The ceremony, held in Trieste, coincided with the 71st anniversary of the town’s return to Italy and marks the ship’s transition towards full operational service.
The Italian Navy’s latest amphibious assault ship, LHD (Touchdown Helicopter Dock) Trieste, acquired its battle flag throughout a ceremony held onboard at Molo Bersaglieri, in Trieste, northeastern Italy, on Oct. 26, 2025. The occasion coincided with the 71st anniversary of the town’s return to Italy so has to focus on the symbolic bond between the ship and the town whose identify it bears.
The ceremony marking the supply of the Bandiera di Guerra (Battle Flag) is a symbolic milestone within the lifetime of any Italian Navy unit. The flag, supplied within the identify of the Nation, embodies the consideration, traditions, and values of the Italian Armed Forces, and transforms the ship into an operational warship beneath the legal guidelines of the State. Though the amphibious assault ship was formally delivered to the Marina Militare in December 2024, the presentation of the Battle Flag by the President of the Republic formally marks its full entry into lively service: any longer, Trieste is acknowledged not simply as a vessel, however as a sovereign extension of Italy at sea, able to signify the nation in nationwide and worldwide operations.
As defined, the timing of the occasion additionally had a robust historic resonance: on Oct. 26, 1954, Trieste formally returned to Italian administration after almost a decade of uncertainty following World Battle II. On the finish of the battle, the town had been occupied by Yugoslav partisans after which positioned beneath Allied navy management, turning into a part of the Free Territory of Trieste, divided into two zones: Zone A beneath Anglo-American administration and Zone B beneath Yugoslav management. The London Memorandum of 1954 lastly resolved the difficulty, restoring Zone A, together with the town of Trieste, to Italy, whereas Zone B was assigned to Yugoslavia.
The battle flag was formally offered to the ship’s commanding officer, Captain Francesco Marzi, by the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza, who emphasised the emotional and historic significance of the event. “In 25 years as mayor, I’ve skilled many moments of nice emotion, however the arrival of Trieste, flying the Italian flag and carrying the town’s identify around the globe, has been probably the most shifting,” Dipiazza stated.
The ceremony, streamed reside on the Youtube channel of the Italian Navy, was attended by Italian authorities and navy leaders, together with Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani, Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio, Undersecretary of Financial system and Finance Sandra Savino, and Laura Mattarella, daughter of the President of the Republic, who serves because the ship’s godmother.
Minister Crosetto underlined the broader strategic significance of the occasion. “For Trieste, it is a nice day as a result of its identify will stay on this ship for many years. It is a vital act of respect by the Armed Forces and the Navy towards the town and its historical past. However it is usually a major second for Italy, as a result of this confirms that our Navy is among the many world’s foremost maritime forces in effectivity, deterrence, and functionality. Only a few navies function a couple of plane provider, and Italy is amongst them.”
Following the normal formulation, the mayor addressed Captain Marzi, declaring: “Commander, on behalf of the Metropolis of Trieste, I current you the Battle Flag of the ship Trieste.” The flag was then raised aboard the ship, the place 4 helicopters (two EH-101s and two SH-90s) have been parked on the flight deck, accompanied by rifle salutes. On the identical time, a whole bunch of residents gathered in Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia watched the occasion on a big display screen, the place an official flag-raising ceremony happened concurrently.
#Trieste #26ottobre consegnata la Bandiera di Combattimento a #naveTrieste, un momento simbolico che segna l’inizio della vita operativa #AlServizodelPaese.La bandiera rappresenta l’Unità della Nazione e il legame tra la nave, il suo equipaggio e il Paese.#ItalianNavy… pic.twitter.com/HxiCboqIIq
— Marina Militare (@ItalianNavy) October 26, 2025
The supply of the Battle Flag marks a brand new milestone in Trieste’s transition to full operational service. Delivered to the Italian Navy on Dec. 7, 2024, the 33,000-ton amphibious assault ship was constructed by Fincantieri on the Castellammare di Stabia and Muggiano shipyards. At 245 meters in size with a 230-meter flight deck, Trieste is the most important fight vessel constructed for the Italian Navy since World Battle II.
Designed to hold out a number of roles, the ship can embark greater than 1,000 personnel and function as each an plane provider and a command-and-control platform for joint operations. It includes a floodable nicely deck for touchdown craft, a big car deck, and may function F-35B Lightning II plane (which might be progressively changing the AV-8B+ Harrier II jets nonetheless in service) along with helicopters. The ship serves as flagship of the Italian Navy’s Amphibious Process Group and enhances the provider strike functionality offered by ITS Cavour.
When the ship was commissioned in late 2024, the Italian Navy described Trieste as a logo of nationwide technological excellence, strengthening Italy’s capability for energy projection, humanitarian help, and maritime safety.
The ceremony in Trieste linked Italy’s naval future with certainly one of its most essential post-war milestones. For the town, it was a second of delight and remembrance; for the Italian Navy, it marked the official transition of its latest and most versatile warship into lively service.
