Ship San Giorgio in the Littoral Expeditionary Group (LEG): Italy-Spain Interoperability

At the end of the exercise Mare Aperto 25, the ship San Giorgio was deployed in the Atlantic Ocean as part of the amphibious device Littoral Expeditionary Group (LEG). This operational setup, known for its high readiness, modularity, and logistical self-sufficiency, is always ready to operate in complex international contexts, responding promptly to strategic needs. The ship San Giorgio, in its current configurations, is capable of ensuring projection and flexibility capabilities, operating with a component of the Landing Force that includes specialist assets of the Brigata Marina San Marco, tactical vehicles, logistical support, and a Rotary Wing air unit for the transport and insertion of troops on the ground.

Operational Projection in Portugal for Ship San Giorgio

The first step of this operational deployment saw the projection of a motorized company of the 1st Reggimento San Marco on the beaches of Setúbal, Portugal, during the exercise ORION 2025. The event, which took place from May 5 to 16, was organized by the Exército Português for the national certification of the EU Battlegroup (EUBG), with the participation of France, Spain, and Romania. During the exercise, the Italian units engaged in complex landing and defense operations, consolidating the projection capabilities of the Brigata Marina San Marco.

Italian-Spanish Collaboration in the Exercise MARFIBEX 2025

Subsequently, the ship San Giorgio and personnel from the Brigata Marina San Marco moved to the Spanish coasts, where they participated in the Italian-Spanish bilateral exercise MARFIBEX 2025, which took place from May 12 to 15. During this phase, the ship supported the certification of the “Segundo Batallón de Infantería de Marina” and conducted amphibious reconnaissance operations, support fire coordination, and rapid deployment of airlifted mortars. Among the joint logistical activities, Cross Dock and Cross Deck operations were carried out, testing the effectiveness of interoperability between Italian and Spanish forces.

These exercises confirmed the high level of interoperability and operational effectiveness of the Spanish-Italian Amphibious Force (SIAF) and the Spanish-Italian Landing Force (SILF), which have represented an international benchmark in the field of amphibious operations for 27 years.

The exercises ORION and MARFIBEX were an excellent fitting moment for the fundamental capabilities of the LEG and constitute an important preparatory phase for the exercise CATAMARAN (June 1-16), which is part of the French multinational exercise POLARIS 2025. This complex training cycle will culminate with an impressive amphibious activity involving, in addition to the ship San Giorgio and the embarked Landing Force, the Navies of France, England, Spain, and the Netherlands, with the aim of further consolidating interoperability among allied forces and testing joint amphibious projection capabilities.