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WW2 parachute mine in Świnoujście

14.07.2019 13:44
Residents evacuated and waterway closed for the removal operation of a wartime relic that could have contained 400 kilogrammes of explosives
WW2 mine removed from Piastowski Canal
WW2 mine removed from Piastowski CanalPAP

Sappers and divers in Świnoujście have lifted a British naval mine from World War 2 discovered at a depth of about 6 metres on the edge of the Szczecin to Świnoujście waterway, virtually at the mouth of the Piastowski channel leading to the Szczecin Lagoon.

The removal, which took about 4 hours, was carried out by the 8th Coastal Defence Flotilla which is based in the harbour at Świnoujście, supported by a Polish Navy destroyer ship. Residents in the area were evacuated and ferry traffic stopped.

The unexploded mine was transported out to sea where it was detonated. The World War 2 relic was found during dredging work on the channel. It was classified as a Mark IV parachute mine, which can contain up to 400 kilogrammes of explosives.

Source: IAR/PAP