Mine Royal Navy Southsea The Solent
