Bomb disposal experts explode WW2 artillery shell

Tuesday 11 September 2018

A highly explosive Second World War artillery shell, left over from the Nazi Occupation, has been safely detonated in Grouville Bay.

A member of the public found the 75mm shell and informed the Police, allowing the device to be exploded on Saturday afternoon.

The shell would have been fired in live training by German soldiers during the Occupation of the island and had its ‘impact nose fuse’ intact, containing 850 grams of a highly explosive material called bursting charge. 

Although the shell failed to explode on impact during the War, it could have blown up at any time, especially when moved or tampered with. 

Pictured: The 75mm artillery shell containing 850g of explosive material which was exploded by the Bomb Disposal Unit over the weekend.

A spokesperson for Bomb Disposal said that shells such as this one, “...are unpredictable and highly unforgiving in such circumstances having deteriorated over the years.”

They urged any member of the public who comes across similar shells in the island not to move or tamper with them, but to take note of its location, keep their distance and contact the authorities. 

Pictured: The controlled explosion in Grouville Bay over the weekend.

In the event of finding unexploded munitions, the spokesperson advised: “Please do not move or tamper with them, obtain an image or two or a simple description if possible, note its location… warn persons in the immediate area, move away and inform the States of Jersey Police or Duty Centenier in order for Bomb Disposal to be tasked to the area.”