View source for Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi

{{Short description|Italian aircraft carrier}}{{other ships|Italian ship Giuseppe Garibaldi}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551).jpg
| Ship caption = ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' in 2004
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = Italy
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Italy|naval}}
| Ship name = ''Giuseppe Garibaldi''
| Ship namesake = [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]
| Ship builder = [[Fincantieri]], Monafalcone Shipyard,  [[Monfalcone]] ([[Gorizia]])
| Ship original cost = [[Italian lira|Lire]] 428 [[billion]] (1981) (equivalent to [[Euro|€]]903.63 million in 2019)
| Ship laid down = 26 March 1981<ref name="autogenerated66">{{cite book |last=Gardiner |first=Robert |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1982, Part One: The Western Powers |location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press |date=1983 |isbn=0-87021-918-9 |pages=66 |url=https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse |url-access=registration }}</ref>
| Ship launched = 11 June 1983
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 30 September 1985
| Ship decommissioned = 1 October 2024
| Ship In service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship struck = 
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship homeport = [[Taranto]]
| Ship motto = ''Obbedisco'' ("I Obey")
| Ship identification = [[Pennant number]]: 551
| Ship honours = 
| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = Retired
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = 
| Ship type = [[Anti-submarine warfare carrier|ASW]] [[aircraft cruiser]]/[[aircraft carrier]]
| Ship displacement = *- {{convert|10,100|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=in}} (standard)
*- {{convert|13,850|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=in}} (full load)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/garibaldi.htm |title=Giuseppe Garibaldi Portaeromobili |publisher=GlobalSecurity |access-date=1 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021648/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/garibaldi.htm |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*- {{convert|14,150|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=in}} (full load, after 2003 MLU)
| Ship length = {{convert|180.2|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|33.4|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = {{convert|8.2|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = *- 4 × [[Avio|General Electric/Avio]] [[General Electric LM2500|LM2500]] [[gas turbine]]s, {{convert|60,400|kW|abbr=on}}
*- 6 × diesel engine generators [[:it:Grandi Motori Trieste|Grandi Motori Trieste]] B230/12, {{convert|9,360|kW|abbr=on}} with electric generator Ansaldo-Elettrital, {{convert|1,560|kW|abbr=on}} each
| Ship speed = {{convert|30|kn|abbr=on}}+
| Ship range = {{convert|7000|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|20|kn|abbr=on}}
| Ship complement = *- 830, of which:
*550 Crew
*up to 180 for Fleet Air Arm
*up to 100 [[C4ISTAR|C<sup>4</sup>]] staff
| Ship sensors = *- [[Leonardo-Finmeccanica|Selenia]] MM/SPS-768 (RAN 3L) long-range radar
*- [[Leonardo-Finmeccanica|Selenia]] SPS-774 (RAN-10S) early warning radar
*- [[Hughes Aircraft Company|Hughes]] AN/SPS-52C early warning, E band radar
*- [[Leonardo-Finmeccanica|Selenia]] SPS-702 CORA surface search radar
*- 2 × GEM Elettronica SPN-749 navigation radar
*- [[Leonardo-Finmeccanica|Selenia]] SPN-728 approach radar
*- 3 × [[Leonardo-Finmeccanica|Selenia]] RTN-30X fire control radar, for Albatross/Aspide
*- 3 × [[Leonardo-Finmeccanica|Selenia]] RTN-20X fire control radar, for CIWS 40/70 mm
*- [[Raytheon]] DE 1160 LF hull sonar (replaced by WASS DMS-2000 in 2003)
*- [[Leonardo-Finmeccanica|Selenia]] CMS SADOC-3
*- [[TACAN]] Face Standard URN-25
| Ship EW = *- Elettronica Spa SLQ-732 jamming system
*- 2 × [[OTO Melara]] SCLAR decoy launcher
*- [[AN/SLQ-25 Nixie]] towed torpedo decoy
| Ship armament = *2 × Mk.29 octuple launcher for [[AIM-7 Sparrow|Sea Sparrow]]/[[Selenia Aspide]] [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]]
*3 × [[Oto Melara]] Twin 40L70 [[DARDO]]
*2 × 324&nbsp;mm triple torpedo tubes
*4 × [[Otomat|Otomat Mk 2]] [[Surface-to-surface missile|SSMs]] (removed in 2003)
| Ship armour = 
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = *up to 18
*[[AV-8B Harrier II]] fighter/bombers
*[[SH-3 Sea King|Augusta SH-3D]] or [[AgustaWestland AW101]] helicopters (ASW, ASH and AEW)
| Ship notes = flight deck is length {{convert|174.0|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|30.0|m|abbr=on}} wide
}}
|}

'''''Giuseppe Garibaldi''''' was an Italian [[aircraft carrier]], the first through-deck aviation ship ever built for the [[Italian Navy]], and the first Italian ship built to operate [[Carrier-based aircraft|fixed-wing aircraft]]. Although she was widely recognised as a carrier first and foremost, she was officially designated as an [[Aircraft cruiser|aircraft-carrying cruiser]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marina.difesa.it/uominimezzi/navi/Pagine/Garibaldi.aspx |lang=it |accessdate=14 June 2023 |date=11 August 2016 |title=Garibaldi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811114326/http://www.marina.difesa.it/uominimezzi/navi/Pagine/Garibaldi.aspx |archive-date=2016-08-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39262/all-you-need-to-know-about-italys-f-35-carrier-that-just-arrived-in-the-us |work=The War Zone |accessdate=14 June 2023 |title=All You Need To Know About Italy's F-35 Carrier That Just Arrived In The US |author=Thomas Newdick |date=15 February 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://naval-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/italy/aircraft-carrier-giuseppe-garibaldi.php |encyclopedia=Naval Encyclopedia |accessdate=14 June 2023 |title=Giuseppe Garibaldi, 1st Italian STOVL carrier |author=Dreadnaughtz |date=17 March 2023 }}</ref> 

The ship was equipped with [[STOVL|short take-off and vertical landing]] (STOVL) aircraft and helicopters. ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' was involved in combat air operations off [[Somalia]], [[Kosovo]], [[Afghanistan]] and [[Libya]].

==Design==
[[File:Giuseppe Garibaldi, C551.svg|thumb|left|''Giuseppe Garibaldi''{{'}}s deck layout]]
[[File:551-baltimora-19.jpg|thumb|left|[[SH-3 Sea King]] on deck]]

The ship was powered by four [[Fiat]] [[COGAG]] [[gas turbine]]s built under license from [[General Electric|GE]], offering a sustained power of 81,000&nbsp;hp (60 MW). Driving two shafts the ship had a maximum speed of {{convert|30|kn}} and could travel for {{convert|7000|nmi}} at around {{convert|20|kn}}.

The ship was equipped with four [[Otomat|Otomat Mk2]] short range [[surface-to-surface missile]] system installed at the stern of the vessel (removed in 2003 to improve the [[flight deck]] and [[satellite communication]]s) and two ILAS three triple tube [[torpedo]] launchers. Defences was provided by two eight-cell [[Surface-to-air missile|SAM]] launchers firing the [[SARH]] ''[[Aspide]]'' missile, and three [[Oto Melara]] Twin 40L70 [[DARDO]] [[CIWS]].

The ship also had several [[Electronic countermeasures|countermeasures]], including two SCLAR twenty-barrel launchers for [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|chaff]], [[decoy]], flares, or jammers, the [[SLQ-25 Nixie]] and SLAT anti-torpedo systems and [[Electronic countermeasures|ECM]] systems.

{{stack|[[File:Italian TAV-8B Harrier II.jpg|thumb|right|A ''Marina Militare'' TAV-8B Harrier II aboard ''Giuseppe Garibaldi''|alt=Front view of two-seat grey jet fighter on aircraft carrier deck. A directive personnel is close by.]]}}

The air arm consisted of a maximum of sixteen [[McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II|AV-8B Harrier IIs]] and two [[search and rescue]] helicopters, or eighteen [[Agusta|Agusta helicopters]] or a mix of helicopters and fighters. The flight deck had the characteristic off-axis design with a 6.5-degree [[Aircraft ski-jump|ski-jump]] for [[STOL]] aircraft; it was {{Convert|174|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{Convert|30.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20161231072758/http://www.military-today.com/navy/giuseppe_garibaldi.htm Giuseppe Garibaldi – light aircraft carrier]}} military-today.com</ref>

A 1937 law gave control of all national fixed-wing air assets to the [[Italian Air Force]], and the navy was only permitted to operate helicopters. At the time of the ship's commissioning of ''Garibaldi'', the [[Italian Naval Aviation]] did not receive her Harriers, so it was reclassified as an ''Incrociatore portaeromobili'' (Italian for ''Aircraft carrying cruiser''). Until 1988 only Italian helicopters landed on her deck, as well as [[Royal Navy]] Sea Harriers during NATO joint maneuvers. The ban on fixed-wing aircraft was lifted in 1989, and the Italian Navy acquired Harrier II fighters to fly from the ''Giuseppe Garibaldi''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationclassics.co.uk/news/the-harrier-abroad |title=Issue 11 – Harrier: The Harrier Abroad |publisher=Aviation Classics |date=28 July 2011 |access-date=1 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101220112/http://www.aviationclassics.co.uk/news/the-harrier-abroad |archive-date=1 January 2015 }}</ref>

The ship underwent a modernization in 2003 and a major restructuring in 2013.

==Construction==
The ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' was the fourth ship of the [[Italian Navy]] to be named after the 19th-century Italian General [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]]. All four ships, including the missile cruiser, together with an image of Garibaldi, were depicted in the crest.

Built by [[Fincantieri]] (Italcantieri) at the [[Monfalcone]] shipyards on the [[Gulf of Trieste]], it was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 26 March 1981,<ref name="autogenerated66"/> [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 11 June 1983, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 30 September 1985. 

==Career==
[[File:USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) with the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi (C-551).jpg|thumb|left|''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' and the US aircraft carrier {{USS|Harry S. Truman|CVN-75|6}} operate near each other in the [[Atlantic Ocean]] while participating in Majestic Eagle 2004, a multinational [[war exercise]] conducted off the coast of [[Morocco]]]]
''Garibaldi'' was classed as an [[anti-submarine warfare carrier]] (ASW), and was based in [[Taranto]].

In 1999 with the [[Kosovo War]] in the Balkans, Italy committed Harrier AV-8B II+ fighters embarked aboard ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' from 13 May to early June 1999. The planes carried out 30 sorties in 63 hours of flight. The aircraft used Mk 82 GBU-16 bombs and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. The Italian naval force, in addition to the aircraft carrier ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' with her air group, included the {{sclass|Maestrale|frigate|2}} {{ship|Italian frigate|Zeffiro|F577|2}}.

Following the attacks of 11 September 2001 and the war on terror declared by U.S. [[George W. Bush|President Bush]], Italy participated in [[Participants in Operation Enduring Freedom|Operation Enduring Freedom]] in Afghanistan. ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' was engaged as the command ship of GRUPNAVIT I, 1 Italian Naval Group, which also included ''Zeffiro'', the patrol team and the airman supplier in Etna. The group set sail from Taranto on 18 November 2001. They trained in the Indian Ocean from 3 December 2001 to 1 March 2002 and returned to Taranto on 18 March 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.

[[File:GG aircraftcarrier.jpg|thumb|''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' anchored in [[Naples]] in October 2024]]
In 2009 ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' was replaced as the [[flagship]] of the Italian Navy by the new and larger carrier {{ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Cavour|550|2}}.

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.difesa.it/OPERAZIONI_MILITARI/OPERAZIONI_INTERNAZIONALI_IN_CORSO/LIBIA-ODISSEA-ALBA/Pagine/Contributonazionale.aspx |title=contributo nazionale operazione "Odissey Dawn" |publisher=Italian Ministry of Defense |date=11 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720060122/http://www.difesa.it/Operazioni_Militari/Operazioni_internazionali_in_corso/Libia-odissea-alba/Pagine/Contributonazionale.aspx |archive-date=July 20, 2011 }}</ref> As of 24 March, the [[Italian Navy]] was engaged in [[Operation Unified Protector]] with the light aircraft carrier ''Garibaldi'', the ''Maestrale''-class frigate {{ship|Italian frigate|Libeccio|F 572|2}} and the auxiliary ship {{ship|Italian ship|Etna|A 5326|2}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.difesa.it/OperazioniMilitari/op_int_concluse/Libia-UnifiedProtector/notizie_teatro/Pagine/Op-Unified_Protector.aspx|title=Operazione "Unified Protector": navi italiane partecipano all'embargo|date=25 March 2011|publisher=Italian Ministry of Defense|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414225800/https://www.difesa.it/OperazioniMilitari/op_int_concluse/Libia-UnifiedProtector/notizie_teatro/Pagine/Op-Unified_Protector.aspx|archive-date=14 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally the {{sclass2|Orizzonte|frigate|2}} {{ship|Italian destroyer|Andrea Doria|D 553|2}} and ''Maestrale''-class frigate {{ship|Italian frigate|Euro|F 575|2}} were patrolling off the [[Sicily|Sicilian]] coast in an air-defence role.<ref name="italian navy">{{cite web |url=http://www.marina.difesa.it/Conosciamoci/Notizie/Pagine/20110321_libriacrisi.aspx |title=La Marina Militare in campo per la crisi libica e i flussi migratori |publisher=Ministry of Defence of the Italian Republic |date=21 March 2011 |language=it |access-date=1 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209042445/http://www.marina.difesa.it/conosciamoci/notizie/Pagine/20110321_libriacrisi.aspx |archive-date=9 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grnet.it/news/95-news/2567-libia-nave-andrea-doria-nel-canale-di-sicilia-con-compiti-di-difesa-aerea-da-attacchi-missilistici.html |title=Libia: nave Andrea Doria nel canale di Sicilia con compiti di difesa aerea da attacchi missilistici |language=it |publisher=GrNet.it |date=19 March 2011 |access-date=1 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207232928/http://www.grnet.it/news/95-news/2567-libia-nave-andrea-doria-nel-canale-di-sicilia-con-compiti-di-difesa-aerea-da-attacchi-missilistici.html |archive-date=7 December 2014 }}</ref> In total, until the end of the mission in Libya, the eight Italian Navy AV-8Bs flying from the carrier ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' dropped 160 guided bombs during 1221 flight hours.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kington, Tom |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20111214/DEFSECT01/112140301/Italy-Gives-Bombing-Stats-for-Libya-Campaign |title=Italy Gives Bombing Stats for Libya Campaign |date=14 December 2011 |work=Defense News |access-date=1 January 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728162540/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20111214/DEFSECT01/112140301/Italy-Gives-Bombing-Stats-for-Libya-Campaign |archive-date=28 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The ship was retired in 2024 and replaced by the [[Landing helicopter dock|LHD]] {{ship|Italian landing helicopter dock|Trieste||2}}.

In March 2025, it was stated that the [[Indonesian Navy]] was interested in acquiring the ship from Italy, along with her airwing of Harrier II jets.<ref>{{cite web |first=Guy |last=Toremans |title=Indonesia interested in Italian carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/indonesia-interested-in-italian-carrier-its-giuseppe-garibaldi |website=Jane's |access-date=24 March 2025 |date=6 March 2025}}</ref><ref>Indonesia's Italian interest ''[[Ships Monthly]]'' May 2025 page 15</ref> Fincantieri presented a proposal to the Indonesian Navy in July 2025 to convert ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' into a [[Helicopter carrier|helicopter]] and [[Drone carrier|UAV]] assault ship.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ridzwan |last=Rahmat |title=Fincantieri lays out proposal to convert Giuseppe Garibaldi into helicopter carrier for Indonesia |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/fincantieri-lays-out-proposal-to-convert-giuseppe-garibaldi-into-helicopter-carrier-for-indonesia |website=Jane's |access-date=31 July 2025 |date=23 July 2025}}</ref> In September 2025, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral [[Muhammad Ali (admiral)|Muhammad Ali]] stated that the acquisition of ''Giuseppe Garibaldi'' is still being discussed with the Italian side.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Nicholas Ryan |last1=Aditya |first2=Robertus |last2=Belarminus |title=TNI AL Berupaya Akuisisi Kapal Induk Italia untuk Perkuat Armada Laut |url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2025/09/08/13224981/tni-al-berupaya-akuisisi-kapal-induk-italia-untuk-perkuat-armada-laut |website=Kompas.com |access-date=8 September 2025 |date=8 September 2025 |language=ID}}</ref> According to [[Janes Information Services|''Janes'']], the Indonesian government has approved up to US$450 million loan plans in late August 2025 to acquire the ship and its supporting equipment. The government also approved US$250 million loan for transport helicopters and US$300 million loan for utility helicopters procurements, which likely will operate from the aircraft carrier.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ridzwan |last=Rahmat |title=Indonesia assents plan to fund carrier acquisition with foreign loans |url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/indonesia-assents-plan-to-fund-carrier-acquisition-with-foreign-loans |website=Jane's |access-date=21 September 2025 |date=19 September 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Italian Naval Aviation]]
* {{ship|Italian aircraft carrier|Cavour}}
* {{ship|Italian landing helicopter dock|Trieste}}
* [[List of naval ship classes in service]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551)|Italian aircraft carrier ''Giuseppe Garibaldi''}}
* [https://www.marina.difesa.it/EN/thefleet/home/Pagine/garibaldi.aspx Aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi] Marina Militare website

{{Portal bar|Italy|Engineering}}
{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
{{Ship classes of the Marina Militare}}
{{Aircraft carrier classes in service}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giuseppe Garibaldi (551)}}
[[Category:Aircraft carriers of the Italian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Monfalcone]]
[[Category:1983 ships]]
[[Category:Aircraft carriers of Italy]]
[[Category:Ships built by Fincantieri]]
[[Category:Giuseppe Garibaldi]]
[[Category:Aircraft cruiser classes]]