UK navy ship's anchor pierces old torpedo

Crew on board a UK naval ship carrying 1000 tonnes of fuel had a lucky escape after an anchor thrown overboard pierced an old test torpedo.

The rusted torpedo was spotted attached to the Royal Navy vessel’s anchor as it was hauled up from the ocean’s depths off the coast of Portsmouth.

Royal Navy divers were immediately dispatched to the scene and the majority of the crew were evacuated, a statement by the Royal Navy said.

However, six of the crew, including the ship’s master, stayed on board to help fight a fire if it broke out.

“The tanker was carrying approximately 1000 tonnes of fuel or oil,” said Officer in Charge of the Portsmouth-based Southern Diving Unit Lieutenant Commander Jonathan Campbell.

“The fuel cargo was pumped into the aftermost possible tanks to reduce the effects of any explosion, and fire hoses were charged and ready to deploy if needed."

The anchor and torpedo were lowered to several metres below the waterline.

"Working parts inside the torpedo could be seen from where the anchor fluke had ruptured it. The entire bomb disposal team were professional and got on with the job in hand,” Lieutenant Commander Campbell said.

Once the torpedo was released the team then took it to a safe area, lowered it to the seabed and destroyed it.

The entire operation took seven hours.

The British made torpedo is believed to have come from a former Portland test range that was shut down in the 1980s.