The 26 August 2017 the Palombari of the Submarine Operations Unit of the Diving Command and Incursors of the Navy detained at the SDAI Core of Taranto (Diminishing Antifungal Defense Exit), conducted a delicate underwater operation in the waters of Campomarino (Taranto) aimed at neutralizing a dangerous Explosive device.
Following a signal from a wreck of the presence of a probable explosive artifact, the Harbor Master's Office of Taranto prevented the navigation in the sea area involved in land reclamation for safety reasons and informed the Taranto Prefecture that required An urgent remedial action to the Naval Operations Group (GOS).
The Palombari were immersed in search and acknowledgment of the reported object which, found at 6 meters of depth and 20 meters from the coast, was identified as a 100 pound airplane from the Second World War.
The weapon was then towed, keeping it in safety distance, until it reached an area identified by the Maritime Authority, where underwater operations had allowed it to blow.
This intervention is one of the many activities the Naval Docks take to safeguard public safety in many Italian harbors and shores, performing underwater operations at high risk of restoring the safety conditions of bathing and sailing.
Last year, Naval Military Navy destroyers destroyed a total of 12.400 explosive ordnance residues, while 1 January 2017 has already neutralized 10.946 from Italian seas, rivers and lakes.
For sea enthusiasts who, with the summer, increasing their recreational underwater activity, it is advisable not to touch any objects that may be found to be dangerous, whose form may or may not remind you of an explosive device or parts of it.
What is desirable to do is to identify the site of the find, to photograph the hypothetical device (if you have a diving camera with it) and to report immediately to the local Capitaneria di Porto or station Of the Carabinieri, which will require the intervention of the Palombari of the COMSUBIN Diving Operations Group in order to re-establish the usability of this stretch of sea.
Photo Marina Military