Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551)

Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551) is an aircraft carrier of the Italian Navy belonging to the Garibaldi class. Built at the Monfalcone shipyards, the vessel was designed to perform command and control functions for naval and amphibious forces, support amphibious operations, and carry out core operational missions assigned to the Italian Navy. Its air wing can include EH101, SH90A, and AB212 helicopters as well as STOVL AV-8B Plus Harrier II tactical aircraft.

Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551) (picryl)

Design and Operational Capabilities

Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551) is an aircraft carrier designed to conduct command and control functions over naval and amphibious forces. The vessel is configured to fulfill the core operational missions assigned to the Italian Navy through its air assets.

With a medium displacement, Giuseppe Garibaldi carries a variety of weapon systems including anti-ship and anti-air missiles. Equipped with active and passive self-defense systems, the vessel can deploy different air assets according to mission requirements.

The air wing consists of EH101, SH90A and AB212 helicopters and STOVL AV-8B Plus Harrier II tactical aircraft. This configuration enables the vessel to perform maritime control, air-sea combat support, amphibious operations support, and crisis management missions.

Giuseppe Garibaldi can also be employed in a Landing Helicopter Assault role for the transfer of forces from sea to shore. In this capacity, it serves as a platform capable of launching assault helicopters to transport troops and equipment during amphibious operations.

Technical Specifications

The vessel was constructed by Cantieri Navali at Monfalcone. Its launch date was 20 February 1978 and it entered service on 4 June 1983.^【1】

Operational History

Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551) has participated in various missions across the Mediterranean and off the coast of Africa. The vessel has been deployed in operations related to Somalia, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Libya, and has served as a command platform for European Union maritime security missions in the Central Mediterranean.^【2】

Between 18 February and 5 April 1994, Giuseppe Garibaldi was deployed to support Italian forces in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. In 1995, it again supported United Nations forces in Somalia under the UNOSOM Task Force.

Garibaldi C-551 Sailors in Front (picryl)

Between 26 April and 17 June 1999, Giuseppe Garibaldi operated in the Adriatic Sea providing operational and logistical support under the DINAK Operation in Yugoslavia.

From November 2001 to March 2002, the vessel served as an aircraft carrier and command headquarters under Operation Enduring Freedom. During this deployment, it completed approximately 20,000 nautical miles in 87 days of continuous steaming.^【3】During this period, it conducted maritime control, interdiction, and denial operations and served as a flight deck for AV-8B aircraft, which supported coalition air operations in Afghanistan alongside other aircraft.

Between 29 August and 19 October 2006, Giuseppe Garibaldi was deployed to Lebanon first under Operation Mimosa and then under Operation Leonte as a command headquarters. During this deployment, its aircraft monitored commercial convoys bound for Lebanon, while the vessel focused on deploying approximately 1,000 personnel from the Reggimento San Marco, Italian Army amphibious units, and special forces to southern Lebanon.^【4】

In March 2011, during the Lebanon crisis, Giuseppe Garibaldi served as a support vessel under Operation Odyssey Dawn. From 26 March to 26 July 2011, it participated in Operation Unified Protector and served as a command headquarters during part of the mission. The operation, conducted under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973, involved enforcing a naval arms embargo and implementing a no-fly zone over Libya.^【5】During this mission, the vessel steamed continuously for 20,000 nautical miles over 78 days.

From November 2015 to April 2017, Giuseppe Garibaldi was primarily used as the flagship for the European Union’s Operation SOPHIA. The mission aimed to disrupt human trafficking networks in the Central Mediterranean and prevent loss of life at sea.

Decommissioning Process

After more than forty years of operational service, Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551) was administratively placed in reserve status as of 31 December 2024. This decision was based on the vessel reaching the end of its operational life and its technical and operational obsolescence.

The decommissioning process cited structural wear and aging of onboard systems as primary factors. Despite modernization efforts over the years, its command and control capabilities, self-defense systems, integration with modern air systems, and logistical sustainability were deemed incompatible with current technological and doctrinal standards.^【6】

The introduction of newer, more flexible, interoperable, and multi-domain operational classes also contributed to the decision to decommission Giuseppe Garibaldi. The vessel’s current configuration is stripped of operational offensive capabilities; its weapon systems are non-operational and its combat functions have been removed. Only essential elements for safety, onboard living, and navigation systems have been retained to enable its transit for transfer purposes.^【7】

Transfer to Indonesia

Following its decommissioning, Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551) has been designated for无偿 transfer from Italy to Indonesia. On 19 February 2026, the Italian Minister of Defense submitted a draft inter-ministerial decree to Parliament regarding the无偿 transfer of the vessel to the Republic of Indonesia Navy. The draft was referred to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Senate. The deadline for committee opinions was set for 16 March 2026.

On Tuesday, 28 April 2026, the Italian Parliament approved the plan to gift Giuseppe Garibaldi to Indonesia.^【8】 This decision marks a key stage in the process of transferring the vessel, which was placed in reserve in 2024. Italy aims to complete the transfer by December 2026.

Documents related to the transfer list the vessel’s total estimated value at approximately €54,022,426.67.^【9】 It was noted that the transfer would not impose additional costs on the Italian state budget, as the Ministry of Defense did not commit to any new expenditures.

During the transfer process, Giuseppe Garibaldi will be stripped of its operational offensive capabilities. Its weapon systems will be non-operational, and only essential components for safety, onboard living, and navigation systems will be preserved. This configuration is intended solely to enable safe transit for the transfer.

The transfer is motivated by the goal of strengthening cooperation and defense relations between the armed forces of Italy and Indonesia. The Italian government stated that the transfer is viewed as support for Indonesian institutions and that defense equipment sharing could enhance interoperability between the two countries.^【10】 Indonesia, for its part, noted that accepting the gift would save time compared to purchasing a new vessel and that the ship could be useful for disaster and emergency management.

Financial considerations were also emphasized in the transfer process. For Italy, maintaining the vessel would have incurred approximately €5 million in annual maintenance costs for 2025, covering electricity consumption, security, surveillance, and minimal efforts to preserve habitability and integrity. If the vessel were not transferred, an alienation process for scrapping would have been required, estimated to take at least 24 months and cost approximately €18.7 million.^【11】