Italian National Royal Navy (Kingdom of Italy)

Italian National Royal Navy
Regia Marina Nazionale Italiana
The Coat of Arms of the Italian National Royal Navy
Active	1861-Present
Country	Italy
Branch	Navy
Size	42,612 personnel 335 vessels (including minor auxiliaries) 150 aircraft
Part of	Italian Armed Forces
Headquarters	Città Militare Cecchignola, Rome, Italy
Anniversaries	1 March 1948 (Establishment of the National Republican Navy) 1 March 2013 (Establishment of the Italian National Royal Navy)
Engagements	III War of Independence World War I African War
Insignia
Jack
Aviation roundel
Naval Ensign

The Italian National Royal Navy (Italian: Regia Marina Nazionale Italiana; abbreviated as R.M.N.I.) is the maritime defence force of the Kingdom of Italy. It is one of the four branches of Italian Armed Forces and was formed in 1948 from the Savoy-related Regia Marina. As of August 2019, the Navy had a strength of 42,612 personnel with 335 vessels (incl. minor auxiliaries) in service.

Strategic context

The position of the Kingdom of Italy is peculiar; while having the metropolitan territory in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, the most important landmass - the Italian East Africa - lies on the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, Libya faces Sicily and allows the projection towards Sahara and beyond.
The main security concerns for the Kingdom of Italy are to maintain access to the Black Sea, to the Gulf of Guinea and to the Red Sea and, consequently, to the Indian Ocean, as well as to provide defence to the Sicily Channel, the Thyrrenian Sea (also known as "The Mediterranean Fortress") and the Adriatic Sea. Alongside with these concerns, also a main goal of the Italian National Royal Navy is to protect Italian trade from piracy, to deter and counter piracy and armed terrorism within its own borders and to keep vital choke points at least accessible.

Corps of the Navy

The Italian National Royal Navy is divided into seven corps (by precedence): five officers corps, one corps dedicated to the other ranks, and the Coast Guard Corps, which groups both officers and other ranks.

• Corpo di stato maggiore – Corps of Staff Officers (SM) (line officers);
• Corpo del genio navale – Corps of Naval Engineering (GN);
• Corpo delle armi navali – Corps of the Naval Arms (AN);
• Corpo sanitario militare marittimo – Maritime Military Medical Corps (MD for medics; FM for Pharmacists);
• Corpo di commissariato militare marittimo – Corps of Military Maritime Commissariat (CM) (administration);
• Corpo della Guardia costiera – Coast Guard Corps (CP);
• Corpo degli equipaggi militari marittimi – Corps of the Military Maritime Crews (CEMM).

Overall organization

The Italian National Royal Navy depends on the Duce, who is commander in chief of the Armed Forces, and, operationally, by the Ministry of National Defence, through the Defence General Staff. The Navy then has an its own Staff with its own Chief of Staff, on whom all other organs depend:

• Naval Squadron,
• Arditi Incursori,
• Logistic Command,
• Schools Command
• Navy Hydrographic Institute
• Strategic Oceanic Force
• Higher Command for Italian East Africa.

In addition, the Coast Guard Corps depends on the Navy for certain matters. Today the Italian Navy has several bases outside metropolitan territory: Biserta, Calibia, La Goletta, Sfax, Tripoli, Bengasi, Porto Palermo, Durazzo, and Mogadiscio.

General Staff

The General Staff of the Italian National Royal Navy is the high command of the Navy in charge of planning the objectives and strategic programs of armed force. The operating arm is CINCNAV, Commander in Chief of the Naval Fleets. The main tasks of the General Staff are to carry out study, research, development and general direction, while leaving strategic decisions to the General Staff of Defence and its units.

Organization

At the head of the General Staff is the Under-Chief of Staff. The General Staff is organised according a layered structure:

• 7 Units: personnel, planning, infrastructure, submarines, aircraft, military transports, projects and studies, logistics;
• 9 Offices: legal affairs and litigation, planning and financial planning, general affairs and external relations; special forces, schools, Watch Coordination, Communication, administrative responsibility, CC.RR. for the Navy;
• 2 Inspectorates: logistics and health.

Each of the Staff Units in turn controls some institions and bodies.

Hydrographic Institute of the Navy

The Hydrographic Institute of the Navy (Italian: Istituto Idrografico della Marina) is one of the mapping organs of the state (together with the Land Registry, the Centre Aeronautical Geo-Topographical Information, the Military Geographic Institute, the Geological Survey). It has among its aims the improvement of the safety of maritime navigation, the development of knowledge of the seas, the facilitation the conduct of the Navy units. The Institute's campaign activity is carried out today with the Magnaghi, Arethusa, and Galatea ships, which also serve as a spy-ships.

Naval Squadron Command

Coat of Arms of CINCNAV.

Command of the Italian Fleet (ships, submarines and amphibious forces) and Naval aviation falls under Commander in Chief Naval Suadron (Italian: Comandante in Capo della Squadra Navale, CINCNAV), a Naval Squadron Admiral. The main duty of CINCNAV is the preparation and continuous use of air and naval and amphibious forces under its authority to oversee the maritime spaces of national interest. The Italian National Royal Navy units assigned to the Mediterranean Sea are framed in the Naval Fleet, directly employed by CINCNAV. The units not framed in the Naval Squadron are allocated to the various functional departments. The Mediterranean Naval Squadron is divided into seven commands:

• Offshore Forces Command (COMFORAL);
• Coastal Patrol Forces Command (COMFORPAT);
• Landing Forces Command (COMFORANF);
• Naval Aviation Command (COMAVINAV);
• Underwater Forces Command (COMFORSUB);
• Mine Countermeasures Force Command (COMFORDRAG);
• Auxiliary Forces Command (COMFORAUS).

Offshore Forces Command

The Offshore Forces Command (Comando Forze d'Altura, COMFORAL) is divided into Naval Groups. The Naval Groups are the line formations of the Navy, and in turn they control auxiliary local ships (MARISTAV). At any time, at least one Naval Group is ready to deploy in 72 hours outside the Mediterranean Sea. The Command mostly employs dedicated surface warships, such as aircraft and helicopter carriers, landing helicopter docks, destroyers, frigates and multipurpose offshore/heavy patrol vessels. The aircraft carrier "Roma" is the flagship of the whole fleet. In the Mediterranean Sea there are five Naval Divisions:

• COMDIVNAV 1: HQ Ancona;
• COMDIVNAV 2: HQ Taranto: traditionally the most important Naval Division;
• COMDIVNAV 3: HQ La Spezia;
• COMDIVNAV 5: HQ La Valletta;
• COMDIVNAV 6: HQ Palermo.

Coastal Patrol Forces Command

The Coastal Patrol Forces Command (Comando delle Forze da Pattugliamento per la Sorveglianza e la Difesa Costiera, COMFORPAT) is a command of the Naval Squadron. The task of the units under its control is the presence and surveillance of the maritime spaces, ensuring in particular in the Sicilian Channel the vigilance on fishing activity, the collaboration to protect the national maritime environment, the patrolling of both metropolitan and colonial Exclusive Economic Zone , the fight against migratory flows directed towards Italy also in cooperation with the North African navies.
The COMFORPAT, which is led by a rear admiral, is subdivided into:

• COMSQUACORV1, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight corvettes of the Minerva-class;
• COMSQUACORV2, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight corvettes of the Minerva-class;
• COMSQUACORV3, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight corvettes of the Minerva-class (based in La Goletta);
• COMSQUACORV4, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight corvettes of the Minerva-class (based in Tripoli);
• COMSQUAPAT1, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight Constellazioni-class offshore patrol vessels;
• COMSQUAPAT3, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight Comandanti-class offshore patrol vessels;
• COMSQUAPAT4, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight Constellazioni-class offshore patrol vessels (based in Biserta);
• COMSQUAPAT5, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight Comandanti-class offshore patrol vessels (based in Bengasi);
• COMSQUAPAT6, which is led by a vessel captain, consists of eight Comandanti-class offshore patrol vessels (based in La Valletta).

For a total of 64 ships.

Landing Forces Command

The Landing Forces Command (Italian: Comando della Forza Anfibia, COMFORANF) is the Italian Navy command superordinate to both the "Andrea Doria" Marine Brigade and of the Joint Projection Force from the sea.

The Landing Forces Command oversees:

• Nave San Marco;
• Nave San Giusto;
• Nave San Giorgio;
• Marine Brigade "Andrea Doria";
• 1st Lagunari Brigade "San Marco": Army formation also subject to the 6th Quick Action Corps;
• 3rd Marine Infantry Brigade "3rd January": G.N.R. formation;
• "M" Landing Infantry Regiment "San Giorgio".

Marine Brigade "Andrea Doria"

The Marine Brigade "Andrea Doria" (Italian: Brigata Marina "Andrea Doria", BRIMARANDOR) is the Navy landing force and the main component of the Landing Forces Command. It has its command in Brindisi. They are the marines of the Italian National Royal Navy. The Marine Brigade "Andrea Doria" is the Navy component of the Joint Landing Force (Forza Congiunta da Sbarco) with the Army 1st Marine Infantry Brigade "San Marco", the 3rd Marine Infantry Brigade "3 Gennaio" and the "M" Landing Infantry Regiment "San Giorgio" of the Italian National Royal Guard. The Commander, COMFORANF, is the overall commander of the Joint Landing Force.

As of 2018, the Marine Brigade "Andrea Doria" was organised as follows:

• Headquarters and Headquarters Service Command;
• Command Support Battalion - assets directly employed by the Commander (Reconnaissance Company, C4 Company, Technical Support Company);
• 1st Regiment "Andrea Doria" - amphibious landing force:
  • Command Battalion (Command Company with an Air Support Element team, Signal Company, Parachutist Diver Company, Combat Engineer Platoon, HUMINT Platoon, 2 Platoons with Supporting Arms Liaison Team);
  • 1st Assault Battalion Grado (Battalion HQ, 3 Assault Companies, 1 Fire Support Company);
  • 2nd Assault Battalion Venezia (Battalion HQ, 3 Assault Companies, 1 Fire Support Company);
  • 3rd Combat Support Battalion Golametto (Battalion HQ, Command Platoon, Logistic Company, Tactical Transportations Company, Medical Company);
• 2nd Regiment "Andrea Doria" - maritime interdiction operations and embarked protection teams:
  • Command Platoon;
  • Naval Operations Battalion (3 Naval Operations Companies);
  • Interdiction and Protection Battalion (Force Protection Company, Port Protection Company);
• 3rd Regiment "Andrea Doria" - naval installation protection:
  • Regiment HQ;
  • Installation Protection Battalion "Nord" (Battalion HQ, 3 Installation Protection Companies);
  • Installation Protection Battalion "Centro" (Battalion HQ, 3 Installation Protection Companies) - protecting the Navy General Staff in Rome;
  • Installation Protection Battalion "Sud" (Battalion HQ, 3 Installation Protection Companies);
  • 1st Honour Guard Company;
  • National Emergency Company;
  • Marine Brigade Band;
• 10th Training Battalion Caorle (Battalion HQ, Training Company, Specialization Company);
• 11th Battalion "Isole Minori";
• Landing Craft Group - manages smaller vessels and fast landing craft;
  • Propulsion and hull Section;
  • Beach organization Section;
  • Naval Section.

11th Battalion "Isole Minori"

The 11th Battalion "Isole Minori" is an infantry unit set up for the purpose of garrisoning Pantelleria, Lampedusa, Piana, Cercara and Zembra Islands in the Strait of Sicily. The Battalion consists of five reinforced motorised infantry companies, one for each island, and of a command element, located in Agrigento. Each Company consists of an infantry element augmented by rocket and mechanised reinforcements.
The Battalion is known to be nicknamed "The Nomadic Unit", because throughout its history it has been part of the M.V.S.N. (1975-1992), of the Italian Army (1992-2005) and, most recently, of the Italian Navy (from 2005).

Naval Aviation Command

The Naval Aviation Command (Italian: Comando dell'Aviazione Navale, COMAVINAV) has all the Navy's aircraft, both fixed and rotating wing, located in the bases on the ground, and is responsible for their training, preparation and employment.

Underwater Forces Command

The Underwater Forces Command (Italian: Comando delle Forze Subacquee, COMFORSUB) is based in Rome and is headed by a Rear Admiral. Directly dependent on COMFORSUB, there is COMFLOTSOM (Submarine Flotilla Command) whose headquarters are in Taranto.

Submarines Flotilla Command

The Submarines Flotilla Command (Italian: Comando Flottiglia Sommergibili, COMFLOTSOM) carries out the tasks of force provider, ensuring the readiness of the vessels, the training of the crews and the technical-logistical support for the submarines. From COMFLOTSOM depend on:

• General services support department
• Technical-logistic support department
• Administrative service
• Training / training support department
  • Submarine school
• Operational support department

The Submarine Forces Detachment (MARIDISOM) of the Higher Command Italian East Africa depends on the COMFLOTSOM for non-operational purposes. On the COMFLOTSOM directly depend the Submarines assigned to the Mediterranean Sea which are not part of the Strategic Oceanic Force: a total of 15 SSKs.

Logistic Command

The Logistic Command (Italian: Comando Logistico) is responsible for the requirements of logistics management of the Italian National Royal Navy. The Logistic Command of the Navy is subdivided into:

• Logistics Command East: HQ Ancona (jurisdiction for Albania, Montenegro, Rhodes and Dodecanese, as well as for Italian East Coast);
• Logistics Command Libya: HQ La Valletta (jurisdiction for Libya, Channel of Sicily, Malta, Lampedusa, Pantelleria and Pianosa);
• Logistics Command West: HQ Livorno (jurisdiction for Tyrrhenian and Ligurian Seas, as well as for Italian West Coast, Sicilian Northern Coast, Sardinia and Corsica);
• Logistics Command Italian East Africa: HQ Mogadishu (jurisdiction for Read Sea and Indian Ocean, as well as for Abyssinia, Eritrea and Somalia).

The area logistics commands depend on the Logistic Command for logistic tasks and functions; depend on the Chief of Staff of the Navy for territorial tasks and functions; Logistical Command Italian East Africa depends on the Higher Command.

Naval Commands

The Naval Commands are responsible for the general and administrative logistical support of the offices of the Navy present in the territory, the other armed forces intervene in competition, supervise activities at sea in order to contribute to the safety of navigation. Furthermore, together with the civil authorities, it plans the activities concerning the state property, supervises the representation activities and the mobilization of personnel.

Italy is divided into four maritime commands:

• Northern Naval Command (MARINORD), HQ Genoa: corresponding to Military Command North and Military Command North East of the Army;
• Southern Naval Command (MARISUD) HQ Naples: corresponding to Military Command South with the exception of Sicily and Malta;
• Central and Capital Naval Command (MARICAP): corresponding to Military Command Centre;
• Sicily Naval Command (MARISICILIA): in charge for Sicily, its isles and Malta and the Channel of Sicily.

Higher Commands

Missile frigate Caio Duilio at bay in Tunisi, United Kingdom of Libya.

The Higher Commands (Italian: Comandi Superiori) are R.M.N.I. commands which deal with defence issues related to the realms of the Italian Empire other than Italy. These Higher Commands are held by an Naval Squadron Admiral, and retain an high degree of autonomy from the Navy Staff: in peacetime they are under almost full operational control of their Higher Commander (Comandante Superiore), which in turn depends on the Chief of Navy Staff, with. However, in wartime, they depend only on the Defence General Staff, on the Joint Operations Command and on CINCNAV. It is to note that local Governments have no authority over the relevant Higher Command or Command (although they do have authority on their own Coast Guards). As of 2013, only the Higher Command Italian East Africa exists, while sea defence of the Mediterranean Sea is carried out by three Commands directly part of the central organization. Mediterranean Commands have mainly logistical and administrative functions.

Higher Command Italian East Africa

The Higher Command "Italian East Africa" (Italian: Comando Superiore Africa Orientale Italiana, COMSUPAOI, HQ Massaua) is a detachment of the Navy with jurisdiction for Read Sea and Indian Ocean, as well as for Abyssinia, Eritrea and Somalia. Navy Higher Command AOI exercises command and control authority over R.M.N.I. forces deployed within its jurisdiction. It is to note that the both Air Force and Army Higher Command AOI have the same territorial boundaries of the Navy Higher Command AOI (although of course a very different scope), in order to ease the cooperation and the coordination between them.
COMSUPAOI has four basic strategic missions. Firstly, it must ensure coverage of the outside steps of the steps they place in the Red Sea and then in the Mediterranean Sea (Gulf of Aden and Mandeb Straits), so as to protect the focal areas and terminals of the Italian lines of communication. Therefore, it is responsible for maintaining the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea in a safe state. Finally, it is the designated command to make any overseas operations in the area and also provides support to any allied marine operations in the oceans.
While Mediterranean-based Commands are merely territorial and functional subdivisions of the Naval Squadron, Higher Command Italian East Africa retains a significant operational autonomy. It is internally organized in order to sustain and conduct operations and management with a significant autonomy degree. It has therefore an its own organization, exercising also territorial functions, organised on six Detachments:

• Offshore Forces Detachment (COMDIVNAV 4);
• Naval Aviation Detachment (DIAVINAV);
• Submarine Forces Detachment (MARIDISOM);
• Mine Countermeasures Force Detachment (DIFORDRAG);
• Coastal Patrol Force Detachment (COMSQUAPAT2);
• Auxiliary Ships Detachment (DINAVAUS);
• Logistics Command Italian East Africa.

Offshore Forces Detachment

The Offshore Forces Detachment (Distaccamento Forze d'Altura, i.e. Naval Group 4, COMDIVNAV 4) is the naval group tasked to operate in the Italian Eastern Africa. In order to fulfull its missions, it has an above-than-average strength with 15 major ships:

• 1 Landing helicopter dock: Nave Trento (Trieste-class);
• 3 Destroyers: Nave Caio Duilio (Orizzonte-class), Nave Caio Catulo (Orizzonte-class, colonial variant), Nave Volusio Proculo (Ammiragli-class, colonial variant);
• 7 Frigates: Nave Libeccio (Comandanti-class), Nave Aliseo (Comandanti-clas, colonial variants), Nave Luigi Rizzo (Comandanti-class, colonial variant), Nave Carlo Bergamini (Comandanti-class, colonial variant), Nave Orsa, Nave Perseo (Costellazioni-class, colonial variant), Nave Lupo (Lupo-class, colonial variant);
• 2 Offshore patrol vessels: Nave Legionario (Soldati-class, colonial variant), Nave Squadrista (Soldati-class, colonial variant);
• 2 Supply ships: Nave Euganea (Vulcano-class, colonial variant), Nave Berica (Vulcano-class, colonial variant).

Coastal Patrol Force Detachment

Assigned to the Higher Command Italian East Africa, the Coastal Patrol Force Detachment (Distaccamento di Squadra di Pattuglia, i.e. COMSQUAPAT2) is in charge to conduct surveillance to Somali and Eritrean Exclusive Economic Zone, as well as to patrol Bar el Mandab straits and the oceanic coastline of Somalia. The activity is carried out in cooperation with Somali and Eritrean Coast guards. In order to fulfull its missions, it has an above-than-average strength with 12 ships:

• 6 Minerva-class Corvettes;
• 6 Constellazioni-class Patrol vessels.

Strategic Oceanic Force

The Strategic Oceanic Force (Italian: Forza Oceanica Strategica FOROCESTRA) is the command, distinct from the Underwater Forces Command (COMFORSUB) and directy under the Naval Staff, which operates the nuclear attack (SSN) and nuclear strategic missile (SSBN) submarines. The mission of an Italian Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine is simple: leave the designated port of attachment, in the most discrete possible way, remain undetectable all along the mission to be able at any moment launch a nuclear strike, under orders of the Duce.
The operational base of the Strategic Oceanic Force near Taranto provides support and coordination for the maintenance of weapons systems and SSBNs. Its security on the ground is ensured, in 2017, by 360 riflemen and 120 G.N.R. Legionnaires. The FOROCESTRA also has an its own communication network. The FOROCESTRA is placed under the command of a Squadron Admiral.
Four Italian nuclear ballistic missile submarines of a newer generation, the Triumphus class, are in service in 2013 in the Strategic Oceanic Force of the Italian National Royal Navy:

• Triumphus;
• Fortis;
• Vigilans;
• Terribilis.

List of active Italian Navy ships

Aircraft carrier vessels

Impero-class aircraft carrier

• Nave Impero.

Trieste-class landing helicopter dock

• Nave Trieste;
• Nave Trento;
• Nave Vittorio Veneto.

Amphibious transport docks

San Marco-class landing platform dock

• Nave San Marco;
• Nave San Giusto;
• Nave San Giorgio.

Destroyers

Orizzonte-class

• Nave Caio Duilio
• Nave Caio Catulo
• Nave Andrea Doria
• Nave Benedetto Zaccaria
• Nave Raniero Dandolo
• Nave Alvise Mocenigo
• Nave Agostino Barbarigo

Ammiragli-class

• Nave Volusio Proculo
• Nave Gaio Livio Salinatore
• Nave Marco Atilio Regolo
• Nave Marco Vipsanio Agrippa
• Lucio Emilio Regillo

Logistic and Support Ships

Vulcano-class Logistic Support Ship

• Nave Vulcano
• Nave Etna
• Nave Berica
• Nave Euganea

San Camillo-class Hospital Ship

• Nave San Camillo

Rank insignia

The Italian Armed Forces, and therefore the Italian National Royal Navy, have complete sets of rank insignia, military badges and military uniforms, in order to display the unity of action of every member and body; this improves the esprit de corps, and contributes to the identity formations of both the collective body. The distinctive badge common to all State armed units (i.e. Army, Navy, Air Force and Police Corps) is made up of the military five-points stars, in opposition to Roman Gladius and the laurel wreath of the Party armed units.

R.M.N.I. Special Ranks insignia
Special rank	Capo di Stato Maggiore di Forza Armata	Capo di Stato Maggiore dela Difesa
English translation	Chief of Service Staff	Chief of Defence Staff
Corresponding Navy rank (Italian)	Ammiraglio di Squadra con Incarichi Speciali	Ammiraglio d'Armata
Corresponding Navy rank (UK)	Vice-Admiral	Admiral
Cuff insignia

R.M.N.I. officers ranks and insignia
Navy rank	Aspirante	Guardiamarina	Sottotenente di Vascello	Tenente di Vascello	Capitano di Corvetta	Capitano di Fregata	Capitano di Vascello	Contrammiraglio	Ammiraglio di Divisione	Ammiraglio di Squadra
English translation	Aspiring	Ensign	Vessel Underlieutenant	Vessel Lieutenant	Corvette Captain	Frigate Captain	Vessel Captain	Rear-Admiral	Division Admiral	Squadron Admiral
Corresponding Navy rank (UK)	Officer Cadet	Midshipman	Sub-Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Lieutenant Commander	Commander	Captain	Commodore	Rear admiral	Vice admiral
Cuff insignia

R.M.N.I. Subofficers ranks and insignia
Navy rank	Capo di Terza Classe	Capo di Seconda Classe	Capo di Prima Classe
English translation	Chief, 3rd Class	Chief, 2nd Class	Chief, 1st Class
Corresponding Navy rank (UK)	Warrant officer class 2	Warrant officer class 1
Cuff insignia

R.M.N.I. Enlisted ranks and insignia
Navy rank	Marinaio Comune di Seconda Classe	Marinaio Comune di Prima Classe	Sottocapo	Sottocapo di Seconda Classe	Sottocapo di Prima Classe	Secondo Capo
English translation	Seaman 2nd Class	Seaman 1st Class	Underchief	Underchief, 2nd Class	Underchief, 1st Class	Second Chief
Corresponding Navy rank (UK)	Seaman	Able rate		Leading rate	Petty officer	Chief Petty Officer
Sleeve insignia	No insignia

See also

• Italian National Royal Army (Kingdom of Italy)
• Italian National Royal Guard (Kingdom of Italy)
• Coast Guard (Kingdom of Italy)
• Military Information Service (Kingdom of Italy)
• Military of the Kingdom of Italy