The published figure of 125 smaller mines sits uneasily beside a system designed for 220 larger weapons and potentially 270 of the smaller type. Dividing the reported load among four rails should still have left substantial spacing. The exact reconstruction remains open because both the mine type and the training conversion created uncertainty. The scale of the wreck raises a further question about what happened to the original handling arrangement before the unloading operation. A minelayer's safety depended on the integrity of its rail system and handling procedures as much as on its headline capacity.
Notable Point · 34:17-36:25
Why the blast raises questions about Pluton's mine load
The scale of the destruction, smaller mines, and repeated alterations to the mine deck leave important questions about how Pluton was loaded and configured.