Interview with Colonel of the Lagunari Massimiliano Stecca: "We have brought peace to Tytan"

(To Francesco Bergamo)
28/10/16

The militia's attempt to take Tytan's power plant failed. Immediately after the UN resolution, the Lagoon Regulators of the Serenissima Regiment disembarked and put the Militians to flight. These, however, have created many problems: they have blown up a part of the bank of the Pon (the Po) flooding the Tytan campaign. The lagooners, together with the Alta Civil Protection and the structures of the Municipality of Porto Tolle, immediately provided aid to the population. Inflatable boats, landing craft, helicopters and articulated vehicles have brought the population to safety.

Thus ended, after 10 days, the first federated exercise carried out on the territory of the Po estuary by the Lagoons and by the ALTA Association (Association of Amphibious Troops). To have a comprehensive review of the event, Online Defense interview the Colonel of the Lagunari Massimiliano Stecca, who together with the retired divisional general Luigi Chiapperini worked on the implementation of the innovative exercise. The superior officer receives me in his office. Gentle and distinguished, he embodies his role very well. He approaches with a sure step. We introduce ourselves. The impression is excellent.

Colonel, the Delta 2016 exercise, the first federated, what have you had and what do you foresee for the future?

“You correctly defined it as the first federated exercise between the Lagunari Regiment, ex-military associations (ALTA) and some units of the Italian army. It took place over ten days. He started the HIGH, in the first weekend, occupying, as militiamen, two strategic points: the lighthouse and the power plant at the mouth of the Po di Polesine Camerini in Porto Tolle. They simulated and created limitations on the local population, perfectly recreating reality. Immediately after there was the UN resolution and the authorization for the deployment of the Lagunari Regiment. For the first time, for us, we have implemented a maneuver coast to coast without the support of a ship. In this case the maneuver consisted of 50 nautical miles of navigation with the landing craft, AAV7 (tracked) plus floating units. We recaptured the lighthouse and the power plant by driving away the militiamen and we also kept the area under control. Once the mission was fulfilled there was a withdrawal. Then there was the simulation of intervention with the HIGH Civil Protection, the men in charge of the Municipality of Porto Tolle and the civilians. The scenario was that of a flood due to the banks of the Po blown up by the retreating militiamen. The aforementioned structures then intervened in the rescue operations ».

You said they sailed 50 nautical miles by landing craft. Generally, however, the Lagunari get out of a ship and sail to the coast. Am I wrong?

"No, he's not wrong at all. However we use different types of intervention. What you said is actually the most used: a ship takes us up to 8 / 10 at most nautical miles from the coast. The vehicles leave the ship and head for the coast. From beach to beach, as in this case, there are different problems: autonomy and intermediate stages. In this case the navigation lasted two days and one night. A bivouac was made and the navigation took place with really adverse weather conditions ». 

How many men were employed?

«120 lagunari, 10 men of the 3 ° regimental genius guards of Udine and 10 men of the 17 ° anti-aircraft artillery regiment Sforzesca of Sabaudia ».

Has this cooperation, which you call federated, with the engineers and the gunners already existed in the past?

«The Army has already identified some supports for our amphibious activities. We have often worked with the 17 ° and the 3 ° ».

How did civilians react when they saw their quiet routine move? Was it a positive experience?

"Ah, look, let me have a joke: we played at home!"

Excuse me, Colonel, why?

"Historically that area has always been a strong pool of men for the Regiment. Moreover, the Lagoons did help during the great flood. The exercise was also a form of commemoration to that anniversary. Beyond the affective aspect, however, we can say positively. Keep in mind, however, that the citizenship was prepared with an advertisement celebrating the 50 year from that sad event ".

In short, it went very well.

"Yup. Because we have also learned a lot. Our aim was to test the capacity of the population and our ability to act as a Regiment never experienced in this manner. We have always done small, punctual activities, but disconnected from those of the Civil Protection. But nothing of the scope of the Delta 2016 exercise. This time the activity made the population perceive the concreteness and goodness of a federated action ".

It is assumed that for the future we can replicate, then?

"We hope that this will happen again. You see, it was useful for us, in addition to the military side, to understand how to approach real difficulties and not just on paper. Because activities that interface, hierarchical structures, especially in the civil sphere, which are not clear because they overlap have devastating effects in real situations. And if you don't understand how the chain of command and the related skills are, think about the difficulties you face. We say that with the Delta 2016 we have found many things, studied and found the solution. It was a positive start ".

How did your men react when they found an armed and alert man controlling a bridge? psychologically it has another impact on the lagoon in action. Doesn't it seem to you?

"Sure. Very true. We didn't have full contact, but the impact was there. But it is equally true that ours RECON, the explorers, we made them arrive in the area of ​​the operation two days early and they all had them under control. Do you think that for two days and two nights i RECON they were on site and guarding the militiamen who were active. It was a perfect job: they took into account schedules, travel, fixed positions, armaments, camps and even their level of training based on how they moved. All this without them noticing. All the information passed to the party combat. And when i combat they arrived on the targets already knew everything. For the militiamen it would have been a point of honor to identify a RECON, but it didn't happen ".

Colonel, you're telling me that i RECON they arrived earlier. But how did they do it?

«As soon as we heard of the crisis, we immediately sent them in a rigid keel boat equipped with very powerful engines. They landed offshore and then swam to the coast. They always move in pairs, but the number of pairs varies according to the use. But do you know that they swam the Po at night? "

Actually no!

"Yup. They are exceptional men: they swam with all the equipment. We talk about 40 kilograms of various equipment: backpack and weapons. The listing was perfect. You think that among them there was also an Argentine landing officer. It is part of the "cultural" exchange between FFAAs of different nationalities ".

And then their job ends like this?

"Absolutely no. Then they acted as guides to their companions when they arrived at night ».

I thank the colonel and head towards the exit of his office. Once outside, a question comes to me: who knows if i RECON have they detected my movements on the field ?!

(photo: Italian army)