German WWII sea mine washes up at Bognor Regis

A huge WWII sea mine was discovered on a West Sussex beach yesterday. The weapon, later identified as a German aerial mine, was promptly reported to the police, who coordinated with the Royal Navy’s explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team from Portsmouth to manage the situation.

To safely dispose of the unexploded ordnance (UXO), specialists attached a special float to the mine, allowing it to be towed into deeper waters. Authorities issued warnings to ships and aircraft to avoid the area while preparations were underway. Upon detonation, the mine sent a massive plume of water skyward, a dramatic conclusion to the disposal operation.

What type of WWII sea mine Was found?

Unlike the traditional spherical sea mines often associated with naval warfare, this particular ordnance was a long, cylindrical weapon resembling an aerial bomb. This design is due to its deployment method – it was intended to be dropped from aircraft rather than deployed from warships.

The weapon appears to have been an air-dropped Luftmine B (LMB) magnetic influence mine, a German WWII-era naval mine. This formidable device weighed approximately 2,116 lbs (960 kg), with 1,554 lbs (705 kg) of high-explosive charge, one of the largest UXO threats still encountered in Britain today.

During WWII, magnetic influence mines were considered cutting-edge technology, and the German military led the field in their development. Britain only gained parity in this technology after reverse-engineering an unexploded LMB mine.

Is the mine still dangerous?

While the LMB mines relied on electric fuses powered by batteries, which would have long since expired, the explosive charge remains intact. As with all UXO, such ordnance can still be detonated by mechanical impact, fire, or improper handling.

If you ever come across a suspicious object on a beach, do not touch it. Instead, immediately contact the police or coast guard for professional assessment and disposal.

Does UXO pose a risk to marine engineering?

Our oceans contain some of the most heavily contaminated UXO areas in the world. Wartime mines, bombs, and shells remain buried beneath the seabed, posing a serious risk to marine construction, dredging, and offshore energy projects.

At Brimstone UXO, we provide comprehensive UXO risk mitigation services for marine engineering projects. From seabed surveys and risk assessments to UXO clearance operations, our expert team ensures that projects can proceed safely without the threat of UXO disruption.

Learn more about our marine UXO capabilities here.

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