Torpedo Found on Hayling beach!

- Wed 11th Aug 2004

A holiday maker and her children spotted an object in the water at about 1010 and called the Coastguard on 999. A Coastguard unit was on scene by 1025 and decided that the object was definately a piece of ordnance and the area should be cleared. The Royal Navy EOD (bomb squad) were requested along with Police support. A cordon was erected 500yds east and west of the device and the car park at Eaststoke Corner also evacuated.

After examination by the Royal Navy EOD Team it was decided that the device was the head from a practice torpedo and did not constitute a threat. Various parts of the device were on the beach and from these it was confirmed that it was indeed a practice head dating from 1919.

It was British torpedo dating 1919 that was used for testing. It contained a depth & roll meter that recorded the path of the weapon so it cold be analysed afterwards. This was recovered intact on the beach.

The device was removed from the beach and transported by the council to the Coastguard station for collection by the EOD later as they were called to another incident in Chatam.

It was a good team effort between Coastguard, Police, Royal Navy, Local Council Workers and Traffic Wardens.

If anyone finds any object that they regard as suspicious on the beach they should dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

By forum user, Bruce_Bennett