Current Title:	Guardia Costiera
Title in English:	Italian Coast Guard
Abbreviation:	GC

Narrative Summary:
The Corpo delle Capitanerie di Porto (Harbourmasters Corps) was first established in 1865 to regulate maritime traffic. In 1915 it was incorporated into the Italian Navy. In 1948 the Corpo placed under the authority of the Merchant Navy Ministry. In 1989 the operational services of Corpo were grouped together as the Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard) for the first time, with the Coast Guard becoming a branch of the Corpo. The full formal name of the service is thus Corpo delle Capitanerie di Porto - Guardia Costiera. In the meantime, an air component was formed in 1985 with fixed-wing aircraft to fly sea patrols. Helicopters were added in 1993.

Key Dates:
1865		Corpo delle Capitanerie di Porto established.
1948		Corpo placed under the authority of the Merchant Navy Ministry.
1985		First aircraft received - Piaggio P.166.
8 June 1989		Coast Guard branch created.

Current Status:
To be added.

Future Plans:
None known.

National Insignia:
 
          Main markingFin Flash
The main marking is an backward-sloping red-white-green fuselage band - the national colours of Italy. A black anchor is diplayed in a white disc on the red band. There is no fin flash. Aircraft carry the service titles GUARDIA COSTIERA on the fuselage sides.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Coast Guard aircraft and helicopters carry Italian military MM serial numbers, eg: AB.412CP MM81473. In addition, a two-digit code is carried (as on Navy aircraft), prefixed by the number 8- for P.166DL3, 9- for AB412CP and 10- for ATR-42, eg: 9-05 for the same AB.412CP.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used

Current Aircraft Inventory:

Aircraft Type	Total Del'd	Total Now	Role	Origin
Agusta-Bell AB.412CP Grifone	10	9	Patrol	local
ATR ATR-42-400MP Surveyor	2	2	Patrol	France
Piaggio P.166DL3	14	14	Patrol	local

All-Time Aircraft Used List:

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
Agusta-Bell AB.412CP Grifone	10	1993	current	local
ATR ATR-42-400MP Surveyor	2	2001	current	France
Piaggio P.166DL3	14	1985	current	local

Aircraft NOT Used:
False reports of aircraft on order or in service - none known.

Main Headquarters:
Not known.

Current Organisational Structure:
Coast Guard aircraft and helicopters are grouped into 4 units located around the country.

Current Order of Battle:

Unit	Type	Base
1 Nucleo Aereo Capitanerie	P.166DL3	Luni-Sazana
1 Sezione Volo Elicotteri	AB.412CP	Luni-Sazana
2 Nucleo Aereo Capitanerie	P.166DL3	Catania-Fontanarossa
3 Nucleo Aereo Capitanerie	ATR-42	Pescara-D'Abruzzo

Historical Orders of Battle:
To be added.

All-Time Flying Units List:
Not applicable.

Current Air Bases:
See organisation table above.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Not applicable.

Books:

To be added

Magazines:

Scramble April 1998

Websites:

Guardia Costiera official website

wikipedia: Guardia Costiera

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