"Fatherland and Honour"
, patron =
, colors =
, colors_label =
, march = ( is the return of soldiers to their barrack, or sailors to their ship after a leave) by Tommaso Mario
, mascot =
, equipment =
, equipment_label =
, battles =
, anniversaries = 10 June – Sinking of the
Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
battleship ''
SMS Szent István
SMS ''Szent István'' (His Majesty's Ship ''Saint Stephen'') was the last of four dreadnought battleships built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. ''Szent István'' was the only ship of her class to be built within the Hungarian part of the Austr ...
'' by
Luigi Rizzo
Luigi Rizzo, 1st Count of Grado and Premuda (1887–1951), nicknamed ''the Sinker'', was an Italian admiral. He is mostly known for his distinguished service in World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviat ...
, decorations = 1 Cavalier Cross of the Military Order of Savoy
3 Cavalier's Crosses of the
Military Order of Italy
The Military Order of Italy ( it, Ordine Militare d'Italia) is the highest military order of the Italian Republic and the former Kingdom of Italy. It was founded as the Military Order of Savoy, a national order by the King of Sardinia, Vittor ...
2
Gold Medals of Military Valor 1
Silver Medal of Military Valor
The Silver Medal of Military Valor ( it, Medaglia d'argento al valor militare) is an Italian medal for gallantry.
Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on 21 May 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, ...
1
Gold Medal for Merited Public Honor
Gold is a chemical element with the Symbol (chemistry), symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a Brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, s ...
, battle_honours =
, commander1 =
ammiraglio di squadra
The rank insignia of the Italian Navy are worn on epaulettes of shirts and white jackets, and on sleeves for navy jackets and mantels.
Rank structure
Officers
Notes:
1 The rank of ''"ammiraglio"'' (admiral) is assigned to the only naval off ...
Enrico Credendino
Enrico Credendino (born 21 January 1963) is an officer of the Italian Navy. He was appointed Chief of the Italian Navy in November 2021.
He joined the Navy in 1980 and attended the Italian Naval Academy.
He commanded the patrol vessel ''Spica' ...
, commander1_label =
Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy
The Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy ( it, Capo di Stato Maggiore della Marina Militare) is the commander of the Italian Navy
List of chiefs of staff
Kingdom of Italy
Italian Republic
References
{{Ch ...
, commander2 =
ammiraglio di squadra
The rank insignia of the Italian Navy are worn on epaulettes of shirts and white jackets, and on sleeves for navy jackets and mantels.
Rank structure
Officers
Notes:
1 The rank of ''"ammiraglio"'' (admiral) is assigned to the only naval off ...
Claudio Gaudiosi
Vice Admiral Claudio Gaudiosi is an Italian Navy officer, currently serving as deputy chief of staff of the Italian Navy.
He served as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi, ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi ...
, commander2_label = Deputy Chief of Naval Staff
, commander3 =
, commander3_label =
, notable_commanders =
, identification_symbol =
![Roundel of Italy – Low Visibility – Type 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Roundel_of_Italy_%E2%80%93_Low_Visibility_%E2%80%93_Type_1.svg)
![Roundel of Italy – Naval Aviation](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Roundel_of_Italy_%E2%80%93_Naval_Aviation.svg)
, identification_symbol_label = Roundels
, identification_symbol_2 =
![Naval Ensign of Italy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Naval_ensign_of_Italy.svg)
, identification_symbol_2_label = Ensign
, identification_symbol_3 =
![Naval Jack of Italy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Naval_jack_of_Italy.svg)
, identification_symbol_3_label = Jack
, identification_symbol_4 =
, identification_symbol_4_label =
, aircraft_attack =
, aircraft_bomber =
, aircraft_electronic =
, aircraft_fighter =
, aircraft_helicopter =
, aircraft_interceptor =
, aircraft_patrol =
, aircraft_recon =
, aircraft_trainer =
, aircraft_transport =
The Italian Navy ( it, Marina Militare, , Military Navy; abbreviated as MM) is the
navy
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...
of the
Italian Republic
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
. It is one of the four branches of
Italian Armed Forces
The Italian Armed Forces ( it, Forze armate italiane, ) encompass the Italian Army, the Italian Navy and the Italian Air Force. A fourth branch of the armed forces, known as the Carabinieri, take on the role as the nation's military police and ar ...
and was formed in 1946 from what remained of the ''
Regia Marina
The ''Regia Marina'' (; ) was the navy of the Kingdom of Italy (''Regno d'Italia'') from 1861 to 1946. In 1946, with the Italian constitutional referendum, 1946, birth of the Italian Republic (''Repubblica Italiana''), the ''Regia Marina'' ch ...
'' (Royal Navy) after World War II. , the Italian Navy had a strength of 30,923 active personnel, with approximately 184 vessels in service, including minor auxiliary vessels. It is considered a multiregional and a
blue-water navy
A blue-water navy is a maritime force capable of operating globally, essentially across the deep waters of open oceans. While definitions of what actually constitutes such a force vary, there is a requirement for the ability to exercise sea cont ...
.
History
Before and during World War II
The ''Regia Marina'' was formed on 17 March 1861, after the
proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy
The proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy was the formal act that sanctioned the birth of the unified Kingdom of Italy. It happened with a normative act of the Savoyard Kingdom of Sardinia — the law 17 March 1861, n. 4761 — with which Victor ...
. The Italian Navy assumed its present name after the Italian monarchy was abolished following a popular referendum held on 2 June 1946.
After World War II
At the end of its five years involvement in
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Italy was a devastated nation. After the end of hostilities, the ''Regia Marina'' – which at the beginning of the war was the fourth largest navy in the world, with a mix of modernised and new battleships – started a long and complex rebuilding process. The important combat contributions of the Italian naval forces after the signing of the armistice with the Allies on 8 September 1943, and the subsequent cooperation agreement on 23 September 1943, left the Regia Marina in a poor condition, with much of its infrastructure and bases unusable and its ports mined and blocked by sunken ships. However, a large number of its naval units had survived the war, albeit in a low efficiency state, which was due to the conflict and the age of many vessels. The vessels that remained were:
* 5 battleships
* 10 cruisers
* 10 destroyers
* 20 frigates
* 20 corvettes
* 50 fast coastal patrol units
* 50
minesweeper
A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping.
History
The earliest known usage of ...
s
* 19 amphibious operations vessels
* 5
school ship
A training ship is a ship used to train students as sailors. The term is mostly used to describe ships employed by navies to train future officers. Essentially there are two types: those used for training at sea and old hulks used to house classr ...
s
* 1 support ship and plane transport
The peace treaty
The
peace treaty
A peace treaty is an agreement between two or more hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a state of war between the parties. It is different from an armistice
An armistice is a formal agreement of warring ...
signed on 10 February 1947 in Paris was onerous for Regia Marina. Apart from territorial and material losses, also the following restrictions were imposed:
* A ban on owning, building or experimenting with atomic weapons, self-propulsion projectiles or relative launchers, etc.
* A ban on owning battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines and amphibious assault units.
* A ban on operating military installations on the islands of
Pantelleria
Pantelleria (; Sicilian: ''Pantiddirìa'', Maltese: ''Pantellerija'' or ''Qawsra''), the ancient Cossyra or Cossura, is an Italian island and comune in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and east of the Tunis ...
,
Pianosa
Pianosa () is an island in the Tuscan Archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. It is about in area, with a coastal perimeter of .
Geography
In Roman times the island was named ''Planasia'' (plain) because of its flatness – its highest poin ...
and on the archipelago of the
Pelagie Islands
The Pelagie Islands ( it, Isole Pelagie; scn, Ìsuli Pilaggî), from the Greek , meaning "open sea", are the three small islands of Lampedusa, Lampione, and Linosa, located in the Mediterranean Sea between Malta and Tunisia, south of Sicily. T ...
.
![CV Aquila LaSpezia Jun51 NAN5-63](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/CV_Aquila_LaSpezia_Jun51_NAN5-63.jpg)
The treaty also ordered Italy to put the following ships at the disposals of the victorious nations United States,
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
, Great Britain, France,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
,
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...
and
Albania
Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...
as war compensation:
* 3 battleships: ''Giulio Cesare'', ''Italia'', ''Vittorio Veneto'';
* 5 cruisers: ''Emanuele Filiberto Duca d'Aosta'', ''Attilio Regolo'', ''Scipione Africano'', ''Eugenio di Savoia'' and ''Eritrea'';
* 7 destroyers, 5 of the and ''Augusto Riboty'' and ''Alfredo Oriani'';
* 6 minesweepers: like ''Aliseo'' and ''Fortunale'';
* 8 submarines: 3 of the ''Acciaio'' class;
* 1 sailing school ship: ''Cristoforo Colombo''.
The entry into NATO
Great changes in the international political situation, which were developing into the Cold War, convinced the United Kingdom and United States to discontinue the transfer of Italy's capital ships as war reparations. Some had already been dismantled in
La Spezia
La Spezia (, or , ; in the local Spezzino dialect) is the capital city of the province of La Spezia and is located at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the southern part of the Liguria region of Italy.
La Spezia is the second largest city ...
between 1948 and 1955, including the aircraft carrier . However, the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
demanded the surrender of the battleship ''Giulio Cesare'' and other naval units designated for transfer. The
cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles.
The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...
s ''Attilio Regolo'' and ''Scipione Africano'' became the French ''Chateaurenault'' and ''Guichen'', while ' became the Greek ''Elli''. After break up and/or transfers, only a small part of the fleet remained to be recommissioned into the Marina. As Western attention turned to the Soviets and the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
, Italian seas became one of the main sites of confrontation between the two superpowers, contributing to the re-emergence of Italy's naval importance thanks to her strategic geographical position.
With the new elections in 1946, the Kingdom of Italy became a republic, and the Regia Marina took the name of ''Marina Militare'' (). As the
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was an American initiative enacted in 1948 to provide foreign aid to Western Europe. The United States transferred over $13 billion (equivalent of about $ in ) in economic re ...
began to rebuild Italy and Europe was rapidly being divided into two geopolitically antagonistic blocs, Italy began talks with the United States to guarantee adequate security considerations. The US government in
Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered on ...
wished to keep its own installations on the
Italian Peninsula and relaxed the Treaty restrictions by including Italy in the Mutual Defense Assistance Programme (MDAP). On 4 April 1949, Italy joined the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
(NATO) and, in order for the navy to contribute actively in the organization, the Treaty restrictions were definitively repealed by the end of 1951, with the consent of all of Western nations.
Within NATO, the Italian Navy was assigned combat control of the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...
and
Strait of Otranto
The Strait of Otranto ( sq, Ngushtica e Otrantos; it, Canale d'Otranto; hr, Otrantska Vrata) connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width at Punta Palascìa, east of Salento is less than . The st ...
, as well as the defence of the naval routes through the
Tyrrhenian Sea
The Tyrrhenian Sea (; it, Mar Tirreno , french: Mer Tyrrhénienne , sc, Mare Tirrenu, co, Mari Tirrenu, scn, Mari Tirrenu, nap, Mare Tirreno) is part of the Mediterranean Sea off the western coast of Italy. It is named for the Tyrrhenian pe ...
. To ensure these tasks a (Study on the development of the Italian Navy with reference to the Atlantic Pact) was undertaken, which researched the structures and the methods for the development of the navy.
Naval ensign
![Naval Ensign of Italy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Naval_ensign_of_Italy.svg)
The
ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
of the Italian Navy is the
flag of Italy
The national flag of Italy ( it, Bandiera d'Italia, ), often referred to in Italian as ''il Tricolore'' ( en, the Tricolour, ) is a tricolour (flag), tricolour featuring three equally sized vertical Pale (heraldry), pales of green, white and red, ...
bearing the coat of arms of the Italian Navy. The shield's quarters refer to the four Medieval Italian
Maritime Republics
The maritime republics ( it, repubbliche marinare), also called merchant republics ( it, repubbliche mercantili), were Thalassocracy, thalassocratic city-states of the Mediterranean Basin during the Middle Ages. Being a significant presence in I ...
:
* 1st quarter: on red, a golden winged lion (the
lion of St. Mark
The Lion of Saint Mark, representing Mark the Evangelist, pictured in the form of a winged lion, is an aspect of the Tetramorph. On the pinnacle of St Mark's Cathedral he is depicted as holding a Bible, and surmounting a golden lion which is ...
) wielding a sword (
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...
)
* 2nd quarter: on white field, red cross (
Republic of Genoa
The Republic of Genoa ( lij, Repúbrica de Zêna ; it, Repubblica di Genova; la, Res Publica Ianuensis) was a medieval and early modern maritime republic from the 11th century to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast. During the Lat ...
)
* 3rd quarter: on blue field, white
Maltese cross
The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically.
It is a heraldic cross variant which developed f ...
(
Republic of Amalfi
The Duchy of Amalfi () or the Republic of Amalfi was a ''de facto'' independent state centered on the Southern Italian city of Amalfi during the 10th and 11th centuries. The city and its territory were originally part of the larger '' ducatus Ne ...
)
* 4th quarter: on red field, white
Pisan cross (
Republic of Pisa
The Republic of Pisa ( it, Repubblica di Pisa) was an independent state centered on the Tuscan city of Pisa, which existed from the 11th to the 15th century. It rose to become an economic powerhouse, a commercial center whose merchants dominated ...
)
The coat of arms is surmounted by a golden crown, which distinguishes military vessels from those of the merchant navy.
The crown, , was proposed in 1939 as a conjectural link to the
Roman navy
The naval forces of the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman state ( la, Classis, lit=fleet) were instrumental in the Roman conquest of the Mediterranean Basin, but it never enjoyed the prestige of the Roman legions. Throughout their history, the Romans re ...
by Admiral
Domenico Cavagnari
Domenico Cavagnari (20 July 1876, Genoa – 2 November 1966, Rome) was an Italian admiral and the Chief of Staff of the Regia Marina from 1934 until 1940.
Early life and career
Born to a pharmacist, he enrolled in the Accademia Navale di Liv ...
, then a member of the
Chamber of Fasces and Corporations
Chamber of Fasces and Corporations ( it, Camera dei Fasci e delle Corporazioni) was the lower house of the legislature of the Kingdom of Italy from 23 March 1939 to 5 August 1943, during the height of the regime of Benito Mussolini's National Fas ...
in the Fascist government. In the proposal, Adm. Cavagnari wrote that "in order to recall the common origin
f the Navy
F, or f, is the sixth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounced ), and the plural is ''efs''.
Hist ...
from the Roman mariners, the Insignia will be surmounted by the towered Crown with , the emblem of honour and valour the
Roman Senate
The Roman Senate ( la, Senātus Rōmānus) was a governing and advisory assembly in ancient Rome. It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being established in the first days of the city of Rome (traditionally founded in ...
awarded to the leaders of naval victories, conquerors of lands and cities across the seas".
A further difference is that St. Mark's lion, symbolising the Republic of Venice, does not hold the gospel in its paw (as it does on
the civil ensign, where the book is open at the words "", meaning "peace to you, Mark, my evangelist") and is wielding a sword instead: such an image is consistent with the pictorial tradition from Venetian history, in which the book is shown open during peacetime and closed during wartime.
Structure and organisation
Organization
In 2012 the Navy began a restructuring process that will see a 21% decrease in personnel by 2025. A new structure was implemented in January 2014.
Coast Guard
The
Corps of the Port Captaincies – Coast Guard
The Corps of the Port Captaincies – Coast Guard () is the coast guard of Italy and is part of the Italian Navy under the control of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Its head office is in Rome.
Missions
The missions of the Itali ...
() is the
coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...
of Italy and is part of the Italian Navy under the control of the
Ministry of Infrastructures and Transports. In Italy, it is commonly known as simply the ''Guardia costiera''. The Coast Guard has approximately 11 000 staff.
Corps
The Italian Navy is divided into six corps (by precedence):
* – Staff Officers Corps (SM):
line officer
In the United States Armed Forces, a line officer or officer of the line is a U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps commissioned officer or warrant officer who exercises general command authority and is eligible for operational command positions, as ...
s
* –
Navy Engineers Corps (GM)
** – Marine engineering branch (GM/GN):
engineer officer
An engineering officer can be a Merchant Navy engineer or a commissioned officer with responsibility for military engineering, typically used in the British Armed Forces.
In the Royal Navy, Engineering Officers are responsible for the materi ...
s
** – Naval ordnance branch (GM/AN): weapon engineer officers
** – Infrastructure engineering (GM/INFR):
civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing ...
officers
* – Maritime Military Medical Corps: (MD) for medics, (FM) for pharmacists
* – Military Maritime Supply Corps (CM):
administration
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...
,
paymaster
A paymaster is someone appointed by a group of buyers, sellers, investors or lenders to receive, hold, and dispense funds, commissions, fees, salaries (remuneration) or other trade, loan, or sales proceeds within the private sector or public secto ...
,
legal executive
Legal executives are a form of trained legal professional in certain jurisdictions. They often specialise in a particular area of law. The training that a Legal Executive undertakes usually includes both vocational training (a minimum of 3 years ...
,
supply
Supply may refer to:
*The amount of a resource that is available
**Supply (economics), the amount of a product which is available to customers
**Materiel, the goods and equipment for a military unit to fulfill its mission
*Supply, as in confidenc ...
,
logistics officer
A logistics officer is a member of an armed force or coast guard responsible for overseeing the support of an army, air force, marine corps, navy or coast guard fleet, both at home and abroad. Logistics officers can be stationary on military base ...
* –
Port Captaincies Corps (CP): the coast guard
* – Military Maritime Crews Corps (CEMM)
Fleet
Command of the Italian Fleet (ships, submarines and amphibious forces) and
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...
falls under the
Commander in Chief Naval Fleet
The Commander in Chief Naval Fleet (Italian: ') (CINCNAV) is a post in the Italian Navy that is responsible for the operational aspects of the Italian Navy, including ships, submarines and aircraft.
The post was established in 1952 and since 1972 ...
.
Equipment
Ships and submarines
Today's Italian Navy is a modern navy with ships of every type. The fleet is in continuous evolution, and as of today oceangoing fleet units include: 2 light
aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...
s, 3
amphibious assault ship
An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault. The design evolved from aircraft carriers converted for use as helicopter carriers (and, as ...
s, 4
destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort
larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
s, 11
frigate
A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat.
The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
s and 8
attack submarine
An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels. In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called "mul ...
s. Patrol and littoral warfare units include: 10
offshore patrol vessels
Offshore may refer to:
Science and technology
* Offshore (hydrocarbons)
* Offshore construction, construction out at sea
* Offshore drilling, discovery and development of oil and gas resources which lie underwater through drilling a well
* O ...
, 10
mine countermeasure vessel
A mine countermeasures vessel or MCMV is a type of naval ship designed for the location of and destruction of naval mines which combines the role of a Minesweeper (ship), minesweeper and minehunter in one hull. The term MCMV is also applied collec ...
s, 4 coastal
patrol boat
A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and the ...
s, and a varied fleet of
auxiliary ship
An auxiliary ship is a naval ship designed to support combatant ships and other naval operations. Auxiliary ships are not primary combatant vessels, though they may have some limited combat capacity, usually for purposes of self-defense.
Auxil ...
s are also in service.
The flagship of the fleet is the
carrier ''Cavour''.
Aircraft
The Italian Navy operates a diverse fleet of aircraft including fixed-wing, rotary and UAVs.
File:Marina Militare AV-8B Harrier II.jpg, AV-8B Harrier II
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) AV-8B Harrier II is a single-engine ground-attack aircraft that constitutes the second generation of the Harrier family, capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL). The aircraft is primaril ...
File:Agusta-Westland EH-101-410 Merlin, Italy - Navy JP7306257.jpg, EH-101-410 Merlin
File:NH Industries NH-90NFH, Italy - Navy JP7306250.jpg, SH-90A
File:Schiebel Camcopter S-100 at ILA 2010.jpg, Camcopter S-100
The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 is an Austrian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using a rotorcraft design.
Design and development
Produced by the Austrian company Schiebel, it was developed from 2003 to 2005. With a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of ...
Future
* 2 x
''Bergamini''-class general purpose (Enhanced, with ASW capabilities) frigates, being built to replace two vessels from the Italian FREMM-class build program that were transferred to Egypt in 2020 and 2021; delivery is anticipated in the 2025–26 period.
The 2014 Naval Act allocated Euro 5.4 billion for the following vessels:
* 1 x
''Trieste'' landing helicopter dock
A landing helicopter dock (LHD) is a multipurpose amphibious assault ship which is capable of operating helicopters and has a well deck. The United States Navy (USN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) use the term as a hull classification symbo ...
(L9890), for commissioning in 2023 (with 4 landing craf
Vittoria LC23 and 2 combat boa
Baglietto MNI15 to replace
CVL Giuseppe Garibaldi (551)
* 7 x
''Thaon di Revel''-class Offshore patrol vessel
A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval ship, naval vessel generally designed for Coastal defence and fortification, coastal defence, Border control, border security, or law ...
/
frigate
A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat.
The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...
, for commissioning between 2021 and 2026, with three more on option
The 2017 budget allocated 12.8 billion (2017–2032 years) for the following ships:
* 1 x
Special & Diving Operations – Submarine Rescue Ship (SOD – SuRS), to replace the
submarine rescue ship
A submarine rescue ship is a surface support ship for submarine rescue and deep-sea salvage operations. Methods employed include the McCann Rescue Chamber, deep-submergence rescue vehicles (DSRV's) and diving operations.
List of active subm ...
''Anteo'' (A 5309)
* 1 x
Major Hydro-oceanographic Ship (NIOM), to replace the
hydrographic survey
Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration/offshore oil drilling and related activities. Strong emphasis is placed ...
vessel
''Ammiraglio Magnaghi'' (A5303)
* 12 x minehunters to replace the
''Lerici'' and ''Gaeta''-class minehunters:
** 8 x Cacciamine Nuova Generazione-Costieri (CNG-C, New Generation Minehunter – Coastal) for homeland security roles (about 800 t and 57 m)
** 4 x Cacciamine Nuova Generazione-Altura (CNG-A, New Generation Minehunter – Ocean-going) for expeditionary roles (about 1,300 t and 75–80 m)
* 8 x
European Patrol Corvette
European Patrol Corvette (EPC or PPX) is a Permanent Structured Cooperation, Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) project that was adopted by the European Council on 12 November 2019. The objective is to design and develop a new class of war ...
s in a joint program with France (about 3,200 t)
The 2018 budget allocated about 1 Billion Euros for:
* 2 x
U212NFS attack submarine
An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels. In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called "mul ...
s, for commissioning in 2027–2029, with two more on option to maintain a fleet of eight submarines
The "Documento Programmatico Pluriennale 2021–2023" funds the following ships:
* 2 x 11,000-ton ''DDX''-class destroyers, a development of the
Horizon-class to replace the
''Durand de la Penne''-class guided missile destroyer
A guided-missile destroyer (DDG) is a destroyer whose primary armament is guided missiles so they can provide anti-aircraft warfare screening for the fleet. The NATO standard designation for these vessels is DDG, while destroyers who have a prim ...
s by 2028 to 2030
* 3 x
''Vulcano''-class logistic support ships, to replace
''Vesuvio'' (A5329) and
''Etna'' (A 5326)
* 1 x UBOS, diving support vessel
* 10 x MTC, coastal transport vessels to replace the
''Gorgona''-class and
''Ponza''-class
* 4 x training vessels
* MLU Mid-Life Update of the
''Horizon''-class destroyers
;Planned:
* 3 x
amphibious transport dock
An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform dock (LPD), is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. Several navies currently operat ...
s, to replace the
''San Giorgio''-class amphibious transport dock
An amphibious transport dock, also called a landing platform dock (LPD), is an amphibious warfare ship, a warship that embarks, transports, and lands elements of a landing force for expeditionary warfare missions. Several navies currently operat ...
s (about 18,000 t)
* 1 x
electronic surveillance ship to add to the existing
''Elettra'' (A 5340)
* 1 x submarine and minehunter support ship
For the
Naval Aviation
Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...
the Navy plans to expand for replace the following assets:
* 9 x
maritime patrol aircraft
A maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), also known as a patrol aircraft, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, or by the older American term patrol bomber, is a fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long durations over water in maritime patrol roles ...
(currently 4 x
ATR 72
The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop, short-haul regional airliner developed and produced in France and Italy by aircraft manufacturer ATR (french: Avions de transport régional or it, Aerei da Trasporto Regionale), a joint venture formed b ...
MP in service)
* 30 x heavy helicopters (currently 22 x
AW101
The AgustaWestland AW101 is a medium-lift helicopter in military and civil use. First flown in 1987, it was developed by a joint venture between Westland Helicopters in the United Kingdom and Agusta in Italy in response to national requiremen ...
in service)
* 12 x light utility helicopters, a new acquisition of
AW169
The AgustaWestland AW169 is a twin-engine, 10-seat, 4.8t helicopter developed and manufactured by the helicopter division of Leonardo (formerly AgustaWestland, merged into Finmeccanica since 2016). It was designed to share similarities with the ...
helicopters
* 16 x tactical
unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...
s (currently 10 x
ScanEagle
The Boeing Insitu ScanEagle is a small, long-endurance, low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing, and is used for reconnaissance. The ScanEagle was designed by Insitu based on the Insitu SeaScan, a co ...
in service)
For the
San Marco Marine Brigade
The "''San Marco''" Marine Brigade ( Italian: ''Brigata Marina "San Marco"'') is an amphibious formation of the Italian Navy, has been brigade since 2013 but the amphibious corps existed since 1915, reorganizing the Navy Landing Force. It has its ...
, the Navy plans to acquire following assets:
* 72 x
ACV 1.1 amphibious 8x8 combat vehicles
* 90 x
VTMM Orso armored 4x4 vehicles
Rank structure
See also
*
Italian Armed Forces
The Italian Armed Forces ( it, Forze armate italiane, ) encompass the Italian Army, the Italian Navy and the Italian Air Force. A fourth branch of the armed forces, known as the Carabinieri, take on the role as the nation's military police and ar ...
*
Uniforms of the Italian Armed Forces
The uniforms of the Italian Armed Forces includes the official dress worn by members of the Italian Armed Forces while on duty. Each branches of the Italian Armed Forces, the Italian Army, the Italian Navy, the Italian Air Force, and the Carabin ...
*
Gruppo Sportivo della Marina Militare
The Gruppo Sportivo della Marina Militare is the sport section of the Italian armed force, Italian Navy.
Are part of the G.S. Marina Militare the athletes mainly of the water sports.
History
The first gold medal at the Olympic Games was won by th ...
*
List of active Italian Navy ships
This is a list of active Italian Navy ships. The navy maintains approximately 181 ships in service, including minor auxiliary vessels. The fleet has started a process of renewal that will see 50 ships retired by 2025 and replaced by 30 multi-mis ...
*
List of decommissioned ships of the Italian Navy
This is a list of decommissioned vessels of the Italian Navy since 1949.
Submarines
Battleships
Cruisers
Destroyers
Frigates
Corvettes
Torpedo boats
Gunboats
Hydrofoil missile boats
Minesweeper
Minelayer
...
*
Regia Marina
The ''Regia Marina'' (; ) was the navy of the Kingdom of Italy (''Regno d'Italia'') from 1861 to 1946. In 1946, with the Italian constitutional referendum, 1946, birth of the Italian Republic (''Repubblica Italiana''), the ''Regia Marina'' ch ...
References
External links
Marina Militare official site
{{Authority control
Marina Militare
1946 establishments in Italy