Pacitalia
29-01-2006, 23:11
From PNN.pc
http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Images/News/diver3d3_small.jpg
Recreational divers found the remains of a
54-year-old Pacitalian submarine off the coast
of Pacitalia's Isola Lampedusa, the western-
most island in the country.
Sunken submarine emerges from naval oblivion; war historians excited
By Maria Fungiati, Tassonovi, Acqua Verdi
Recreational divers exploring the far coast of Pacitalia's westernmost island found their literal treasure chest Saturday afternoon. Diving down past a ledge, Mario Passanti, 49, and his wife Geneva, 47, found the remains of a Pacitalian submarine that is nearly six decades old.
The retired Landoni-class standard-use submarine, named the RPN Berchelli, was commissioned in 1950 and launched into full service two years later. The sub was one of the Pacitalian Naval Forces' 23 general patrol marker subs for the Marazulan coastline that worked that strip of Pacitalian territorial waters from late 1952 to 1st April 1970. However, the Berchelli became engaged in a conflict with Agriforian submarines in 1954. The Pacitalian delegation defeated the Agriforians, but the Berchelli was the lone Pacitalian submarine to sink.
However, the PNF was unable to locate the sub because upon their first recovery expedition in 1956, they reported the submarine had moved from below its sinking coordinates. The PNF called off the search, and fifty years later, 50km off the coast of Lampedusa, the Berchelli has been found.
Recreational divers call it a glorious day.
"It'll certainly be a star attraction for diving enthusiasts," Mrs Passanti said. "I don't know if it's safe to go in there yet, but it is certainly a huge find. We are really excited to come back and check it out."
The PNF says it will run a new expedition to strip the submarine of any dangerous materials, including leftover weaponry that may still have active charges contained within them. It then says it will make a decision on whether to raise the submarine or leave it and declare it an open diving site.
"The submarine is still the property of the Pacitalian Naval Forces," navy spokesman Brigadier-General Pier Antoni Sanosso said Sunday. "We would, of course, be fine with leaving it as an undersea attraction for recreational divers, but the submarine is our responsibility until that occurs and we must make the correct decisions to ensure it is a safe structure for divers to enter."
http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Images/News/diver3d3_small.jpg
Recreational divers found the remains of a
54-year-old Pacitalian submarine off the coast
of Pacitalia's Isola Lampedusa, the western-
most island in the country.
Sunken submarine emerges from naval oblivion; war historians excited
By Maria Fungiati, Tassonovi, Acqua Verdi
Recreational divers exploring the far coast of Pacitalia's westernmost island found their literal treasure chest Saturday afternoon. Diving down past a ledge, Mario Passanti, 49, and his wife Geneva, 47, found the remains of a Pacitalian submarine that is nearly six decades old.
The retired Landoni-class standard-use submarine, named the RPN Berchelli, was commissioned in 1950 and launched into full service two years later. The sub was one of the Pacitalian Naval Forces' 23 general patrol marker subs for the Marazulan coastline that worked that strip of Pacitalian territorial waters from late 1952 to 1st April 1970. However, the Berchelli became engaged in a conflict with Agriforian submarines in 1954. The Pacitalian delegation defeated the Agriforians, but the Berchelli was the lone Pacitalian submarine to sink.
However, the PNF was unable to locate the sub because upon their first recovery expedition in 1956, they reported the submarine had moved from below its sinking coordinates. The PNF called off the search, and fifty years later, 50km off the coast of Lampedusa, the Berchelli has been found.
Recreational divers call it a glorious day.
"It'll certainly be a star attraction for diving enthusiasts," Mrs Passanti said. "I don't know if it's safe to go in there yet, but it is certainly a huge find. We are really excited to come back and check it out."
The PNF says it will run a new expedition to strip the submarine of any dangerous materials, including leftover weaponry that may still have active charges contained within them. It then says it will make a decision on whether to raise the submarine or leave it and declare it an open diving site.
"The submarine is still the property of the Pacitalian Naval Forces," navy spokesman Brigadier-General Pier Antoni Sanosso said Sunday. "We would, of course, be fine with leaving it as an undersea attraction for recreational divers, but the submarine is our responsibility until that occurs and we must make the correct decisions to ensure it is a safe structure for divers to enter."