The handover ceremony at the top of the submarine command (MARICOSOM) between Division Admiral Vito Lacerenza and Rear Admiral Francesco Milazzo took place on April 28 at the Italian Navy Submarine Base in Taranto.
The event was attended by the commander in chief of the naval fleet, Admiral Aurelio De Carolis, together with numerous civil, religious and military authorities, testifying to the importance of the occasion for the Navy and the deep bond that unites the Armed Forces to other institutions.
Admiral Lacerenza has handed over command of the submarine component, which he led for over three and a half years. During this intense period, significant steps forward have been made in the development of the national underwater capacity.
Among the main results, it is worth mentioning the launch of the program for the construction of four new U212 class submarines. Near Future Submarine, of which three units are already under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano. The new submarines will enter service between 2029 and 2032, further strengthening the effectiveness and strategic projection of the submarine component.
“In recent years we have consolidated our operational capacity, strengthened interoperability with allies, experimented with new technologies, integrated the underwater dimension into the national strategic posture. - Admiral Lacerenza declared in his speech - The recent threat to critical underwater infrastructure, from cables to pipelines, from energy platforms to digital backbones, has made our role as a pillar of national and collective security even more evident. In this context, our ability to act in depth, autonomously, promptly and discreetly, is more essential than ever".
"It is a role that I take on with great emotion, immense pride and full awareness of the burden of responsibility towards the Navy, towards the Country and towards the men and women who will be under my command. I take command of the submarine component for which an important and ambitious path of further growth has already been traced, which will further consolidate its operational relevance in the Italian Defense and Security system" Rear Admiral Francesco Milazzo underlined.
“In the more than three and a half years of Admiral Lacerenza's command, our submarines have provided an important contribution to the implementation of the naval squadron's maneuver scheme, thanks to the great commitment and admirable dedication of all MARICOSOM personnel. – highlighted in his speech Admiral Aurelio De Carolis - Of particular significance is the high standard of efficiency of the vessels and the level of training of the crews, achieved and constantly maintained, so as to ensure the performance of twenty-six operational missions in national and allied contexts, often very delicate and essential to support ongoing collaborations with other Navies, in the broader context of NATO and in the context of bilateral relations".
The submarine component, a true excellence of the Navy, can count on a fleet of 8 submarines and the work of 700 people, both military and civilian. An elite of specialists, a highly technological reality that contributes to the control of the underwater dimension, the safety of critical infrastructures and the defense of the strategic interests of the country.
