USNS Navajo assists detonation of World War II bombs

WASHINGTON (USTCNS) --- Navy divers aboard Military Sealift Command ocean-going tug USNS Navajo are completing a detonation operation of 32 live, World War II era bombs found off the coast of Hilo, Hawaii. The bombs were discovered last June by a diving tour group 400 yards from the breakwater at Hilo Harbor.

Navajo, operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, has been on site since Sept. 2 with Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, Detachment Five, also operating out of Pearl Harbor.

The tug is crewed by civil service mariners and four Navy personnel aboard to provide communications and technical support. Navajo has been the working platform for the divers, who have been living on board for the duration of the operation.

It took a total of 28 dives to locate and detonate the unexploded bombs, which were in 20 to 100 feet of water. Many were covered with coral growth that made retrieval and detonation slightly more complicated. All of the detonations were completed safely, without incident or interruption to sea traffic in Hilo Harbor.

Military Sealift Command is the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense. The command, part of the U.S. Navy, operates more than 110 active ships around the world.

Ship missions vary from the transport and afloat prepositioning of defense cargo; to underway replenishment and other direct support to Navy ships at sea; to at-sea data collection for the U.S. military and other U.S. government agencies. (FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).