This was the essence of a phone call made to the Commanding Officer of the HDMS THETIS, Commander s.g. Henrik Ryberg, while HDMS THETIS was in the middle of Skagerrak north of Skagen.

HDMS THETIS immediately turned south towards the lower waters and coastline of “Aalbaek Bight”, in order to create the best surroundings for a possible evacuation by own helicopter and rubber dinghy.

The bomb scare was part of the ongoing major exercise DANEX 06

While waiting for the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team to arrive by helicopter, the crew found the bomb in the painting shop.

The EOD Team took an X-ray picture of the suspected bomb, which clearly showed that the bomb was a fully armed mortar shell.

- We disarmed the bomb before it caused any damage on the HDMS THETIS or the crew, an anonymous member of the EOD Team tells.

The event offered the crew of HDMS THETIS valuable training in handling a real life bombe scare.

The bomb was made of a mortar shell and plastic explosives.  Furthermore it was mounted with a device, which would detonate the  bomb should it be moved. The picture shows the remains of the bomb  after the EOD-team disarmed it.  Photo: Michael Christiansen.

Text: Michael Christiansen, SPAO DATG