A Royal Navy minehunter has destroyed a Second World War mine dredged up by a fishing vessel off the coast of Falmouth.
HMS Pembroke used her state-of-the-art Seafox system to seek out and destroy the mine – estimated to be around 300lbs of explosive material.
Dredged up in the nets of a fisherman earlier in the week the mine had been marked out with a buoy for the minehunter to be able to pinpoint its location and make sure the area remained safe for mariners.
Commanding Officer of HMS Pembroke Lieutenant Commander Mark Hammon said:
“I am delighted that HMS Pembroke has been able to perform one of her primary duties of keeping UK waters safe for shipping by removing a potential danger to mariners.
“Fishing is such a vital component of the UK’s industry and especially in the South where many people rely on access to those waters for their livelihoods.
“My team used all their training and world leading operational expertise in mine warfare to their fullest potential and disposed of the mine using SeaFox.”
The mine was detonated using Seafox as it was 60 metres below the surface – the limit for a diver to be able to operate.
HMS Pembroke arrived on the scene at around 0530, carrying out an environmental impact survey before the mine was destroyed later in the afternoon.
Seafox is carried by all Royal Navy minehunters and is an unmanned underwater vehicle that can locate and destroy mines remotely.
HMS Pembroke is a Sandown class minehunter based at HMS Clyde in Scotland.
[mappress] Press Release, June 13, 2014; Image: Royal Navy