The ceremony, held in Trieste, coincided with the 71st anniversary of the city’s return to Italy and marks the ship’s transition toward full operational service.
The Italian Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship, LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) Trieste, received its battle flag during a ceremony held onboard at Molo Bersaglieri, in Trieste, northeastern Italy, on Oct. 26, 2025. The event coincided with the 71st anniversary of the city’s return to Italy so has to highlight the symbolic bond between the ship and the city whose name it bears.
The ceremony marking the delivery of the Bandiera di Guerra (Battle Flag) is a symbolic milestone in the life of any Italian Navy unit. The flag, offered in the name of the Nation, embodies the honor, traditions, and values of the Italian Armed Forces, and transforms the ship into an operational warship under the laws of the State. Although the amphibious assault ship was officially 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 active service: from now on, Trieste is recognized not just as a vessel, but as a sovereign extension of Italy at sea, ready to represent the country in national and international operations.
As explained, the timing of the event also had a strong historical resonance: on Oct. 26, 1954, Trieste officially returned to Italian administration after nearly a decade of uncertainty following World War II. At the end of the conflict, the city had been occupied by Yugoslav partisans and then placed under Allied military control, becoming part of the Free Territory of Trieste, divided into two zones: Zone A under Anglo-American administration and Zone B under Yugoslav control. The London Memorandum of 1954 finally resolved the issue, restoring Zone A, including the city of Trieste, to Italy, while Zone B was assigned to Yugoslavia.
The battle flag was formally presented to the ship’s commanding officer, Captain Francesco Marzi, by the Mayor of Trieste, Roberto Dipiazza, who emphasized the emotional and historical significance of the occasion. “In 25 years as mayor, I have experienced many moments of great emotion, but the arrival of Trieste, flying the Italian flag and carrying the city’s name around the world, has been one of the most moving,” Dipiazza said.
The ceremony, streamed live on the Youtube channel of the Italian Navy, was attended by Italian government and military leaders, including Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani, Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio, Undersecretary of Economy and Finance Sandra Savino, and Laura Mattarella, daughter of the President of the Republic, who serves as the ship’s godmother.
Minister Crosetto underlined the broader strategic importance of the event. “For Trieste, this is a great day because its name will remain on this ship for decades. It is an important act of respect by the Armed Forces and the Navy toward the city and its history. But it is also a significant moment for Italy, because this confirms that our Navy is among the world’s foremost maritime forces in efficiency, deterrence, and capability. Very few navies operate more than one aircraft carrier, and Italy is among them.”
Following the traditional formula, the mayor addressed Captain Marzi, declaring: “Commander, on behalf of the City of Trieste, I present you the Battle Flag of the ship Trieste.” The flag was then raised aboard the ship, where four helicopters (two EH-101s and two SH-90s) were parked on the flight deck, accompanied by rifle salutes. At the same time, hundreds of citizens gathered in Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia watched the event on a large screen, where an official flag-raising ceremony took place simultaneously.
#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 delivery of the Battle Flag marks a 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 built by Fincantieri at the Castellammare di Stabia and Muggiano shipyards. At 245 meters in length with a 230-meter flight deck, Trieste is the largest combat vessel built for the Italian Navy since World War II.
Designed to carry out multiple roles, the ship can embark more than 1,000 personnel and operate as both an aircraft carrier and a command-and-control platform for joint operations. It features a floodable well deck for landing craft, a large vehicle deck, and can operate F-35B Lightning II aircraft (that are gradually replacing the AV-8B+ Harrier II jets still in service) in addition to helicopters. The ship serves as flagship of the Italian Navy’s Amphibious Task Group and complements the carrier strike capability provided by ITS Cavour.
When the ship was commissioned in late 2024, the Italian Navy described Trieste as a symbol of national technological excellence, strengthening Italy’s capacity for power projection, humanitarian assistance, and maritime security.
The ceremony in Trieste linked Italy’s naval future with one of its most important post-war milestones. For the city, it was a moment of pride and remembrance; for the Italian Navy, it marked the official transition of its newest and most versatile warship into active service.
