ISTANBUL

Japan detonated 461 WWII-era US-made shells Thursday off the coast of Japan's southeastern island of Okinawa, the Stars and Stripes US military newspaper reported.

The shells saw active combat in WWII.

The detonation took place 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) offshore of Nakagusuku Bay at 10.50 a.m. local time (0150GMT), with 11 divers from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force participating.

A plastic ordnance was used to detonate the shells 36 feet (10.9 meters) below the surface, according to an army spokesman.

The collection of WWII-era ordnance has been found near Nakagusuku Bay in the past two to three years by swimmers or construction vessels, and includes various ammunition.

The detonation took place after several recent findings of unexploded World War II ordnance on Okinawa Island.

The shells had a total weight of 264 pounds (119.7 kilograms), according to media outlets.

Japan's Self-Defence Forces had detonated another cluster off the coast of Okinawa two years ago, an army spokesman said.