Need Help Identifying Port

[Roy M. Stanley II]

Andrea Doria or Caio Duilio on 18 May 1945.
Does anyone recognize the port?

[steve roberts]

Hi Roy.Given the date,it could well be Genoa? But why some of the ships still have anti-torpedo nets in place is another question...Regards Steve.

[keblin]

Definately NOT Genoa.

Genoa's backdrop is Steeply mountainous, and has no flat plains anywhere near it.

[astraltrader]

It doesnt look like Naples or Taranto so I really haven`t a clue!

[INVINCIBLE]

Andrea Doria or Caio Duilio on 18 May 1945.
Does anyone recognize the port?

Could possibly be the eastern part of the Taranto base with the distinctive sea lock to the inner area on the far right of the picture. Many pictures of Italian ships are shown in that sea lock with the round towers and arches.

[kc]

I too would plump for Taranto - here's a pic from 'taras90' on Panoramio which illustrates the view of the oft photographed channel from the other side.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/441026.jpg

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/441026

[astraltrader]

I have that picture but I thought the causeway with the buildings on it was far too small in the picture posted here.

[INVINCIBLE]

I have that picture but I thought the causeway with the buildings on it was far too small in the picture posted here.

I agree that in the original photo the northwestern part of the port looks very thin, which made me think perhaps it might not have been Taranto but seeing kc's modern photo now with the raised causeway in front of the buildings I believe it is Taranto. The other point is that by May 1945 both battleships had been surrendered to the Royal Navy. ANDREA DORIA at least at Malta.

[steve roberts]

Hi Guys. We seem to have got the port,can anyone explain the anti-torpedo nets? given the date when European hostilities were over....Regards Steve.:confused:

[INVINCIBLE]

Hi Guys. We seem to have got the port,can anyone explain the anti-torpedo nets? given the date when European hostilities were over....Regards Steve.:confused:

Steve,
Very good point with VE day on 8 May there was no longer a risk of an attack by the Germans, though the Italians were possibly nervous when you think that the Germans did manage to sink a few of their ships after they had surrendered to the Royal Navy including the new fast battleship, the ROMA by a glider bomb.

[G. Shoda]

Don't know the port, but ship may be Caio Duilio based upon postioning of director on B turret. It is further back on Caio Duilio, according to Breyer.

Great photo of the unknown port.

[Roy M. Stanley II]

Deeply appreciate the help.
Believe the Taranto consensus is correct. The only verticals I had were in too close and didn't show that built-up mole.
Surprised no one remarked on Amerigo Vespucci just peeking around the inlet entrance.
Thanks again to all.

[astraltrader]

I agree that in the original photo the northwestern part of the port looks very thin, which made me think perhaps it might not have been Taranto but seeing kc's modern photo now with the raised causeway in front of the buildings I believe it is Taranto. The other point is that by May 1945 both battleships had been surrendered to the Royal Navy. ANDREA DORIA at least at Malta.


That was exactly my feeling as well. They must have built up and widened the NW part of the harbour considerably since the war.

[ekd]

This is exactly what has happened to the shipbuilding complex in Pola.

If you saw the photo in 1945, it would bear no resemblence to the huge complex now, owned by Uljanic shipbuilders.

This has been acomplished by massive expansion of resources, both physically, and economically. The infrastructure has been massively increased by building new areas on former seaward environs.

good luck.

[bezukhov]

Hi everyone

I'm Italian and my grandfather was born in a little village near Taranto. I spend every summer there, and I can definitely confirm that the port is Taranto. On the left, there is "Taranto vecchia" (old part of the city) and on the background, beyond the "Mar grande", are clearly visible the rows of olive trees and vineyards, so typical of that region.

The inner military anchorage is on the extreme right, today a modern military port has been built out of the "Mar grande" because the former was strategically weak (its only access to and from the open sea is through the very little channel visible in the photo).

About the ship called Amerigo Vespucci by Roy Stanley, I can't confirm his name because she could be her sister ship Cristoforo Colombo, given to the Russians in 1949.

Michele