Last April 24 aboard Nave Federico Martinengo, moored at the Fincantieri quay in Muggiano (La Spezia), the administrative handover ceremony of the seventh FREMM (European Multi Mission Frigate) to the Navy took place.
Ship Martinengo takes its name from Rear Admiral Federico Martinengo, an officer admiral with outstanding gifts of mind, heart and character who in the important tasks carried out on board and ashore, during the two world wars, gave proof of profound preparation, of sure faith and courage , and for this decorated with a gold and silver medal for military valor.
The ceremony, in addition to hosting civil and military authorities, took place in the presence of the godmother of the launch of the ship, Mrs. Mina De Caro, wife of the late commander Giuseppe Porcelli. Among the authorities present, the following intervened, taking the floor: the representatives of Fincantieri and Orizzonte Sistemi navali (OSN), the engineer Angelo Fusco and the doctor Giacomo Sardina; the director of the Joint Armaments Cooperation Organization (OCCAR), Mr. Arturo Alfonso-Meirino; the president of the Commission for testing and acceptance, Rear Admiral Livio Ceccobelli; the director of NAVARM, Admiral Chief Inspector Matteo Bisceglia.
Among the characteristic moments of the ceremony, those of greater emphasis and tradition that have been for Nave Martinengo the end of the preparations and the beginning of the operational life were the declaration of taking over the unit read by the frigate captain Andrea Quondamatteo, with whom he formally assumed command, and the flag change ceremony, a juncture in which it is the flag of the Merchant Navy was lowered and that of the Navy was raised ashore.
The unit, with 144 meters in length and 6900 tons of displacement at full load, is the third FREMM in configuration General Purpose (GP) of the seven delivered up to now, while the other four are in ASW configuration (Anti Submarine Warfare). The GP version foresees, as special features, the 127 / 64 stern gun and a stern sled for boat launching.
The delivery of the unit is only the latest in a series of steps that see the New Naval Construction Equipment Center busy every day and consequently the Navy Logistics Command which, among the various and numerous assignments, has ensured that the team naval was populated with a new unit, following over time all the stages of preparation, including the training of the personnel, who have now become the crew of Nave Martinengo, and constantly supporting the Testing and Acceptance Commission.
