NAPLES, Italy - The at-sea commander for NATO’s Operation
Unified Protector, Italian Rear Adm. Gualtiero Mattesi, embarked in the Italian Ship ETNA has today transferred responsibility for leading the Embargo mission in NATO’s Operation Unified Protector to Italian Rear Adm. Filippo Maria Foffi aboard his Flagship ITS Garibaldi.
Rear Adm. Mattesi assumed command of the flotilla of around twenty NATO ships and submarines from the start of the operation March 23. The flagship ITS Etna, a dual-role command platform and refueling tanker, was deployed to the central Mediterranean to oversee the enforcement of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1970 & 1973.
In the period from March 23, the Task Group commanded by ITS Etna carried out 1,119 hailings of merchant vessels and 66 boardings. In addition she also conducted more than 50 replenishments at sea. In regular operations Etna would expect to carry out this number of RAS in a two-year period.
Speaking from the Allied Maritime Command Headquarters in Naples, Vice Adm. Rinaldo Veri, the maritime commander for OUP, praised the positive contribution made by Rear Adm. Mattesi and the crew of ITS Etna, stating “I am proud of the achievements of everyone onboard Etna, both as a NATO commander and as an Italian naval officer.” He concluded by wishing them well in their future tasking. The ITS Garibaldi, is equipped with AV8B Harrier strike aircraft and EH101 helicopters.