Editor's Foreword

2 Luigi Durand de la Penne (ex-Animoso) each with 2
quad (8 eff.) with 8 Milas AS/Mk 2 Otomat SSM, 1 Mk
13 GMLS with 40 SM-1 MR SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT
(6 eff.) each with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Albatros octuple with
16 Aspide SAM, 1 127mm gun, (capacity 1 AB-212 (Bell
212) utl hel)
FRIGATES • FFG 12:
4 Artigliere each with 8 single each with 1 Mk 2 Otomat
SSM, 1 Albatros octuple with 8 Aspide SAM, 1 127mm
gun, (capacity 1 AB-212 (Bell 212) utl hel)
8 Maestrale each with 4 single with 4 Mk 2 Otomat SSM,
1 Albatros octuple with 16 Aspide SAM, 2 triple 324mm
ASTT (6 eff.) each with Mk 46 LWT, 2 single 533mm
ASTT each with A-184 Black Shark HWT, 1 127mm gun,
(capacity 2 AB-212 (Bell 212) utl hel)
CORVETTES • FS 8 Minerva (4 fitted) with 1 Albatros
octuple (8 eff.) with Aspide SAM, 1 76mm gun
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 14
PSOH 10:
4 Cassiopea each with 1 76mm gun, with 1 AB-212 (Bell
212) utl hel
6 Comandante Cigala Fuligosi 4 with 1 76mm gun,
(capacity 1 AB-212 (Bell 212) or 1 NH-90 utl hel)
PCO 4 Esploratore
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 12
MHC 12: 8 Gaeta; 4 Lerici
AMPHIBIOUS
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LPD 3
2 San Giorgio each with 1 76mm gun (capacity 3-5 hel
EH101 ASW hel; NH-90; SH3-D; AB-212; 1 CH-47
Chinook spt hel; 3 LCM 2 LCVP; 30 trucks; 36 APC (T);
350 troops)
1 San Giusto with 1 76mm gun, (capacity 4 EH101 Merlin
ASW hel; 1 CH-47 Chinook spt hel; 3 LCM 2 LCVP; 30
trucks; 36 APC (T); 350 troops)
CRAFT 26: 17 LCVP; 9 (+4 in build) LCM
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 87
AORH 3: 1 Etna (capacity 1 EH-101 or 1 NH-90); 2
Stromboli (capacity 1 EH-101 or 1 NH-90)
AOT 4
ARS 1
AKSL 6
AWT 3
AG 2
AGI 1
AGS 3: 1; 2 (coastal)
ABU 5
ATS 7
AT 9 (coastal)
TRG 9: 7 AXS; 2
YDT 2
YTL 32
fACILITIEs
Bases Located at La Spezia (HQ), Taranto (HQ), Brindisi,
Augusta
naval aviation 2,200
fORCEs By ROLE
FGA Fixed wing strike unit with AV-8B Harrier II
naTO Europe
143
ASW 5 sqn with AB-212AS (Bell 212 ASW/ASUW);
EH-101; SH-3D Sea King; EH-101
Aslt hel some sqn with SH-3D Sea King; AB-212 (Bell
212)
Trg Flight with TAV-8B Harrier
EQUIPMENT By TyPE
AIRCRAFT 17 combat capable
FGA 15 AV-8B Harrier II
TRG 2 TAV-8B Harrier
HELICOPTERS 41 attack helicopters
ASW 41: 25 AB212 ASW/ASuW; 8 EH-101 ASW; 8 SH-
3D ASW/ASuW Sea King
SPT 20: 8 EH-101 ASH; 8 SH-3D ASH Sea King; 4 EH-
101 EW
UTL 6 AB-212ASH (Bell 212)
MSL
ASM AGM-65 Maverick; some Marte Mk 2
AAM AIM-120 AMRAAM; AIM-9L Sidewinder
Marines 2,000
fORCEs By ROLE
Op 1 San Marco regt (1,300 Marine)
Log 1 regt
LC 1 gp
EQUIPMENT By TyPE
APC (T) 40 VCC-2
AAV 18 AAV-7
ARTY • MOR 12: 81mm 8 Brandt; 120mm 4 Brandt
AT • MSL• MANPATS 6 Milan
AD • SAM • MANPAD FIM-92A Stinger
Special Forces command
fORCEs By ROLE
Diving 1 op
Navy SF 1 op
SF 1 comd
fACILITIEs
Centre 1 (Research)
School 1
Air force 42,935
4 Commands – Air Sqn Cmd (air defence, attack, recce,
mobility, support, force protection, EW ops); Training;
Logistics; Operations (national and international
exercises)
fORCEs By ROLE
Ftr 2 sqn with F-2000A Typhoon; 3 sqn with
F-16A/ F-16B Fighting Falcon on lease
FGA 2 sqn with Tornado IDS; 3 sqn with AMX
Ghibli (50% of 1 sqn devoted to recce)
ECR/SEAD 1 sqn with Tornado ECR*
MR 1 sqn opcon Navy with BR 1150 Atlantic*
EW/Tpt/Tkr 1 sqn with G-222VS, B-767MRTT
CSAR 4 sqn with HH-3F Pelican*
SAR 1 det with AB-212
Spt 1 sqn with AB-212 ICO
Europe (naTO)