Headquartered at la Spezia Naval Base, administratively ITS Libeccio has been reporting to COMGRUPNAV DUE since November 1, 2013.

The ship’s basic training was carried out at Taranto-based MARICENTADD (ITN Air-naval Training Center). During the first years of her operational life, the ship took part in several national, NATO and multinational complex exercises held mainly in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and  North Europe cooperating with naval units from all over the world.

Main training activities:

• Deterrent Force (1985);
• Distant Hammer (1985);
• Sardinia (1985, 1986);
• Odisseus (1987);
• Dragon Hammer (1987);
• Gaetex (1984, 1987);
• Janus (1987);
• Ichnusa (1987);
• Isola Bella (1989);
• Stendardo (1991);
• Display Determination (1985, 1987, 1991, 1992);
• Arethusa (1993);
• Punta Bianca (1993, 1994);
• Tramontana (1994);
• Breeze (1995);
• Lusiada (1996);
• F.P.F. Iolkos (1998);
• Swordfish (1999);
• Mare Nuovo (1992, 1994, 1998, 1999);
• Forze Riunite (2000);
• Mare Aperto (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 2001, 2006);
• Euromarfour Tour (2001);
• Tridendor (2001);
• Tapon (1985, 1986, 2001);
• Orione (2000, 2001);
• Destined Glory (1996, 2001);
• Dogu Akdeniz (2001);
• Pegaso (2002);
• Mare Aperto/Amphex (2010).

Special mention should be made of exercises: RISING STAR 2012, in cooperation with the Israeli Navy, GABIAN 2013.01 with the French Marine Nationale and AMPHEX carried out in 2012 and 2013. These activities have enabled her crewmembers to take part in the operational mission Atalanta in 2013/2014.

ITS Libeccio’s crewmembers also engaged in maritime training with Navies and Coast Guards teams from countries bordering the Indian Ocean to increase their skills in anti-piracy operations. 

This Italian Navy frigate took also part in the Naval Parade for the centennial of Simon Bolivar and, during the 1983 summer cruise, in the America’s Cup. The vessel performed naval campaigns in Malaysia (1990) and USSR (1991), in the Persian Gulf (1993/1994) and attended the 1992 Colombo Regatta celebrating the fifth centenary of the discovery of America. In the years 1999 and 2001 she took part in the “EUROMARFOR Tour”.

Flexibility of employment has enabled frigate Libeccio to take part in several main naval operations, from Operation “Scirè” in 1984 to the latest anti-piracy activities which resulted in the seizure of 10 pirates.

 Main operations:

• Scirè (1984);
• Girasole (1986);
• Golfo Persico 1 (1988);
• Golfo Persico 2 (1990/1991);
• Sharp Guard (1994/1996);
• Somalia 3 (1995);
• Allied Force (1999);
• Stanavformed (1996, 1999, 2000);
• Enduring Freedom (2004/2005);
• Antica Babilonia (2004);
• Mare Sicuro (2005);
• Allied Protector (2009);
• Ocean Shield (2009);
• Atalanta (2010);
• Unified Protector (2011);
• Atalanta (2013/14).

Thanks to her “dual use” capabilities, the ship could be engaged in operations concerning:

• humanitarian assistance,  as in the Puntland flooding aftermath in November 2013, when the ship, engaged in anti-piracy operations in the Horn of Africa, provided relief aid to the civilian population;
• technical assistance to vessels in distress, with the intervention of onboard personnel to repair damages;
• first aid medical assistance provided to crews of merchant/civilian vessels, lacking appropriate structures and materials;
• Search and Rescue (SAR) operations for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS); on January 31, 2014 ITS Libeccio assisted a Yemeni boat adrift for more than 24 hours for an engine failure;
• monitoring of the marine environment;
• contrast to oil pollution;
• surveillance for the prevention of illegal trafficking by sea;
• foreign policy activities based on meetings with military and civilian authorities during  international port calls.