On 16th September 1967, the owner of an ex-Army Champ amphibious vehicle went out for a joy ride on the mudflats when it became stuck in the mud. A Land Rover went out to tow it in but became stuck also. The call went out for help and a 9-ton breakdown truck from SMACs went in to pull out the Land Rover also got bogged down and was unable to move for some time.
Eventually the Land Rover managed to free itself and got clear while the Fire Brigade rigged up a searchlight to keep the marooned vehicles lit up.
On the second day of the “sinking”, an attempt was made by using a 70-ton Conqueror Army Tank hull to which a powerful winch was fitted. Though capable of dragging the vehicle out, the attempt was refused by the authorities who were concerned that should the cable break, it would whiplash and could hit somebody or cause damage.
Then the Police requested help from the Army and a new 23-ton Army Scammel Recovery Vehicle went in to rescue the rescue vehicle but it, too, sank in the mud up to its axles when the ground around it collapsed.
The project was abandoned until the next day when the Navy took over (Chatham-based). At low tide, bonds were slung beneath the vehicle, and attached to large marker buoys. On full tide, the Navy rescue lighter arrived, and lowered a heavy lifting shackle over the bow's winch roller. The powerful winch was then started, and it gradually pulled the Scammel clean out above the water line. It was then floated in to the Barge Pier at Shoeburyness where it was off-loaded.
After two days of work by the fitters draining fuels and oils, etc, new batteries were fitted and the engine started!
