Handover for the Italian flagship of Operation Noble Shield within the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2), typically deployed in the Mediterranean: on February 17th, the frigate ITS Carlo Bergamini (F 590)– under the tactical command of Rear Admiral Pasquale Esposito – relinquished the role of NATO flagship to the offshore patrol vessel ITS Francesco Morosini (P 431).
The Second Standing NATO Maritime Group is one of the four permanent multinational integrated formations constituting the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) and is part of the NATO Response Force (NRF), under the Command of the Allied Maritime Component Command (MARCOM – Northwood).
After completing its deployment, covering over two months and 9,500 nautical miles in the Mediterranean basin conducting surveillance of NATO’s maritime areas of interest and monitoring communication lines, the Bergamini contributed to establishing a comprehensive situational awareness, leveraging the support of specialist teams from the Third Helicopter Group in Catania and the San Marco Marine Brigade.
Shortly, the unit will participate in Operation Secure Mediterranean, serving as the flagship of the operation.
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