The 2018 is about to end, a very demanding year for the Navy that saw the personnel and the means of the Armed Force, framed in the wider scope of the Defense interforce, operate without interruption from the Arctic Sea to the Antarctic, in the Mediterranean Sea as in the oceans, to protect national interests with a tight activity of presence and surveillance of maritime spaces.
With a dense activity of institutional meetings, the Navy continued to exert an important role of coordination between the main actors that interact with the sea, in an international, European and global vision that sees the sea increasingly protagonist of the sustainable development of the national and international economy.
The 2018 was for the Navy the year of memory, linked to the commemorations of the end of the First World War and the celebration of the Centenary of the Premuda enterprise, the most brilliant and daring naval action of the First World War.
With an incessant operational commitment both nationally and internationally, the Navy continued to ensure the traditional institutional defense and security tasks of the maritime areas of interest. One of these contexts is represented bySafe Sea Operation, during which the naval units, supported by the embarked air component and the submarine component of the armed force, in coordination with the Corps of the Harbor - Coast Guard and other bodies of the State have been committed to the protection of national interests in the central Mediterranean; the security of the maritime communication lines, the fight against crime committed to illicit traffic, the protection of the national shipping and of the extractive platforms present in the international waters north of Libya.
And precisely in Libya there are both an auxiliary naval unit of the Navy which, in the port of Tripoli, guarantees - thanks also to the presence on board of the civilian technical personnel of the armed force - the technical-logistic-maintenance support to the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy , that the fusiliers of Marina della Marina San Marco Brigade, framed in the Hippocrates Task Force, employed since last September to ensure the safety of the Italian base and field hospital, as part of the bilateral assistance and support mission (MIASIT).
During the year, the Navy in addition to constantly guaranteeing a naval unit for the operation of the European Union with an Italian leadership "EUNAVFOR Med Sophia", Has also made the Espero, Euro and Scirocco ships available to NATO for the needs of the Maritime Operation called"Sea Guardian", With the aim of increasing the coordination between the activities of the Atlantic Alliance and those of the European Union, in order to improve defense and collective security, ensuring greater synergies and exploiting the peculiarities of each organization.
Within the framework of a non-stop commitment to safeguard the maritime traffic lines of national interest also outside the Mediterranean, the European Multi-Mission Frigate (Fremm) Carlo Margottini He sailed to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean for a campaign aimed also at strengthening multinational cooperation and dialogue between countries, as well as promoting in an integrated way the "Italian System", supporting and supporting the activities of the national industry . The middle-eastern dislocation of Nave Margottini, which lasted in total about 7 months, was completed with the participation in the operation to combat piracy in the European Union "EUNAVFOR Atalanta". Commitment assumed for the following 4 months and ended in December also by the most recent of the Fremm, ship Federico Martinengo.
North America was instead a destination for the Fremm Alpine, protagonist of a two-month naval campaign, between May and June, which represented an opportunity to confront the friendly and allied marines, as well as a valuable training opportunity, to maintain high levels of readiness, and to strengthen relations with the trans-regional allies.
Alliance Ship has returned twice to the North Pole, between the seas of Iceland and Greenland, beyond the Arctic Circle, for the first time during the Arctic winter, to support important research activities first in the scientific mission carried out with the Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) of NATO and, subsequently, to participate in the "Calypso 18", "NREP 18" and "High North 18" hydro-oceanographic campaigns, during which hundreds of hours of scientific activity were conducted in the North area - West of the Svalbard Islands. Thanks to these activities, the Italian presence in a region, the Arctic, has been consolidated for several years at the center of the international agenda for the relevant changes in climatic-environmental, but also geo-political, which take place increasingly, also creating new opportunities for maritime traffic and energy research.
The Navy Navy Sailing Ships have been engaged together with the Destroyer Luigi Durand De La Penne for the training and training of the students, as concluding moments of the paths followed at the Armed Forces Training Institutes placed under the command of the Marina, in line with the seafaring traditions and the ethical and moral values that, yesterday as today, continue to inspire the men and women of the sea.
Nave Vespucci brought the Italian flag back to Northern Europe and, for the first time in its history, after having touched the capital of Iceland, in August it reached and surpassed the Arctic Polar Circle. Ship Palinuro he carried out his education campaign in the central Mediterranean, pushing up to the Black Sea. Nave De La Penne it has crossed the "Pillars of Hercules" to touch the Atlantic shores of Central Africa, while the smaller sailing units Orsa Maggiore, Caroly and Corsaro II, they gravitated in the central and western Mediterranean.
The presence of the aforementioned units in diversified maritime contexts has also ensured a fruitful promotion of the Made in Italy in different and heterogeneous areas ensuring an effective image return for the Italian Armed Forces and for the Country System.
A year, the 2018, spent, as well as in the sign of operational commitment also in the dual sector with numerous initiatives ranging from humanitarian, social, environmental, scientific and in all sectors at the service of the community that, together with the purely military function, they outline the "complementary" capacities in a broader sense.
The Nave ITALIA campaign in favor of the Fondazione Tender To Nave Italia Onlus has given to people with social discomfort or psychophysical disabilities a new and stimulating life experience on board the biggest brig of the world, framing them in specific therapeutic paths, in order to increase their self-esteem and gain greater awareness of their abilities. In the same vein, the dives organized by the operators of the Underwater Command and Navy Raiders (Comsubin) that allowed us to experience moments of freedom to "special divers".
The hyperbaric chambers activated at the Military Hospital Center of Taranto and the Diving Command and Incursors of La Spezia have allowed to save lives through the treatment of civil patients in emergency situations.
The usual concert of the Banda della Marina at the Auditorium Parco della Musica was dedicated this year to the Francesca Rava Foundation NPH Italia onlus,that has raised funds thanks to the widespread distribution of solidarity products with the aim of giving hope to less fortunate children and, in particular, with the construction of a school in the earthquake zones of the Marche.
Furthermore, they continued, with Operation Smile, i weekend clinic on board the units of the Navy, which have allowed many children, suffering from serious malformations from birth, to finally be able to smile again.
More than 38.000 are the explosive artifacts found and neutralized in Italian seas, rivers and lakes Divers of the Comsubin in the 2018, in addition to the 43.600 projectiles of small caliber reclaimed. The disengaging of the dangerous explosive device found in Fano is just one of the examples of the numerous activities carried out to safeguard public safety, carrying out high-risk underwater operations, aimed at restoring safety conditions of navigation and bathing. The 2019 institutional calendar entitled "Palombari e Incursori nella Marina Militare" is dedicated to Comsubin, an editorial product for charity purposes, in favor of the Operation Smile foundation.
Those mentioned represent just some of the most significant activities conducted by the armed force in 2018 with an all-round, multilateral, diversified and flexible commitment on different operational and capacity levels in line with the peculiar characteristics of the Navy inserted in a broad integrated inter-force context , international and interacts with the fruitful and synergistic contribution of all the characteristic pillars that support the armed force such as operational, training, logistics / maintenance and that of the Port Authorities - Coast Guard.
The 2019 opens in the wake of continuity with approx 2000 men and women that, even during the holiday period, they operate beyond the horizon as in their homeland, above and below the sea, on land and in the sky, in Italy and abroad, with professionalism, spirit of sacrifice and effectiveness in safeguarding national security and support of the community.
Insights
Atalanta operation
Operation Atalanta, decided by the European Council in November of 2008, is the first military operation with a European-style maritime character, born with the aim of preventing and suppressing piracy in the area of the Horn of Africa (Gulf of Aden and Somali basin ) which continue to pose a threat to the freedom of navigation of merchant traffic and in particular to the transport of humanitarian aid from the World Food Program.
With the 2008 251 10 Council Joint Action 2008 November, the EU has in fact established the first European-led maritime military operation: theAtalanta operation. It is an important element in the European defense policy with the aim of: protecting the ships of the World Food Program, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and other vulnerable units; deter and stop acts of piracy and armed attacks at sea; monitor fishing activities off the coast of Somalia; support the other missions of the European Union and international organizations, working to strengthen maritime security in the region.
The European Naval Force operates in an area between the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, including the Seychelles Islands (a sea area that is comparable to the entire Mediterranean Sea).
High North 18
"High North 18" is part of the commitment of the Navy in the Arctic and is the natural continuation of previous missions in order to consolidate and further develop the results of scientific research in particular in the study of climate change in areas of particular interest. The mission is possible thanks to the capabilities of the Alliance vessel to operate in the polar regions, confirming the consolidated operational flexibility of the Navy which, as part of its dual and complementary functions, is able to carry out scientific research with several national partners and International.
The Navy through the Hydrographic Institute has participated in the Arctic Table for two years, providing specialist support to the EPPR working group (Emergency, Prevention, Preparedness and Response) ofArtic Council. An important element of this activity is the role played by the Navy through the Hydrographic Institute, as a "marine focal point" of the national scientific community in the Arctic.
This important role has been achieved thanks to the establishment of the Department of Geophysics and Oceanography at the Hydrographic Institute and the high dynamism demonstrated by it since its foundation.
The Arctic polar area (along with the Antarctic twin) for its "engine" climate characteristics is crucial to understanding the evolution of climate and its impact on the planet and the global economy.
In this framework where environmental, economic, and geo-strategic aspects blend, the reason for Italy's presence in the Arctic area lies.
Nave Alliance is a multi-purpose research unit that mainly carries out activities conducted by the Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), on behalf of NATO's Science and Technology Organization (STO) . Since March 2016 it has been registered in the register of military vessels and equipped with Navy personnel thanks to an agreement of December 2015 between the Navy and the CMRE.
The activity conducted by ship Alliance therefore represents an important added value in the collection of useful elements of evaluation in many sectors, not least the climatic one.
The Navy, with the help of platforms and tools for the marine research of the Navy Hydrographic Institute, it therefore contributes to improve the knowledge on the evolution of that marine environment to better guarantee the safety and free use of resources.
Education campaigns
This year the Navy's sailing units have been engaged together with the destroyer Luigi Durand De La Penne during the summer period for the training and training of students according to the traditions and ethical values, which yesterday and today continue to inspire the men and women of the sea.
Nave Vespucci brought the tricolor back to Northern Europe, while the ship Palinuro trained in the Central Mediterranean, pushing up to the Black Sea. Nave De La Penne instead touched the Atlantic shores of Central Africa, while the smaller sailing units Great Bear, Caroly e Corsaro II, they gravitated in the central and western Mediterranean.
During the stops in the ports of Africa, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean, the crews and students Officials and Non-commissioned Officers in the formation of the Navy represented Italy and were repaid by the strong affection of the Italian communities residing abroad. . In fact, almost 70.000 were visitors who had the opportunity to board the ships and there were also numerous cultural and promotional events organized with the collaboration of diplomatic representatives that allowed, among other things, to show Italian excellence and the prestige of the Italian Armed Forces.
The education campaigns represent a key element in the training of Navy personnel who are engaged both in navigation and during stops in various national and foreign ports in numerous educational and training activities - such as those carried out in the context of seafaring disciplines , professional and ethical-military training - in order to embrace the values of loyalty, discipline and sense of duty that, yesterday as today, continue to inspire men and women of the sea and to acquire the importance of teamwork , which characterizes every sailor in carrying out the tasks of the armed force at the service of the community.
Safe Sea Operation
Operation SAFE SAFE together with the MM, it represents the defense's response to the Government's provisions following the worsening of the Libyan crisis. Since 12 March 2015, an air-naval device has been deployed at sea with the mission of carrying out, in application of national legislation and international agreements in force, maritime presence, surveillance and security activities in the central Mediterranean.
The task of Operation Mare Sicuro, in light of the aggravation of the terrorist threat, is to strengthen what is already underway by the units of the Navy operating in the Mediterranean with a naval device dislocated in a barycentric way in front of the shores of Libya for ensure the protection of national interests, the protection of communication lines, commercial ships in transit, strategic energy sources of national interest and the surveillance of jihadist formations.
The presence of the aeronaval device on the high seas thus guarantees an important service for the community with an adequate security framework for all the naval means of the State, and not, engaged in search and rescue activities.
Bilateral assistance and support operation in Libya (MIASIT) - Hippocratic Task Force
As part of the collaboration and support provided by the Italian authorities to the government of a Libyan national agreement in the stabilization process of the country and following a specific Libyan request to the Italian government, Parliament authorized the deployment of a field hospital facility in the 2016. Measured area starting from 2017.
The operation, from 1 Jan. 2018, was reconfigured as part of the health and humanitarian support activities provided for by the "Bilateral Assistance and Support Mission in Libya".
The Task Force deployed at the base of the military airport of Misurata consists of about 300 military.
The initial purpose of the mission was to provide health assistance to the Libyan forces involved in combating the presence of Daesh in Libya through the deployment of a military joint military field hospital in support of the civil hospital of Misrata.
With the evolution of the situation in Libya and the progressive reduction of hostilities, the mission has also progressively supported the civil population progressively through health services in support and completion of local health capabilities.
An Italian military medical team provides coordination, advice and training to Libyan medical colleagues. The field hospital, technically defined as ROLE 2, has a capacity of about 30 beds, with departments of first aid, intensive care, radiology, analysis laboratory etc. All with related specialized medical teams.
Starting from the month of September and until February 2019, the Navy deployed a rate of the Marina San Marco Brigade at the Misurata airport.
EunavforMed
The main mandate of the mission Sophia of EUNAFORMED is to undertake systematic efforts to identify and stop ships in suspected migrant smuggling activities, in order to contribute to EU efforts to combat and eliminate the business model of human trafficking in the south-central Mediterranean and prevent the further loss of life at sea.
As of 7 October 2015, as agreed by the EU ambassadors in the Security Committee of 28 September, the operation moved to phase 2 which involves the search and seizure on the high seas of ships suspected of being used for smuggling of human beings.
The mandate of Operation Sophia has been strengthened with the addition of two additional tasks:
- formation of the Coast Guard and the Libyan Navy;
- contribute to the implementation of the arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya in place of the United Nations.
Sea Guardian
The Sea Guardian Operation was born after the Warsaw Summit in July 2016 with the aim of increasing the coordination between the activities of NATO and those of the European Union conducted with the operation Eunavformed Sophia in the Mediterranean area, in order to improve European defense and collective security by ensuring greater synergies and exploiting the peculiarities of each organization.
Sea Guardian is a highly flexible operation that is capable of performing a wide range of maritime security tasks including Maritime Situational Awareness and countering maritime terrorism, while ensuring training in favor of the security forces of the coastal countries (Maritime Security Capacity-Building). In addition to these activities, the naval forces assigned to the operation can carry out activities of maritime interdiction, protection of freedom of navigation, protection of sensitive maritime infrastructures and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
SHIP ITALY
Tender To Nave Foundation ITALY is a non-profit organization established on 10 January 2007 by the Navy and the Italian Yacht Club. The Foundation promotes the culture of the sea and navigation as tools for education, training, rehabilitation, social inclusion and therapy. The beneficiaries are non-profit associations, non-profit organizations, schools, hospitals, social services, public or private companies that promote inclusive actions towards their clients and their families. The main instrument of this association is Nave ITALIA, the biggest sailing brig in the world. Ship ITALY is registered in the framework of the military navy from 19 March 2007 and the crew is formed by personnel of the Navy. The Nave ITALIA project represents a unique and winning model of great commitment and civil solidarity, in which the culture of the sea and navigation, of which the Navy is custodian, become instruments of education, training, rehabilitation, social inclusion and therapy.
RAVA FOUNDATION
The Francesca Rava Foundation - NPH Italia Onlus, born in June of 2000 has like mission childcare in conditions of hardship in Italy and in the world and is particularly busy in Haiti where he realized the NPH Saint Damien Pediatric Hospital, the only free pediatric hospital on the island, schools and many other projects to help 'childhood.
The collaboration between the Rava Foundation and the Navy was born in 2010, during the tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti, when the Cavour ship crossed the ocean to help the affected population. Since then Marina Militare and Fondazione Rava have collaborated together for all humanitarian activities.
OPERATION SMILE
The "A SEA OF SMILES" project began in 2013, but was born after the positive experience of February 2010, when Operation Smile and the Navy collaborated on board the Cavour aircraft carrier for the mission "White Crane”To help the people of Haiti, hit by a violent earthquake. The joint commitment continued during the campaign of the 30th Naval Group, during the circumnavigation of Africa, and continues today thanks to the efficient hospital facilities of Nave Cavour.
The "UN MARE DI SORRISI" project sees together the Navy and the volunteer doctors of the Operation Smile Italia Onlus Foundation, with the common goal of helping children and adults with labiopalatoschisi, and malformations or outbreaks of head and neck malformations. When the units of the naval squad are stopped in port and are not engaged in military missions, they are used as a hospital. The operating rooms available to them are made available to Operation Smile surgeons.
In all these years, thanks to the work of the volunteer surgeons of the foundation and the doctors of the Navy, it has helped to restore the smile to many children. This operation is the best demonstration of how to make a dual use of a military ship.
2019 CALENDAR
The calendar is dedicated to one of the components of excellence of the Armed Forces that boasts a history full of episodes of true heroism: the Underwater Command and Raiders (COMSUBIN). A grouping appreciated worldwide that reveals its close interdependence and synergy with the other components of the Armed Forces instrument of the Armed Forces. The first step of a journey that will touch, in the future, the other specialties, all characterized by high skills, professionalism and peculiar characteristics essential to ensure the safety of the maritime dimension.
The Heroes who have exalted our history, came from various departments of the Armed Forces, but only a few of these can boast a rich history of many episodes of true heroism such as that of divers and Navy raiders. An excellence, that of the Comsubin, appreciated in the world, that the Navy opened for the 2019 Calendar.
The men and women of the navy celebrated in Ancona the day dedicated to 100 years by the historic Premuda Company. The night between the 9 and 10 June 1918 a section composed of the MAS "15" and "21" in command of the captain of corvette Luigi Rizzo it leaves the port of Ancona heading towards the island of Premuda for a normal roundup in order to ascertain the presence of minefields in the area.
During the patrol operations, the units intercept the powerful Austrian naval team consisting of two battleships, a destroyer and six torpedo boats that, leaving the enemy base in Pula, are heading towards the Otranto channel. Thus originated one of the most brilliant naval actions of the First World War, during which, at the conclusion of an attack conducted with incredible audacity and great skill, the commander Rizzo silura and sinking the battleship Santo Stefano.
In Premuda Rizzo solved, without knowing it, a much more important problem than the sinking of a single ship, since the company profoundly modified the implementation of a political and strategic plan that would have led the Austrian forces, in all probability, to obtain the naval supremacy in the Adriatic and perhaps in the Mediterranean.
Luigi Rizzo's torpedoes, hitting an important portion of the Austrian forces and causing the element of surprise to collapse, cut the company off in the bud, forcing the Austrian fleet to definitively give up the ambitious project. Premuda's action also definitively convinced the allies to drop the question concerning the establishment of naval commands in the Mediterranean, leaving total control of the Adriatic to Italy.