Shaun Elliott News

The Royal Australian Navy reported that its clearance divers have successfully disposed of a suspect object in Betio Lagoon off South Tarawa, in the Republic of Kiribati. Australian Defense previously reported the suspicious item may be a sea mine from World War II. A team of Australian Defense Force personnel was sent to the Pacific island nation following the discovery of the suspect object beneath a sunken vessel that was being salvaged by commercial operators. Six Royal Australian…

A team of Australian Defense Force (ADF) personnel has headed to the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati to dispose of a suspected World War II sea mine. The object was discovered beneath a sunken vessel that is being salvaged by commercial operators in Betio Lagoon, South Tarawa. Six Royal Australian Navy clearance divers and a support team are flying to the island nation on a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft. They have deployed at the request of the Kiribati Government following the discovery of the object, which may date back to World War II.