Trapani: Operations to clear the war device found in Castellammare del Golfo

The tests have been carried out reclamation operations of a war relic, a 152 mm artillery shell weighing 45 kg of Italian production, found by some speleologists in the territory of the Municipality of Castellammare del Golfo, in the Visicari area, inside a cave located 235 metres above sea level and at a depth of approximately 30 metres from the floor level. For the cleanup by the 4th Engineer Regiment of Palermo, it was necessary to use a helicopter from the Army Aviation of the 2nd “Sirio” Regiment of Lamezia Terme (CZ) to transport a SAF (Speleo Alpino Fluviale) unit of the Fire Brigade of the Provincial Command of Trapani and a unit from the 2nd Engineer Regiment of Alpine Engineers of Trento, who proceeded to descend into the cave.

The Prefecture of Trapani, in close collaboration with the Army and the Provincial Command of the Fire Brigade, directed and coordinated the operations necessary to ensure the correct execution of the activity, to guarantee the safety of the personnel involved and the surrounding area.. On site were Deputy Prefect Dr. Luciano Zanta Platamone, the Commander of the 4th Engineer Regiment of Palermo, Colonel Salvatore D'Angela, the Provincial Commander of the Fire Brigade, Eng. Antonino Galfo, together with personnel from the Police Force, the Municipal Police, the Military Red Cross and the volunteers of the Regional Civil Protection.

Operations began with the helicopter transport of the personnel of the Italian Army and the SAF Nucleus of the Fire Brigade from the headquarters of the UCL (Local Command Unit) at the seafront of Castellammare del Golfo, to the entrance point of the cave, in a rugged area. The SAF unit of the Fire Brigade preceded the entry of the personnel of the 2nd Alpine Engineer Regiment of Trento who the device was reached and extracted. Subsequently the device was transported on military vehicles with a technical escort to the quarry for final destruction by the Artificers of the 4th Engineer Regiment of Palermo.

The Italian Army employed on site n. 8 soldiers from the 4th Engineer Regiment of Palermo, n. 4 soldiers from the 2nd Alpine Engineer Regiment of Trento, n. 5 soldiers and 1 helicopter from the 2nd Aves Regiment “Sirio” of Lamezia Terme (CZ) as well as n. 2 additional military vehicles while the Provincial Fire Brigade Command employed n. 1 tanker, n. 1 local command unit, n. 3 SAF vehicles, n. 4 operational units of SAF personnel, n. 1 NBCR unit, n. 3 operational units and a coordination unit. The Carabinieri, together with other police forces, ensured a secure environment.

The complex clean-up activity was carried out thanks to the fruitful collaboration of all the commands involved, who worked with the bomb disposal experts of the 4th Engineer Regiment of Palermo in the operations of descent, extraction, transfer and destruction of the device, ensuring – at the same time – the safety of all operators involved, to whom we extend our deepest and heartfelt thanks.