Disarming WW2 German mine - video

**Altair** · Mar 2, 2019, 10:23 PM

An old video showing Royal Navy personnel disarming a German naval mine that washed up on Britain's east coast during World War II.

Previously:

1941 explosion of HMS Barham battleship - GIF and photo
Propane tank controlled explosion test - video
Perfect controlled demolition of twin chimneys - video
Huge mine blast - GIF

**Moby Duck** · Mar 5, 2019, 03:12 AM

Had a friend who was an RN Clearance Diver in the 1950’s and did a lot of this sort of work around the British coast. Said it wasn’t as dangerous as you might think. They had the blueprints of all mines and normally they removed a particular cover or plug and simply steamed out the charge to neutralise it. The best part of this story is that most of the call outs they had were not actually mines. They were just bits of steel half buried in the sand, and many were only man hole covers from storm water drains. If they were near small towns, no matter what it was on the beach, they cordoned off the area, evacuated nearby personnel and went about their work, often detonating a small explosive charge when they finished. They became instant Naval heroes in the eyes of the locals, free food, free beer and all of the local girls competed for their affections. Claimed it was the best job he ever had. (Still dangerous work in my eyes).

**sossol** · Mar 5, 2019, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by Moby Duck

Claimed it was the best job he ever had. (Still dangerous work in my eyes).

Even if the 99% of them are diffused or are false alarms, it still takes balls bigger than the mines. That 1% could end their existence, yet they go, every time.

Neil

**ranald** · Mar 9, 2019, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by sossol

Even if the 99% of them are diffused or are false alarms, it still takes balls bigger than the mines. That 1% could end their existence, yet they go, every time.

Neil

That's a fact. Pretty scarey. I used to live at sunrise beach SEQ and a couple of times neighbours were evacuated because of someone digging in the sand in their backyard and finding unexploded ordinances. I was told it was an unofficial training ground for the allies. old time stuff & I take my hat off to those disarmourment guys due to the risks.

Didn't get my socks blown off but a neighbour was lucky to live when he welded a vessel fuel tank.I thought boiler makers & such took precautions when welding. The anchor was found blocks away after crashing through a roof, and everyone escaped injury. Needless to say, it is still dangerous with any very explosive materials.