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Date Published: 17/10/2024

Torpedo from Cartagena scares fishermen on the Alicante coast

The drifting torpedo was launched by the Navy during exercises in Cartagena on October 8

▶️ Dos pescadores hallan un torpedo flotando en aguas de la isla alicantina de Tabarca pic.twitter.com/wE3UwazViq
— La Opinión A Coruña (@laopinioncoruna) October 14, 2024

A group of fishermen got a scare last Saturday October 12 when they discovered a torpedo in the waters near the Island of Tabarca in Alicante.

Fortunately, the projectile, a MK-46 model used by the US and other countries of the Atlantic Alliance, did not carry an explosive charge.

The war device, a navy torpedo from Cartagena, was found adrift last Saturday by fishermen in waters near the Island of Tabarca, located just off Santa Pola. Given the commotion and curiosity about its origin, the Naval Command of Alicante issued a statement on Tuesday October 15 clarifying that the torpedo had become lost on October 8 during manoeuvres.

The navy stated, “That day, in an exercise area in Cartagena waters and after issuing the required warnings to sailors, a MK-46 exercise torpedo was launched as part of the usual training activities of Navy units.”

The Guardia Civil, who were in charge of the investigation, has already determined that it was a practice projectile, since, if it were loaded, it would have yellow bands and those found on the device were orange, indicating that it was disassembled.

According to the naval authority, the Mark 46 (MK-46) is an anti-submarine torpedo that can be launched from ships and aircraft. The fishermen who found it were worried that it could hit a boat. Therefore, they decided to hook it and tow it to the shore to avoid possible accidents.

The Naval Command further stated that “after the torpedo was launched from a Navy ship, and as planned, a search and recovery operation was established in the area of the exercise in which different surface and air units participated. In the early hours of October 9, after 16 hours of searching and due to worsening weather conditions, the search was suspended without the torpedo having been located.”

Following the discovery by the fishermen, the Guardia Civil in Alicante transferred the torpedo to its facilities in the port of the capital, where it will remain until it is collected by the Navy.

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