NAPLES, Italy (USTCNS) --- A U.S. Navy salvage team pulled a downed liberty launch from the waters off Sardinia, Italy, Jan. 6.

Salvage ship USNS Mohawk-along with divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, and from the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land, and members of U.S. Sixth Fleet's Task Force Six Three-worked together to raise the liberty launch which sank during a storm at Naval Support Activity LaMaddalena, Sardinia, Jan. 3.

The LCM-86 watercraft, used as a launch to ferry passengers and supplies to the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land, broke loose from its mooring in high winds striking nearby rocks. The hull sustained extensive damage and the craft sank in shallow waters.

"The craft was fully fueled when it sank, carrying over 1,000 gallons," said Mohawk's civilian master Capt. Charles Rodriguez. "Fortunately, the tanks were not damaged ... as a precaution, oil spill booms were kept in place around the wreck, and cleanup crews and equipment were standing by at the scene." The craft was within meters of the shoreline making the rescue operation difficult, according to Rodriguez.

At daybreak on Jan. 6, Mohawk docked with a floating crane to its stern. The crane's three-man crew of Petty Officer 2nd Class Shawn Vance, Petty Officer 3rd Class Justin McCormick and Seaman Joshua Mesler then attached three mooring lines to large rocks on shore.

"The five-point moor allowed us to position the boom of the crane directly over the wreck and securely hold position," Rodriguez said.

Diver Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Wittchow then hooked a 'sling' from the crane to the wreck. The 80-ton launch was lifted to the surface and large capacity pumps were employed to pump out excess seawater. The craft was then lowered onto a waiting barge where it was secured and taken away for repairs. Task Force Six Three's Lt. Cmdr. Phil Pall served as salvage officer for the evolution.

The efficiency and teamwork of the operation drew praise from senior commanders.

"My personal congratulations and gratitude for a job well done," said, Vice Adm. Gregory Johnson, U.S. Sixth Fleet commander in a message to those who participated in the operation. "From skillful planning through expeditious execution, your recovery of a naval asset prevented ecological damage to a nature preserve and insured our special relationship with Italy remains strong." (FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND-EUROPE PUBLIC AFFAIRS).