An intact German magnetic mine is rendered safe
Lieutenant Commander John Ouvry and the HMS Vernon mine team render safe a German Type GA magnetic ground mine exposed on the mud at Shoeburyness. British forces have already suffered serious losses and disruption from mines that detonate in response to a ship's magnetic field and cannot be cleared by the standard wire sweeps designed for moored contact mines. Recovering the mine intact reveals the mechanism and firing characteristics. That information allows British scientists and mine-warfare specialists to develop practical magnetic sweeping methods and accelerate ship-protection measures including degaussing. The…
Continue in The Opening Convoy War →
