Three masts removed from Thames wreck carrying unexploded wartime munitions

Engineers have removed all three masts from the SS Richard Montgomery, a US cargo ship that sank in the Thames estuary in 1944 carrying a large load of unexploded munitions. Ministers say taking away the masts reduces the strain on the wreck and the risk of them collapsing onto its cargo, supporting the long-term management of a site that has been guarded for decades.

The ship’s exact cargo is unknown, but a defence agency estimate included almost 300 blockbuster bombs and more than 2,000 cluster bombs. Maritime minister Keir Mather said the complex removal was completed ahead of schedule and below the forecast cost of £9.5m; the masts have gone to Historic Dockyard Chatham. A shipping exclusion zone and continuous monitoring remain in place, alongside a no-fly zone introduced in 2025.