The 4 June the aircraft carrier cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi has reached the historic milestone of the thirty-fifth anniversary of its launch and, on this occasion, it is a must to pay homage to the first aircraft carrier of the Navy for its service to the country, exploring its history, origins and operational life.
Built in the Monfalcone Shipyards and launched in 1983, Nave Garibaldi it is the fourth unit that bears the name of the "hero of the two worlds". The first unit was the pirofregata Garibaldi entry into service in the 1860. The second, the armored cruiser launched at the Ansaldo site of Sestri Ponente the 28 June 1899, during its service, during the Italian-Turkish war, was the ship teaches of Admiral Thaon of Revel, distinguished by his brilliant work in the waters of Libya, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The third unit was the light cruiser Garibaldi, launched in 1936, which took part in the Second World War. After the modernization, the unit became the first Italian missile cruiser, remaining flagship of the fleet up to 1971. The current Garibaldi, the first aircraft carrier in the history of the Navy, has held the prestigious role of flagship unit of the Naval Squadron up to 2011.
Conceived to perform command and control functions in complex operations, being able to deploy a substantial aircraft component in the theater, in the last three decades Nave Garibaldi played a key role in various missions to which the Navy took part.
The first activity to which the unit participated was the operation Restore hope in Somalia (1994), in support of amphibious operations for the return of the Italian contingent. Subsequently, the unit joined the UNOSOM Task Force in support of the UN contingent (1995). Employed in the Adriatic Sea in 1999, it played a strategic role by providing operational and logistical support to allied operations for the resolution of the Yugoslav crisis, as part of the DINAK operation. Following the attacks of 2001 it was the command center of the ENDURING FREEDOM operation, remaining continuously at sea for 87 days, covering approximately 20.000 miles.
In the summer 2006 Nave Garibaldi it intervened in the crisis in Lebanon, participating in the LEONTE operation as its headquarters unit. In 2011, it took part in the UNIFIED PROTECTOR operation, aimed at ensuring compliance with the embargo of arms trafficking by sea and the implementation of the no-fly zone towards Libya. Between the 2016 and the 2017, the unit was used as flag-ship operation Sophia, in the EUNAVFORMED device. On that occasion, he spent over 300 days in the theater to counter the trafficking of human beings and weapons in the Mediterranean.
Within the activities of capacity projections on the sea and from the sea, Nave Garibaldi is able to operate in the role of Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA), ie as a unit on which helicopters used to transport troops and materials for use in amphibious operations are loaded.
In recent months the ship has taken part in all the main Armed Forces exercises and national and international interforces, such as the Joint Stars 17-2 , Open Sea 18-1.
"Obey" recites the motto of Nave Garibaldi, to remember the unconditional loyalty to the country and the spirit of self-denial of all the sailors who, over the years, have been part of its crew. A prestigious record that distinguishes the cruiser for the aircraft at the dawn of the 35 springs spent since its launch.
Good wind Garibaldi ship!
