 | Sunken: Liznjan, Istra
Depth: 40 - 49 m
Navigation time: 50 minutes
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Ludovico De Filippi, born in Turin, Italy, was the last captain of Cesare Rossarol, Italian light explorer sunk on the underwater mine in front of Liznjan in Kvarner bay. He was awarded with the Cross of Knight of the Crown of Italy for attractive serenity of spirit to encourage his crew while the ship was sinking. “He was a wonderful example of sublime sacrifice, when he gave his lifebelt to a sailor who wasn't able to swim and in this generous action he lost the life."
Giovanni Pizzini was one of the best Italian pilots thru Austro-Hungarian minefields lying around Pula Harbor. Pizzini successfully lead the ship from Pula down to Cape Kamenjak and then on the way to Rijeka Harbor. Just in front of Ližnjan, a small village on eastern Istrian coast, unfortunately Rossarol hit an underwater mine.
Cesare Rossarol was a Poerio class light explorer build in Sestri Ponente, Genoa. It entered the service in 1915. Main duty was scouting, escorting destroyers, fighting other smaller ships and airplanes and patrolling high and low Adriatic Sea. Extremely fast, was very efficient in combat. At the end of WWI Cesare Rossarol was participating in occupation of Istrian and Dalmatina coast by Italian troops. After the proclamation of armistice on 4th of November 1918 Rossarol was in Pula.
16th of November 1918 Rossarol was on the way to Rijeka (Fiume). It was lunch time, just around noon. The boat hit a mine in front of Ližnjan, a mile from the coast. Explosion scrapes it in two parts. Ship sunk rapidly, in few minutes. Unfortunately 98 men died.
Bow part of the ship is separated from stern and turn upside down. Some munitions can be seen on the bottom around the wreck.
Stern part is lying in sailing position, slightly inclined on the left side. Maximum depth is 49 meters. Stern wheel, telegraph and canons are still in position.
Visibility can be either very god or quite poor. Mainly depends on the deep sea currents. Frequently we can see a lot of fish around the wreck. Especially Congers and Scorpion fish.
Some years after the tragedy an unknown person raised a monument on cape Munat Veliki in memory of died officers and sailors.
Fotogalery:
Fotka 6 |
Fotka 5 |
Fotka 4 |
Fotka 3 |
Fotka 2 |
Fotka 1 |
Biography:
www.gravitazero.org
www.marina.difesa.it
WDS Trieste
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