New vessel joins operation Atalanta
EU NAVFOR / Task Force 465 is reinforced with the Italian frigate Libeccio. She will now serve as a EU NAVFOR warship and solve all kind of tasks in the anti piracy Operation Atalanta until the 30 November.
Libeccio is a frigate of the Maestrale class which been in service for the Italian Navy since the early 1980:s. She has a displacement of 3100 tons and besides her two diesel main engines she is also equipped with two gas turbines for extra power and speed.
An important tool in the anti-piracy warfare is the helicopter, of which Libeccio has two; Agusta-Bell 212 the naval version of the one from America well known Huey-type.
Libeccio have a well trained crew with former experience of these pirate-haunted waters and is welcomed by the Force Commander as a very good reinforcement of the EU NAVFOR.
Source: EUNAVFOR