250kg German Bomb Uncovered in Portsmouth Harbour

A Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team has destroyed a 250kg German Unexploded Bomb (UXB) off the coast of the Isle of Wight. The UXB was found during dredging works in Portsmouth Harbour to prepare for the arrival of the UK’s new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth. It was subsequently towed out to sea for a controlled explosion.

This is just the latest in a series of finds that have disrupted the dredging works, with a 500kg UXB and a torpedo both having been uncovered in September. Yesterday’s discovery prompted an evacuation of nearby commercial and residential premises and severe delays to cross-Channel ferry services.

The finds are hardly a surprise when considering that more than 1,250No. German bombs fell on Portsmouth during WWII, the vast majority aimed at the naval dockyard, which itself has been in military hands for several centuries.

See: http://news.sky.com/story/evacuation-as-unexploded-ww2-bomb-found-in-portsmouth-harbour-10659246