Having joined the Italian Navy, the unit had an intense operational life and in addition to the normal training activity it was chosen as a naval platform for the testing of weapon systems under development, such as a new version of the 127/54 OTO cannon and the SCLAR H integrated rocket launcher system, tested during the NATO Electronic Warfare exercise (EW TRIALS) held from 23 to 25 May 2005.

The two units, which set sail on 12 July 1996, returned to Taranto on 4 April 1997 after having travelled over 46,000 miles and touched 35 ports in 23 countries.

On 20 September 2010, under the command of the Captain Gennaro Falcone, the ship, with a crew of 188 men, left the naval base of Taranto to take part in the NATO Operation Ocean Shield to protect the merchant traffic in transit.

After reaching Djibouti starting from 1 October, the ship was included in the permanent naval device of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1.

The military ship was on patrol about 10 miles from the Libyan coast, in the waters off the Zlitan area, 160 kilometers east of Tripoli, where loyalist troops are engaged in countering the rebel offensive in bitter and uncertain fighting.

On 4 August 2011, Gaddafi's official spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, claimed responsibility for the attack, confirming that the missile was fired by army troops loyal to the Libyan dictator.