Historic world war explosive on 'very dark seabed' destroyed by Portsmouth divers battling through conditions
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Divers from the Portsmouth-based Diving and Threat Exploitation Group joined forces with international allies for the operation
Confident Royal Navy divers destroyed an historic ordnance that has been lying on the seabed since both world wars.
Personnel from the Diving and Threat Exploitation Group, based at Horsea Island in Portsmouth, detonated the unexploded bombs in the Gulf of Riga. Delta Squadron deployed advanced mine-hunting equipment and operation tactics to detect, identify, and safely neutralise the explosive during an international exercise.
Lieutenant Christopher Gray, Officer in Charge of Delta Squadron, said: “The team has really enjoyed their participation in the exercise. It’s very dark on the seabed and the conditions are extremely difficult to work in, but you can see them grow more confident in their role as a mine clearance diver each time they dive on a target.”
British personnel joined nearly 400 counterparts from Canada, US, Germany, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine for Exercise Open Spirit. They worked closely with ships, diving teams, and autonomous equipment. Riga handles nearly 2,500 ships a year, so there is urgency to keep the shipping in the Baltic Sea safe.
The Gulf of Riga is relatively shallow – 54 metres at its deepest – but large at about four times the size of Hampshire. It remains littered with remnants of past conflicts, including naval mines and other hazardous munitions, posing a danger to commercial shipping and the local environment. Delta Squadron personnel used the Artimis Pro handheld sonar to help identify objects in the dark. They also had the Video-Ray Defender remotely-operated vehicle at their disposal.
The combined efforts not only provided invaluable real-world training, but also made the area safer by clearing dangerous wartime munitions. The successful completion of Exercise Open Spirit 26 marks the sixth time in as many years that Delta Squadron have attended and highlights the strength of international cooperation in maintaining secure and safe sea lanes. It also reinforces DTXG Delta Squadron’s commitment to operational excellence and its vital role in supporting NATO’s collective security objectives in historically contested waters.
He added: “The opportunity to use their skillset to help other nations coupled with the chance to travel and experience different countries and cultures is why all these divers joined the Royal Navy as a mine clearance diver and represents the fulfilment of their career aspirations.”