" Minerva sailors, we looked for you, we have never forgotten you": a commemorative plaque was placed on the wreck of the Minerva, a military submarine disappeared in 1968 with 52 men on board, found 51 years later off Toulon.
The marble plaque signed "Your families, your brothers in arms, your friends" was installed this weekend on the wreck which lies at 2,370 m depth, announced the maritime prefecture in a press release.
Found years later
The operation was carried out thanks to the provision by the American millionaire Victor Vescovo of a 68-meter ship and a two-seater submarine for abyssal research, specifies the prefecture. At the request of the families of the disappeared, in October 2018, the Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly had ordered the resumption of searches to locate the wreck.
On January 27, 1968, the Minerva sank in just four minutes on a routine mission. Despite the rescue operations immediately undertaken, it was not until July 21, 2019 to locate it some 45 km from Toulon, broken into three pieces.
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- Boat
- Submarine
- Toulon
- Commemoration