[Peter Clare]

SS RICHARD MONTGOMERY (August 20, 1944)

To date, no casualties have been reported from the sinking of the American liberty ship, Richard Montgomery (4,380 tons). But what of the future? In August, 1944, the vessel set sail from Hog Island, Philadelphia, in convoy HX-301 bound for the UK and ultimately Cherbourg in Normandy. Her cargo consisted of 6,127 tons of munitions. Arriving in the Thames estuary her captain was directed to anchor in the Great Nore anchorage off Sheerness. On August 20 the ship dragged her anchor when the wind turned northerly and ended up across the ridge of a sandbar. Cargo salvage operations were started immediately. This ended when the hull split open and flooding occurred causing the vessel to break in two and subsequently sink with 3,173 tons of explosives still within the holds. The British Admiralty decided to leave the wreck and its dangerous cargo undisturbed. But if this exploded it would generate a wave sixteen feet high and throw a column of debris and water 10,000 feet in the air. The likelihood of a major explosion is considered remote as with the passage of time the fuses on the explosive devices will become less stable. The condition of the wreck is monitored regularly and is under 24-hour radar surveillance. The next major survey will be in 2007. No sea traffic is allowed over or near the wreck, the masts of which are clearly seen at all times. A Government decision on the future of the wreck has still to be made.