GALLERY: Italian Navy Divers destroy a US Navy WWII torpedo

Divers from the Italian Navy’s insidious devices disposal experts (S.D.A.I) group neutralized a U.S. Navy World War II torpedo off the coast of Cala Capra, Palau.

The torpedo was found at a depth of 31 meters during an inspection on May 24. Once the discovery was made, divers removed sand and mud that had buried the torpedo to check its condition and assess the threat it posed.

After removing seabed layers that covered it, the device was identified as a 450 mm, U.S. Navy torpedo. The ordnance was 5 meters long and carried an explosive charge of about 200 kg.

The torpedo was subsequently towed offshore to be destroyed in an underwater explosion on May 27.