20 Dangerous Artifacts Pulled from Ocean Wrecks

Cordite was the smokeless propellant that powered the big guns on battleships like HMS Vanguard. It was manufactured in long sticks that looked a bit like spaghetti. While stable when new, cordite’s chemistry breaks down over decades, especially underwater. As it degrades, it becomes highly unstable. Naval artillery shells salvaged from sunken warships contain this decaying propellant, which can become so volatile that it detonates without any warning or obvious trigger. It’s an explosive hazard that gets more dangerous with each passing year.