APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080003-4
radio-relay systems extend throughout the nation, and international services are among the best in the world.
Control of transportation and telecommunications is vested in the Ministries of Transport and Civil Aviation, Post and Telecommunications, Public Works, Merchant Marine, and Defense. Major plans for improvement include modernization of rail equipment, further double tracking of important lines, and completion of the new high-speed Rome-Florence line; expansion of the autostrade network; construction of the Milan-Cremona-Po canal and modernization of the Padova-Venice waterway; construction of important gas pipelines; expansion of facilities at several large ports; modernization of the merchant marine fleet; expansion of facilities at several major airfields; and construction of an important coaxial submarine cable between Rome and Cagliari, Sardinia.
B. Strategic mobility (C)
Italy's transportation and telecom system are capable of supporting large-scale military operations; however, movement across the peninsula and over the Alps would be difficult, particularly in the winter. The well constructed and equipped railroad network serves all major cities and ports and all administrative, industrial, and mining areas. International connections in the north permit through rail service with other European countries and the Middle East. However, bridges and tunnels on several important lines would make them vulnerable to hostile action.
Movement and supply of military forces via highways would be somewhat restricted by the limited number of high quality east-west routes which provide access from coast to coast. The best routes for through movement are the high-speed multilane divided autostrade. These routes were constructed for high capacity and are well suited for heavy fast traffic, but they do not afford access to all parts of the country; access, however, is provided to all strategic areas. The autostrade are vulnerable to interdiction because of their proximity to the major urban areas and ports which would be targets in the event of hostilities. In addition, thousands of bridges and elevated sections of roadway would be prime targets, and many of the structures are located close to the coast and could be interdicted by naval action.
There are also hundreds of tunnels that could be prime targets for sabotage. Other roads on the system, including state and provincial highways, have many sections that are poorly aligned and have numerous sharp curves (including hairpin curves) and steep grades ranging up to 15%; many sections of roadway are narrow. Other bottleneck features that would inhibit traffic movement include narrow streets in villages and towns, sharp right-angle turns in towns and at bridge approaches, narrow low-capacity bridges, underpasses, galleries, snowsheds, and tunnels. Movement from the mainland to offshore islands is only possible by vehicle-carrying ferries. Climatic restrictions include rainfall, snow, high temperatures, and fog. Maximum rainfall in northern Italy occurs during the spring (March-May) and fall (September-November). Severe flooding and landslides are precipitated by rainfall, and in some instances roads are damaged or washed out. In the southern part of the country the heaviest rainfall occurs during the fall and winter, causing some flooding of roads in low-lying areas. Snowfall is heavy in the higher elevations of the Apennines and Alps; most Alpine passes are closed from November to May, and in the Apennines roads may be blocked for varying periods of time. Traffic may also be impeded by slippery road surfaces. Temperatures in the southern part of the mainland and on Sicily may reach 110°F., and during dry periods dust restricts visibility on earth and gravel roads. Fog is frequent during the winter in the Po valley and in sheltered areas of the Apennines. Extensive areas throughout Italy are subject to earthquakes of varying intensity and frequency. Roads and bridges may be damaged during periods of seismic activity.
Use of inland waterways for military movement and supply would be minimal. All major maritime ports are well equipped and are adaptable to military requirements. The 236 cargo-type units of the merchant fleet have considerable potential for short-haul (up to 48 hours' steaming) troop lift and logistics support in nearseas operations; a large number of these ships have cargo-handling and stowage characteristics which would enhance their military utility. Cargo-type units employed in crosstrades between foreign countries and those under foreign-charter arrangements, might not be readily available for military-support operations under certain emergency conditions. Assuming considerable expansion of the normal passenger capacity and the advantage of relatively high operating speed, the many passenger ships would have extensive potential for longer haul (more than 48 hours' steaming) troop transport. The tankers could provide extensive fleet-oiler or other military-support capability for a short period. In addition to the merchant fleet, about 27 automobile/passenger ferries of 1,000 g.r.t. and over and totaling
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080003-4
