The students of the Corso Ordinario Palombari at COMSUBIN have just completed an intense training phase, focused on advanced underwater scenarios and the management of unconventional threats, including those of a chemical nature.

In the second half of November, the training program entered a crucial phase, with exercises combining technical underwater work, logistical self-sufficiency, and safety procedures in high-criticality contexts.

Advanced underwater operations and Salvage Training Module

The training cycle included the use of hydraulic equipment, underwater cutting and welding systems, and the Salvage Training Module, a tool that allows for simulating interventions in completely flooded areas.

Thanks to these activities, the students were able to engage in operations similar to those they might face in real missions, such as complex recoveries, interventions on damaged units, restoration of submerged infrastructures, and operations supporting maritime security.

Operational self-sufficiency in field settings

One of the central aspects of the training was the setup of a completely autonomous field device.

In this context, the Palombari students had to:

• organize and manage materials, equipment, and apparatus
• plan and coordinate the work of underwater teams
• operate in an environment without external logistical support

The exercise integrated normal technical underwater intervention procedures with broader command and control activities, training operators capable not only of intervening underwater but also of contributing to the planning and execution of operations.

Final scenario: chemical risk and unconventional threats

The final exercise, built around a scenario characterized by a potential risk of chemical agent contamination, was of particular importance.

In this framework, the students:

• studied and applied procedures for managing chemical risk
• used specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• conducted operational environment monitoring activities
• adopted dedicated containment and decontamination measures

The activity highlighted how operational readiness and strict adherence to procedures are crucial in high-criticality situations, enhancing the future Palombari's ability to face unconventional threats with method, clarity, and discipline.

Training specialists for present and future maritime scenarios

This training module confirms the level of preparation required of the Navy's underwater operators: highly specialized figures, called to intervene in contexts ranging from sea rescue and recovery, to the security of maritime infrastructures, to the management of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) scenarios.

The students of the Corso Ordinario Palombari emerge from this training phase with strengthened technical skills and an even clearer awareness of the operational responsibilities awaiting them in the COMSUBIN and Marina Militare deployment units.

Copyright Photo Marina Militare