The shipwreck of Battleship Roma has been found!

[DrG]

This is the communiqué by the Italian Navy (it's in Italian language, but there is also a short video): http://www.marina.difesa.it/Conosciamoci/Notizie/Pagine/20120628_corazzataroma.aspx.

[Marcus Wendel]

An Italian battleship which sank during World War II off the coast of Sardinia after it was bombed by a German warplane has been found, Italy's navy said in a statement on Thursday.
"The battleship Roma was sunk on September 9, 1943, by a German plane, in an attack which killed 1,352 sailors. Only 622 people survived," it said.
The wreck was found by an underwater robot named Pluto Palla, designed by Italian engineer Guido Gay. It was discovered around 16 nautical miles (30 kilometres) off the northern coast of Sardinia at a depth of around 1,000 metres (3,300 feet).
The Roma was one of the Italian navy's most modern vessels in the period, with cannons with a range of 42.8 kilometres, greater even than those on Japanese battleships, which had a range of 42 kilometres.
The ship, launched just 15 months previously, was sunk soon after Italy announced it had gone over to the Allies following the fall of fascist leader Benito Mussolini.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... c96876.721


/Marcus

[Saknussem]

finally found really next to Sardinia coasts!
I saw that on tv history channel gonna be early a documentary about it!

Here some photos from ansa:

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[Michael Miller]

Very close to where I was stationed 20 years ago (La Maddalena, Sardinia)!
From what little I could see, it appears at least parts of the vessel are in remarkably good condition after 69 years.
I only hope the site of such a great tragedy is deemed off-limits to scuba diving plunderers.

~ Mike

[Dunserving]

An earlier post gives the depth of the wreck as being 1,000 metres. If that is true it is safe from scuba divers....

[Dili]

Complete TV program with extensive video of the shipwreck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... jGrRFm6w5s

[Trackhead M2]

An earlier post gives the depth of the wreck as being 1,000 metres. If that is true it is safe from scuba divers....

Dear Big D,
If is isn't, ask them to bring up my great uncle's footlocker. He left a bottle of marsala in it and he wants it back.
Strike Swiftly,
TH-M2