But one Trinity resident found something more peculiar near L’Etacq – part of an operating manual for a US Navy aircraft carrier nuclear reactor.
Ian Le Breton discovered the manual’s cover, which is headed ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ and ‘RESTRICTED DATA’ around 18 months ago and has recently posted it online, sparking theories about where it could have originated.
Speaking on Facebook, he said: ‘Found on the rocks at L’Etacq. Front cover of an A4W/A1G Reactor Plant Manual. Wikipedia indicates these reactors power US Aircraft carriers.
‘The content, which was not present, is restricted by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
‘If anybody knows somebody in the Naval Systems Command, Navy Department, Washington D.C., they may have some idea how it got there?’
One of those who commented, Nicholas Edward Thorne, said: ‘This information was subject to NOFORN (no foreigner nationals) and ITAR (International Traffic of Arms Regulations).
‘These caveats are still both in use today by the USA Government for classified material/information.
‘Probably just fell overboard, or otherwise someone put a coffee stained copy in the gash [rubbish] – incorrectly – and it got chucked overboard!’
Two A4W/A1G reactors power each of the US Navy’s ten Nimitz class carriers – the biggest warships ever built.
According to The Telegraph, the 332.8 metre-long vessels weigh 100,000 tonnes each, have a 4.5 acre flight deck capable of carrying more than 60
aircraft and can carry 3,000 to 3,200 ship’s company, 1,500 air wing and 500 other crew.
