Torpedo washes ashore in Arakan State

By DMG 13 Jul 2022

DMG Newsroom
13 July 2022, Manaung 

Local residents say an unexploded torpedo was found washed ashore near Mein Ma Kywe village, Manaung Township, on Wednesday, little more than a week after the Myanmar military reported conducting naval exercises off the coast of Arakan State. 

From July 1-5, the Myanmar Navy conducted a series of offshore tactical exercises — referred to by the regime as “Sea Shield-2022” — that included submarines, warships, and helicopters, according to state media, which reported that the exercises aimed to improve defence capability and protect the sovereignty and territory of the country. 

The torpedo was spotted by two residents of Mein Ma Kywe village on Wednesday morning, imprinted with the letters “LWT-XP D&P TORPEDO”. 

“They found the torpedo when they went to their farms at around 5 a.m. this morning,” said resident U Maung Thein Shwe. “They didn’t know what it was, and tied it up with a rope for fear that it might be washed away. They came back to tell other villagers. After we learnt that it was a torpedo, we informed the administrators.” 

He added: “It is more than six feet long, and its warhead is around one foot long. I have never seen anything like that before.” 

A local naval unit reportedly came to retrieve the torpedo on Wednesday.  

In a video that spread on social media, a large crowd of people is seen gathered around the torpedo, with some prodding and touching it with their hands and feet. An Arakan Army official warned that the unexploded underwater missile was extremely dangerous and not to be toyed with. 

DMG was unable to obtain comment from regime spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun regarding the reported discovery of the torpedo.