On Monday, December 15, 2025, at around 10:00 a.m., the Crotone minehunter of the Italian Navy will return to La Spezia, concluding its involvement in the Noble Shield operation.
The vessel, which departed on September 7, has helped reinforce NATO’s presence in the Mediterranean, ensuring the surveillance of strategic maritime spaces and strengthening the Alliance’s deterrent and defense capabilities.
During its mission, the Crotone was incorporated into the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2), specialized in naval mine warfare, initially operating in the Atlantic Ocean, where it took part in exercises organized by the Portuguese Navy, and later, in the Mediterranean.
The _Standing Naval Forces_, which the Crotone has been a part of and to which the Defence contributes, with the Bergamini and Thaon di Revel ships, are an essential tool to ensure deterrence and enhance the interoperability of allied maritime forces.
Intensive training activities have also been conducted, simultaneously allowing the exercise of naval diplomacy, a distinctive characteristic of the maritime forces.
Indeed, the SNMCMG2’s port calls (Portugal, Spain, Malta, Turkey, Greece) have facilitated moments of institutional confrontation and cooperation with local authorities and their respective Navies, contributing to strengthening relations and increasing the readiness and effectiveness of allied forces.
Source and photo credit @Italian Navy – Office of Public Information and Communication
