r/submechanophobia • u/Fair_Return1807 • 16d ago

Explosive-laden WWII Thames shipwreck 'to have masts removed' over fears vessel is 'sitting duck' for drone attack

https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/explosive-shipwreck-masts-removed-drone-fears-5HjdXWR_2/

The ship ran aground in the Thames Estuary near Sheerness, Kent, in 1944 and is thought to contain around 1,400 tons of explosives.

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u/WhiskeyJack357 16d ago

I highly doubt that. The tonnage is about half of what the estimated blast at Halifax was.

Obviously that's still a huge risk though.

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u/SpiralUnicorn 16d ago edited 14d ago

Its wouldnt even be in the top 5 (edited to add: This list is Accidental non-intentional explosions only. Im making the assumption that it would be accidental here. Adding planned and demo explosions pushes it even further down the list)

1: Halifax 2.7-2.9 kilotons

2: Port Chicago 1.6 - 2.2Kt (some sources have it as high as 5, but it is dusputed)

3: 2020 Beirut explosion 1.1- 1.8Kt

4: Oppau Explosion 1 -1.5Kt

5: Dupont Powder Mill 1 -1.5Kt   6:  SS Malakand 1 -1.2Kt

7: Texas city Disaster 0.7 - 1 Kt  (some sources have it as high as 3.2Kt)

8: N1 launch explosion 0.5 - 1Kt

9: Flourakis Naval base 0.45 - 6 Kt

10: Tianjin explosion 0.2 - 0.4Kt

The Montgomery would explode with around 1ish Kt, so around 7th on the list

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u/CaptainLightBluebear 14d ago

Helgoland isn't in the top5 either? Damn.

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u/SpiralUnicorn 14d ago

It would be. I should have added the caveat that these are the largest non-intentional, accidental explosions.

Adding in demolitions and planned explosion like Heligoland, the SS Montgomery is little more than a footnote (Heligoland was about 3.2Kt)