In recent days, the commander of the training institutes and of the Depth Forces Israelis, Major General Itai Veruv, was welcomed by the brigade commander, Rear Admiral Massimiliano Giuseppe Grazioso, during a visit to the marine brigade facilities Saint Mark and at the Brindisi naval base.
During the visit, the general was able to witness some peculiar training activities of the brigade, including descent in barbettone (Fast Rope) and abseiling (Rappellig) on walls and containers, hand-to-hand military combat demonstrations (CMCC) and specialized activities against improvised explosive devices (Counter-IED). He was also able to observe some land and amphibious vehicles used by the Fusiliers, including theAmphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV-7) – amphibious tracked vehicle capable of navigating and moving on land.
In the early afternoon, the visit continued to the Landing Craft Group, where the delegation was embarked on some Amphibious Assault Boats (BAA) - high-speed surface vessels - to then test their capabilities during a short navigation in the port sea mirror.
At the same time it was possible to witness a demonstration activity of boarding carried out on the amphibious assault ship "San Marco" by a team of the 2nd regiment of the brigade.
The guests were guided on board by rear-admiral Valentino Rinaldi (commander of the third naval division) and by vessel captain Marco Stocco (commander of Nave Saint Mark) and show the ability to embark and disembark the vehicles (AAV-7) from the ship's dock.
At the end of the visit, in the Federico II Hall of the Federiciano Castle in Brindisi, General Veruv, having appreciated the specificity and versatility of the Amphibious Force of the Navy, thanked the commanders of the marine brigade Saint Mark and of the Third Naval Division underlining the importance of this kind of meeting, specifying the clear and mutual cognitive interest between the Countries and the future desire to be able to program joint activities between the Navies of the two Countries.
