CLEARING OF MINES IN THE ADRIATIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R004800240007-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 28, 2013
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: May 4, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

INTELlOf Mt 7i C.a.A5SIFIC,
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/28: CIA-RDP82-00457R004800240007-3
UcNIMAL HMICLUllaNUL AUGNLJ KLYUNI
COUNTRY Yugoslavia
INFORMATPON REPORT
CONFIDEN1 IML
SUBJECT Clearing of Mines in the Adriatic
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF '
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SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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1, During World War XX, numerous mines were laid along the Dalmatian coast
in order to prevent free navigation of the Adriatic. Mien the Communist
regime came into power, the Yugoslav Navy undertook mine-sweeping opera-
tions. Until very recently,, however? certain minor ports in Dalmatia
were considered inaccessible to vessels of metal construction0 and circum-
navigation of these ports, via safely determined routes, was necessary.
Only wooden vessels with a Shallow draught could safely navigate through
the mine infested waters.
2. The mines laid during the war were placed approximately 100 meters apart
in checker board fashion. They were for the most part anchored in groups
of three or four, exploding when a vessel passed above them or else they
were magnetized, which enabled them to release themselves and approach
steel vessels of their own volition.
3. The Adriatic mine fields were swept in August end September 1949, and,
in the Northern Adriatic particularly, the ports of Gres, Cigale, Iosinj
Mali and the Koromacno Day of Istria were completely cleared. The
dangerous sector between Cape Jablanac, in the gulf of Rijeka0 and port
Valosko, in northern Xstria were swept together with the sectors between
Cape Pernat, the lighthouse of Cape Crna in Istria, and the Porozin Channel.
Likewise, the northern sector between Cape Ramenjak of Istria. Grujica
(lighthouse). and Susak was partially swept.
4. Hine-sweeping operations in the Central Adriatic included the western
maritime sector.of Tramarka Island (near the island of Motet). and the
sector southwest of Dugl Otok (Veli lighthouse). The sectors between the
islands of Drvenik and Mali Drvenik in the Solta Channel, and the sector
of the Drvenik Channel between Drvenik and the Dalmatian coast, as well
as the sector northwest of the Mulo lighthouse (below Rogoznica) were also
swept.
00 Clearing of mines has made possible the entry of vessels of heavy tonnage
into the ports of Losinj Kali and Koromaano of Istria, and maritime
coastal traffic has thereby been considerably shortened. Much however
remains to be done to render the Adriatic 100 percent safe for naVigation.
CLASSIFICATION f1tEs
CONFIDENTIAL
This document is hereby regraded to,
CONFIDENTIAL in accordance with the
letter of 16 October 1978 from the
Director of Central intemgonoo to the
Archivist of the United Staten,
Next Review Date: 2006
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/28 : CIA-RDP82-00457R004800240007-3
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