Built in 1943 in Jacksonville, Florida, the Richard Montgomerywas loaded in August 1944 with around 7,000 tons of munitions and sailed over to the UK to join a convoy for France. On arrival in the Thames Estuary, the ship anchored off Sheerness in the Great Nore to await the formation of the convoy across the Channel. However, in a storm on the night of 20th August, she dragged her anchor and grounded on a sandbank around 250m north of the Medway Approach Channel. Richard Montgomery grounded amidships on the crest of the sandbank and this put an immense strain on her hull. Intensive efforts began to lighten her by unloading some of the cargo but, by the next day, the hull cracked and the ship began to flood. Salvage efforts continued until, when about half the cargo had been offloaded, the ship's back broke and she sank on 25th September. And, still loaded with around 1,400 tons of explosives and with her hull split into two sections, that is where Richard Montgomery remains to this day with her masts clearly visible at all states of the tide. Since the wreck lies close to the Medway Approach Channel, it has been designated a prohibited area under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, and there is a no-go exclusion zone around it which is marked by buoys (which have the effect of marking for other shipping the sandbank on which it grounded). It is an offence to interfere with the wreck in any way and any attempt to enter this zone, which is constantly monitored by radar, is followed up by swift action by the police and local maritime authorities. While the risk of explosion is said to be remote, the government, who have decided against further and potentially highly dangerous salvage operations, prudently carry out regular surveys on the wreck and these are published so that the public can update themselves as to its state. The latest survey has yet to be published. Nonetheless, the wreck remains a considerable worry to local residents in both Essex and Kent where it is reckoned to be a time-bomb with the potential to produce the largest non-nuclear explosion in history. Indeed, it has been estimated that were it to suddenly explode, the resulting three-foot tidal wave would cause extensive damage in Sheerness (1.5 miles away) and in Southend opposite (5 miles away). However this is most unlikely as many ships carrying large cargoes of munitions must have been destroyed during the war. Government surveys on the Richard Montgomery have all stated that any attempt at salvage would be highly dangerous. Various schemes to salvage the wreck, contain it within a protective barrier of London clay (to prevent munitions from spilling out to be dispersed by the tide) or even cover it over have been considered and ruled dangerous. It seems that the government experts believe the wisest course is to leave the wreck alone. Even to the non-professional observer, this may seem to be good advice. The Richard Montgomery, whose rusting masts are regularly pointed out to visitors as a curiosity, is the only designated dangerous wreck in British waters. Experts feel that, if left alone, it and what remains of its dangerous cargo, will quietly rot harmlessly away. | 
