Masts removed from WWII munitions wreck in Thames estuary to reduce explosion risk

Engineers have removed the masts of the SS Richard Montgomery, a WWII cargo ship sunk in 1944 with ~1,400 tonnes of explosives, in a bid to reduce the risk of a catastrophic detonation. The operation was completed without triggering an explosion, but the wreck remains a significant hazard. This is a first step in a long-term risk mitigation effort, with the munitions still onboard and the threat of a tidal wave and devastation to nearby Kent towns persisting.

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