HMF Sunk Head demolished 1967

Demolition of HMF Sunk Head in 1967 to prevent its use by pirate radio stations.
His Majesty's Fort Sunk Head was a Maunsell Fort built during the Second World War and manned by the Royal Navy. Mounting QF 3.7-inch and QF 40mm AA guns, the forts were built to deter German aircraft. HMF Sunk Head was placed approximately 12 nautical miles off Harwich in June 1942.
On 18th August 1967, the Royal Navy tug Collie took a team of twenty Royal Engineers to the tower to commence demolition work. The superstructure was cut away with oxyacetylene torches and explosive charges. Three days later, 21st August, 2220 lbs of explosives were set, and just after 16:00 the fuses set. At 16:15 a vivid crimson flash was seen, followed by a large cloud of smoke. Large chunks of concrete flew into the air, some landing over half a mile away. The heat and force of the blast was felt on Walton-on-the-Naze beach, some fourteen miles away. A team of 20 Royal Engineers had demolished the upper sections of Sunk Head, in front of a specially invited audience of television and press reporters, with a blast that could be seen both from the Radio Caroline ship and by Roy Bates on Roughs tower six miles away.

[@petersheppard2173]

Well, there goes Sealand number 2.

[@ryanstewart3640]

Peter Sheppard So Sad

[@eewag1]

RIP HMF _Sunk Head_ 1942-1967

[@chrisbell5920]

This is an outrageous insult to our Finest Hour. Like Martello Towers, all remaining Maunsell Forts, pillboxes and defensive structures built in 1939 - 1940 MUST be given Listed status.
Can you imagine that, after Waterloo, with Napoleon safely imprisoned on St Helena, the govt or its War Office blew to bits any or all of the Martello Towers? How would we feel about it today? Well-its the same scenario with our hastily constructed defences of 1940.

[@3345-p9g]

There are a fuck ton round Eastbourne and Pevensy

[@ianb9729]

I've seen still photos of this, never seen film! Great.

[@luciatilyard2827]

How awful, and typical. Get rid of it just to make sure no one else can use it!

[@robertboddington7650]

Did you see that bunk bed fly?

[@stormfur2514]

i think they used enough TNT

[@cirian75]

Nah, always room for more

[@danwaltz315]

Hmm, interesting way to get rid of a radio station. Lol too much rock could do that if you use a spark and some glycerine lol. Radio Explosion. lol. It was a one and done station in 1967.

[@morriganravenchild6613]

Bloody vandals (official)!

[@chowder4656]

If only Sealand got there first, it would have been slightly larger

[@graphited2419]

They did, Bates got to Sunk Head before he got to Roughs Sands but the navy kicked him off.

[@snekktikhays1780]

Sealand should have sent an armed band there before the Brits blew it up.

[@dbbb8291]

TF?