The Italian submarine ITS Salvatore Todaro (S 526) arrived at Naval Submarine Base New London on Thursday, August 21, at 8:00 a.m. for a 14-day visit. ITS Todaro was commissioned on March 29, 2006, and is the first of four submarines in the U212A class. The submarine is led by Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Mauro Panebianco. Its homeport is Taranto, in southern Italy.
Todaro’s port visits, including Mayport, FL and Norfolk, VA, are historic for the Italian Navy – it is the first time since World War II that an Italian submarine crossed the Atlantic.
During this deployment, ITS Todaro will be involved in training activities with the U.S. Navy, testing several on-board systems in an operational environment different from the one the Italian Navy usually operates in. Before leaving the U.S., Todaro will also participate in 2008 Columbus Day celebrations in New York City. The diesel and electric-powered Todaro is 183 feet long, and has a diameter of 22 feet. The submerged displacement is 1,830 tons.
