Monday - In Naples on the submarine Foca (commander, lieutenant of vessel Ernesto Giovannini) parked during the transfer from Spezia to Venice, its place of assignment, while the battery charger is in progress there is an explosion of hydrogen that causes the fire of gasoline; to avoid the spreading of the flames of difficult containment and extinction, the boat is sunk at the mooring.
11 men from the 19 team who make up the crew lose their lives: the vessel lieutenant Angelo Bertolotto, an officer in 2a, two non-commissioned officers and eight sub-chiefs and municipalities. To be added among the victims is a worker from the workshop engineers of the local arsenal and two sailors from the base.
Lieutenant Bertolotto will expire the following day at the local military maritime hospital after having suffered the amputation of an arm and legs; in his memory the silver medal for military valor will be decreed for his heroic demeanor and high sense of duty.The submarine will be immediately recovered and on May 14 in tow of the deep sea tug Ercole will be taken to Spezia for the restoration and modification works at the construction site (FIAT-San Giorgio) which will last about a year.
Source: Military Navy
