Crews Strip Masts From WWII Wreck in Thames

Local residents near Sheerness no longer see the three rusting masts of the SS Richard Montgomery rising from the Thames Estuary. The U.S. shipwreck from World War II sat on a sandbar for eight decades, visible to passing vessels. That visual marker has been removed. The explosives cargo remains submerged and untouched.

The Montgomery grounded in August 1944, roughly 40 miles east of London. It was one of approximately 2,700 vessels built in the United States to support the Allied war effort. The ship broke apart during salvage attempts after running aground. An estimated 1,500 tons of munitions intended for post-D-Day operations remain in its cargo holds.

Recent surveys indicated the vessel's structure was deteriorating. The ship had begun to lean, creating a risk that the masts could collapse onto the cargo. Nolan Conway, a naval architect with Resolve Marine Group, explained the specific danger. "The fear is the masts could have fallen onto the cargo itself, causing it to detonate," Conway said. Some munitions are believed to have pressure fuses, meaning an impact could trigger an explosion.

The removal process required specialized equipment to avoid shaking the wreck. Conway's team constructed a custom lifting frame to raise each mast without swinging. They utilized a remotely operated underwater diamond-wire saw to cut the masts at the waterline. This method allowed the team to work without sending divers into the water.

U.K. maritime minister Keir Mather addressed the House of Commons this week. He stated the project was completed ahead of schedule and on budget. The total cost for removing the three masts was just under $13 million. Mather noted that the masts placed a heavy load on the structure. Their removal reduces that load, supporting the long-term safety of the site.

Experts disagree on the potential scale of a detonation. Conway described a wide range of estimated impacts, from shoreline damage to a tidal wave traveling up the Thames. Other estimates suggest a minor event that might only close a nearby shipping channel. "There's a large range of impacts, but none of them are really good," Conway said. Officials currently judge the overall chance of an explosion to be low.

The government maintains an exclusion zone around the wreck, located about 1.5 miles off the Sheerness coast. Mather confirmed the site will continue under continuous monitoring and control. The explosives stay in place because removing them carries considerable risks. The cargo is now entirely out of sight, but the monitoring continues.

The removed masts are expected to be preserved. Mather said they have been moved to the Historic Dockyard Chatham museum. They will be displayed to recognize the ship's role in supporting Allied forces during the war. The Montgomery remains where it came to rest, hidden beneath the water, with its dangerous cargo still intact.