boarded a Zodiac Hurricane light-
assault craft and powered across the
bay at 80km per hour (which is
lightning-fast on water) to tour naval
ship Anteo (A 5309)—a vessel designed
to carry out diving operations. We
walked along the narrow corridors and
climbed the steep staircases, inhaling
the ubiquitous smell of oil. Spending
five minutes in the tiny decompression
chamber was enough for me. That
some officers will spend two weeks in
there after carrying out operations at
over 100 metres below sea level,
seemed utterly inconceivable.
To conclude the exercise, we were
shown around a small museum where
the strangest looking machines were on
display. About 10 metres in length and
resembling huge black cucumbers,
these bizarre underwater motorbikes
were ridden by the famous human
torpedoes, whose sole objective was to
attach a huge bomb under the hull of an
enemy ship and get away if they could.
Few did. Our group was delighted to hear
that the ancient dials which controlled
these beasts were of Panerai design.
As an adventure aficionado, my job
enables me to have all manner of
“once-in-a-lifetime” experiences but,
without a doubt, my session with the
Diving and Commando group of the
Italian Navy ranks as one of my most
memorable challenges. And avanti,
avanti, as Warrant Officer Zaia might
bark—it’s an experience open to those
who purchase one of the 33 limited
edition Panerai Submersible Marina
Militare Carbotech™ watches.HAVING BEEN TOLD TO WEAR SWIMMING TRUNKS UNDER
OUR TROUSERS WHEN WE GOT DRESSED THAT MORNING,
I NOW HAD NO UNDERWEAR... TIME TO GO “COMMANDO”!
TIME MACHINE
Above: a human torpedo with Panerai
control dials used for subterranean
bomb deploymentACTION MEN
Clockwise from top left:
An Italian Navy Explosive
O rd n a n c e D i s p o s a l d i ve r ; a
helmsman; a member of the
Italian Navy Deep Diving team
from Anteo (A 5309), a ship
designed for specialist diving
operations; on board a Zodiac
Hurricane light-assault craft
heading towards Anteo; an
atmospheric diving suitAUTUMN 2019 VANITY FAIR ON TIME 71