WWII Mine Found in Cornwall

The Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornish Coastguard were called on Thursday 11th January to reports of a suspected 500kg – 1000kg WWII underwater mine caught in the nets of a fishing vessel moored at the quayside in East Looe, Cornwall. The device was relocated and detonated in a controlled explosion south of the Plymouth Breakwater, in Devon, by a Royal Navy (RN) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. On further inspection by a team of RN divers from HMNB Devonport, the device was found to be an inert drill mine.

Image credits: ITV News, courtesy of Looe Police

See: Underwater World War Two mine pulled up by fishing boat off Cornwall | ITV News West Country

More than 200,000 sea mines were laid by the British around the UK coast during WWI and WWII, and thousands more were laid in offensive minelaying operations by the German High Seas and U-boat fleets, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe. It is thought that less than 30% of the total number of marine mines laid during WWII have been recovered.

Zetica provides a comprehensive, high-quality desk based risk assessment, survey, mitigation and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) service – through its SiteSafe Alliance partners – for work in the marine environment.

Please see our website for more information: Marine UXO | Zetica UXO