Italian Aircraft Carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi (551) - Combat Operations

Combat Operations

The "Garibaldi" has participated in combat operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Libya.

• Balkans. In 1999 with the Kosovo War, Italy committed Harrier AV-8B II+ fighters embarked aboard the Garibaldi, from 13 May to early June 1999, 30 sorties were carried out in 63 hours of flight. The planes have used Mk 82 GBU-16 bombs and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. The Italian naval force in addition to the aircraft carrier Garibaldi, with its air group, also included the frigate Zeffiro.

• Afghanistan. Italy participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, following the attacks of 11 September 2001 and the war on terror declared by U.S. President Bush. The Giuseppe Garibaldi was engaged as a command ship of GRUPNAVIT I, 1 Italian Shipping Group, which also included besides the frigate Zeffiro Garibaldi, the patrol team and the airman supplier in Etna. Set sail from Taranto 18 November 2001, training in the Indian Ocean from December 3, 2001 to March 1 next, returning to Taranto March 18, 2002. During the mission, the AV-8B Harrier unit carried out 288 missions for a total of 860 hours of flight, tasks carried out included interception/interdiction, sea and air support, and aircraft interdiction in Afghanistan.

• Libya. Participating in the 2011 military intervention in Libya after the transfer of authority to NATO and the decision to participate in strike air-ground operations, the Italian government assigned under NATO command four Italian Navy AV-8B plus (from Garibaldi) in addition to Italian air force aircraft. As of 24 March, the Italian Navy was engaged in Operation Unified Protector with the light aircraft carrier Garibaldi, the Maestrale-class frigate Libeccio and the Etna-class auxiliary ship Etna. Additionally the Horizon-class frigate Andrea Doria and Maestrale-class frigate Euro were patrolling off the Sicilian coast in an air-defence role. In total, until the end of the mission in Libya, the eight Italian Navy AV-8Bs flying from the carrier "Garibaldi" dropped 160 guided bombs during 1221 flight hours.