List of units of the Italian Army

Coat of Arms of the Italian Army

This page lists brigades, regiments, battalions, and other formations and units of the Italian Army since World War II grouped by their administrative corps. Units grouped under their operational headquarters are listed at Structure of the Italian Army.

The units are listed by order of precedence. After the unit's name, the date of foundation i.e. *1624 and the location it is currently based follows. Disbanded units follow below the active units.

Infantry Corps

Coat of Arms 1st Granatieri Regiment
Coat of Arms 1st Infantry Regiment
Coat of Arms 17th Infantry Regiment

Granatieri

History

The Granatieri (Grenadiers) are the Guard unit of the Italian Army.

Active units

Inactive units

Inactivated units of the Granatieri specialty:

  • 2nd Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment, *1659-2001
  • 3rd Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment, *1659-2002
    • 3rd Granatieri (Training) Battalion Guardie, *1976-1992

Fanteria (Infantry)

Active units

Italian Infantry units are named for regions and cities. However the 5th, 13th, 17th, 20th, 21st, 60th, 66th, 67th, 87th, 114th, 120th, and 151st infantry battalions are named for battles, while the 52nd is named for the Alps and the 1st carries the name of Saint Justus of Trieste.

Inactive units

Inactivated units of the Infantry of the Line:

  • Mantova Division, *1942-2013
  • Folgore Division, *1944-1986
  • Motorized Brigade Acqui, *1859-1926, 1975-1996
  • Infantry Brigade Avellino, *1949-1965
  • Mechanized Brigade Brescia, *1859–1939, 1975-1991
  • Motorized Brigade Cremona, *1859-1926, 1975-1996
  • Mechanized Brigade Friuli, *1975-1999
  • Mechanized Brigade Gorizia, *1975-1996
  • Mechanized Brigade Legnano, *1975-1997
  • Mechanized Brigade Isonzo, *1975-1986
  • Mechanized Brigade Mantova, *1915-1919, 1986-1997
  • Mechanized Brigade Trieste, *1960-1991
  • 1st Infantry Regiment San Giusto, *1624-2008
  • 4th Infantry Regiment Piemonte, *1636-1991
    • 4th Infantry Battalion Guastalla, *1975-1991
  • 7th Infantry Regiment Cuneo, *1701-2001
  • 11th Infantry Regiment Casale, *1619-1999
  • 13th Infantry Regiment Pinerolo, *1672-1990
    • 13th Infantry Battalion Valbella, *1975-1990
  • 16th Infantry Regiment Savona, *1815-1991
  • 20th Infantry Regiment Brescia, *1848-1991
    • 20th Infantry Battalion Monte San Michele, *1975-1991
  • 21st Infantry Regiment Cremona, *1848-2003
    • 21st Infantry Battalion Alfonsine, *1975-1993
  • 22nd Infantry Regiment Cremona, *1848-1990
    • 22nd Infantry Battalion Primaro, *1975-1990
  • 23rd Infantry Regiment Como, *1848-1996
  • 26th Infantry Regiment Bergamo, *1859-1999
  • 30th Infantry Regiment Pisa, *1859-1991
  • 33rd Infantry Regiment Livorno, *1859-1991
    • 33rd Infantry Battalion Ardenza, *1975-1991
  • 37th Infantry Regiment Ravenna, *1859-1991
  • 40th Infantry Regiment Bologna, *1859-1991
  • 41st Infantry Regiment Modena, *1859-1995
  • 45th Infantry Regiment Reggio, *1859-2003
    • 45th Infantry Battalion Arborea, *1977-1993
  • 46th Infantry Regiment Reggio, *1859-1978
  • 47th Infantry Regiment Ferrara, *1859-2015
    • 47th Infantry Battalion Salento, *1977-1997
  • 48th Infantry Regiment Ferrara, *1859-1991
  • 52nd Infantry Regiment Alpi, *1859-1996
  • 53rd Infantry Regiment Umbria, *1861-1993
  • 57th Infantry Battalion Abruzzi, *1975-2013, carries the traditions of the 57th Infantry Regiment "Abruzzi", *1861-1943
  • 59th Infantry Regiment Calabria, *1861-1991
  • 60th Infantry Regiment Calabria, *1861-2005
  • 63rd Infantry Regiment Cagliari, *1862-1991
  • 67th Infantry Regiment Legnano, *1862-1995
    • 67th Infantry Battalion Montelungo, *1975-1993
  • 68th Infantry Regiment Legnano, *1862-1989
    • 68th Infantry Battalion Palermo, *1975-1989
  • 72nd Infantry Battalion Puglie, *1862-1999
  • 73rd Infantry Regiment Lombardia, *1859-1986
  • 75th Infantry Regiment Napoli, *1861-1958
  • 76th Infantry Regiment Napoli, *1861-1997
  • 78th Infantry Regiment Lupi di Toscana, *1862-2008
  • 84th Infantry Regiment Venezia, *1884-2000
  • 87th Infantry Regiment Friuli, *1884-1991
    • 87th Infantry Battalion Senio, *1975-1991
  • 89th Infantry Regiment Salerno, *1884-1991
  • 91st Infantry Battalion Lucania, *1977-2009
  • 92nd Infantry Regiment Basilicata, *1884-1996
  • 114th Infantry Regiment Mantova, *1915-1995
    • 114th Infantry Battalion Moriago, *1975-??
  • 120th Infantry Regiment Emilia, *1915-1991
    • 120th Infantry Battalion Fornovo, *1975-1991
  • 121st Infantry Regiment Macerata, *1915-2000
  • 123rd Infantry Battalion Chieti, *1985-2012
  • 130th Infantry Regiment Perugia, *1915-1996
  • 141st Infantry Regiment Catanzaro, *1915-1995
  • 157th Infantry Regiment Leoni di Liguria, *1915-2004
  • 225th Infantry Regiment Arezzo, *1916-1999
  • 231st Infantry Regiment Avellino, *1916-2004
  • 244th Infantry Regiment Cosenza, *1917-1992

Bersaglieri

History

The Bersaglieri are an elite mechanized corps of the Italian Army.

Coat of Arms 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment
Coat of Arms 8th Alpini Regiment
Coat of Arms 183rd Paratroopers Regiment

Active units

Bersaglieri battalions, with the exception of the 1st and 11th battalion are named for battles in which the Bersaglieri participated. The 1st battalion is named for the founder of the Bersaglieri General Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora and the 11th is named for the island of Caprera, where Italy's national hero Giuseppe Garibaldi resided.

Inactive units

Inactivated units of the Alpini Bersaglieri specialty:

  • Bersaglieri Brigade Goito, *1975-1991
  • 2nd Bersaglieri Regiment, *1861-2001
    • 2nd Bersaglieri Battalion Governolo, *1975-2001
  • 12th Bersaglieri Regiment, *1861-2005, became 6th Bersaglieri Regiment on 15 April 2005
    • 23rd Bersaglieri Battalion Castel di Borgo, *1975-1992, became 6th Bersaglieri Battalion Palestro on 15 April 2005
  • 18th Bersaglieri Regiment, *1861-2005, became 1st Bersaglieri Regiment on 1 January 2005
    • 67th Bersaglieri Battalion Fagare, *1975-1993, became 1st Bersaglieri Battalion La Marmora on 1 January 2005
  • 14th Bersaglieri (Training) Battalion Sernaglia, *1975-1989
  • 26th Bersaglieri Battalion Castelfidardo, *1975-1998
  • 27th Bersaglieri Battalion Jamiano, *1975-1992, entered the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment in 1992, was replaced by the 11th Bersaglieri Battalion in 1997 and then inactivated
  • 28th Bersaglieri Battalion Oslavia, *1975-1996

Alpini

History

Alpini are the Italian Army's mountain infantry units.

Active units

Alpini battalions are, with the exception of the Monte Cervino battalion named after a mountain, and the Val Brenta, Val Chiese and Val Tagliamento battalions named for alpine valleys, named for cities and villages in the mountainous regions of Italy.

Inactive units

Inactivated units of the Alpini Infantry specialty:

Paracadutisti

History

Paracadutisti are the Italian Army's airborne forces.

Active units

Paratrooper battalions are named for battles, with the exception of the 2nd Battalion named after the location of the first Italian Paratrooper school. Paratrooper regiments carry the name of World War II airborne divisions.

  • Parachute Brigade Folgore, *1963 (Livorno)
  • Paratrooper Training Center, *1939 (Pisa)
  • 9th Paratrooper Assault Regiment Col Moschin, *1918 (Livorno)
    • 9th Paratrooper Assault Battalion Col Moschin, *1975-1995
  • 183rd Paratrooper Regiment Nembo, *1943 (Pistoia)
    • 183rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion Nembo, *1975-1991, became the 183rd Paratrooper Battalion Nembo in 1991, entered the 183rd Paratrooper Regiment in 1993 as 1st Paratrooper Battalion Grizzano
  • 185th Paratrooper Reconnaissance Regiment (LRRP) Folgore, *1941 (Livorno)
    • 3rd Paratrooper Battalion "Poggio Rusco", *1975-1998, flag and traditions of the disbanded battalion were given to the 185th Paratrooper Reconnaissance Regiment in 2013
  • 186th Paratrooper Regiment Folgore, *1941 (Siena)
    • 5th Paratrooper Battalion "El Alamein", *1975-1992
  • 187th Paratrooper Regiment Folgore, *1941 (Livorno)
    • 2nd Paratrooper Battalion "Tarquinia", *1975-1992

Lagunari

Lagunari are the Italian Army's amphibious forces.

Active units

Inactive units

Cavalry Corps

Coat of Arms 2nd Cavalry Regiment
Coat of Arms 1st Tank Regiment

Cavalleria di Linea (Cavalry of the Line)

Active units

Cavalry of the Line regiments are named for cities in Italy. The only exception to this rule are the 1st and 3rd regiments named for regions in France, 2nd regiment named for a region in Italy, 8th regiment named for the Battle of Montebello and 19th regiment, which was given no honorific name.

Inactive units

Inactivated units of the Line Cavalry specialty:

Carristi (Tank Units)

Active units

Tank battalions are named for members of the speciality, who were awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valour for outstanding service in combat.

  • Armored Brigade Ariete, *1986 (Pordenone)
  • 1st Armored (Training) Regiment, *1936 (Teulada)
  • 4th Tank Regiment, *1941 (Persano)
    • 20th Tank Battalion M.O. Pentimalli, *1935
  • 31st Tank Regiment, *1937 (Altamura)
    • 1st Tank Battalion M.O. Cracco, *1937
  • 32nd Tank Regiment, *1938 (Spilimbergo)
    • 3rd Tank Battalion M.O. Galas, *1936
  • 132nd Tank Regiment, *1941 (Cordenons)
    • 8th Tank Battalion M.O. Secchiaroli, *1936

Inactive units

  • Armored Brigade Centauro, *1986-2002
  • Armored Brigade Mameli, *1975-1991
  • Armored Brigade Manin, *1975-1986 changed name to Ariete Armored Brigade in 1986
  • Armored Brigade Curtatone, *1975-1986 changed name to Centauro Armored Brigade in 1986
  • 2nd Tank Regiment, *1936-1996
    • 22nd Tank Battalion M.O. Piccinini, *1935-1996
  • 3rd Armored Regiment, *1936-1975
    • 9th Armored Battalion M.O. Butera, *1941-1995, became the Logistic Support Unit Monte Romano in 1995
  • 33rd Tank Regiment, *1939-2001
    • 11th Tank Battalion M.O. Calzecchi, *1941-2001
  • 62nd Armored Regiment, *1992-2001, was the 62nd Infantry Regiment, became the 62nd Tank Regiment in 1996, became the 62nd Infantry Regiment Sicilia in 2001
    • 62nd Armored Battalion M.O. Jero, *1939-2001, merged with the 62nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion and entered the 62nd Armored Regiment in 1992
  • 63rd Tank Regiment, *1992-1995
    • 63rd Tank Battalion M.O. Fioritto, *1939-1995
  • 67th Armored Regiment, *1993-1995, was the 67th Infantry Regiment Legnano
    • 4th Tank Battalion M.O. Passalacqua, *1940-1995
  • 131st Tank Regiment, *1941-2013
    • 31st Tank Battalion M.O. Andreani, *1947-2013
  • 133rd Tank Regiment, *1941-1995
    • 60th Tank Battalion M.O. Locatelli, *1941-1995
  • 5th Tank Battalion M.O. Chiamenti, *1936-1992
  • 6th Tank Battalion M.O. Scapuzzi, *1939-1996
  • 7th Tank Battalion M.O. Di Dio, *1940-1991
  • 10th Tank Battalion M.O. Bruno, *1941-1991
  • 13th Tank Battalion M.O. Pascucci, *1942-1989
  • 19th Armored Battalion M.O. Tumiati 1942-1991
  • 101st Tank Battalion M.O. Zappalà, *1941-1991
  • 182nd Armored Infantry Regiment Garibaldi, *1943-1976

Artillery Corps

Coat of Arms 5th Artillery Regiment
Coat of Arms 121st Air-Defense Regiment
Coat of Arms 41st ISTAR Regiment

Artiglieria Terrestre (Field Artillery)

Active units

Each Field Artillery regiment consists of a HQ platoon, a target acquisition battery, a logistic support battery and an artillery group with either a command platoon and four firing batteries with 8x self-propelled howitzers each, or a command platoon and four firing batteries with 6x FH70 towed howitzers each.

Inactive units

  • 3rd Missile Brigade Aquileia, *1959-1991
  • 1st Field Artillery (Training) Group Cacciatore delle Alpi, *1976-1999
  • 1st Heavy Artillery (Reserve) Group Adige, *1975-31 July 1983
  • 2nd Field Artillery Group Potenza, *1920-1995
  • 3rd Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Pastrengo, *1975-1991
  • 3rd Heavy Artillery Regiment Volturno *1992-2001
  • 4th Heavy Field Artillery Group Pusteria, *1920-1992
  • 6th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment, 1951-1974
  • 9th Heavy Field Artillery Regiment Rovigo, *1992-1995
    • 9th Heavy Artillery Group Rovigo, *1926-1992
  • 9th Field Artillery Group Foggia, *1920-1996
  • 10th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Avisio, *1939-1986
  • 11th Field Artillery Regiment Legnano, *1884-1991
    • 11th Field Artillery Group Monferrato, *1975-1991
  • 11th Field Artillery Regiment Teramo, *1920-2001
  • 12th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Capua, *1884-1991
  • 13th Artillery Regiment Granatieri di Sardegna, *1888-1995
    • 13th Field Artillery Group Magliana, *1975-1992
  • 14th Field Artillery Group Murge, *1888-30 June 1991
  • 19th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Rialto, *1975-1993
  • 20th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Piave, *???-March 1991
  • 27th Heavy Self-propelled Artillery Regiment Marche, *1912-1995
    • 27th Heavy Self-propelled Artillery Group Marche, *1985-1992
  • 28th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Livorno, *1912-1995
  • 33rd Field Artillery Regiment Acqui, *1915-2013
    • 33rd Heavy Field Artillery Group Terni, *1975-1993
  • 35th Field Artillery Group Riolo, 1915-1991
  • 46th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Trento, *1975-1993
  • 47th Field Artillery Group Gargano, *1915-1981
  • 48th Field Artillery Regiment Taro, *1915-1995
  • 108th Heavy Field Artillery Group Cosseria, *1941-31 October 1986
  • 120th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Po, *1942-1991
  • 131st Field Artillery Regiment Centauro, *1939-2001
    • 131st Heavy Field Artillery Group Vercelli, *1975-1992
    • 9th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Brennero, *1863-1992, merged with 131st Heavy Field Artillery Group to form the 131st Field Artillery Regiment
  • 155th Heavy Field Artillery Group Emilia, *1941-1992
  • 184th Field Artillery Regiment Nembo, *1942-1996
    • 184th Heavy Field Artillery Group Filottrano, *1976-1993
  • 205th Heavy Field Artillery Group Lomellina, *1940-1991

Mountain Artillery:

Target Acquisition units:

  • 4th Artillery Specialist Group Bondone, *1956-1992, renamed 3rd Artillery Specialist Group Bondone in 1986, Flag and traditions of the 3rd Heavy Field Artillery Regiment.
  • 5th Artillery Specialist Group Medea, *1956-21 March 1991, named Artillery Specialist Group Mantova 1976-1986
  • 6th Artillery Specialist Group Montello, *1976-30 June 1991, named Artillery Specialist Group Folgore 1976-1986
  • 7th Artillery Specialist Group Casarsa, *1976-31 January 1991, named Artillery Specialist Group Ariete 1976-1986
  • 12th Artillery Specialist Group Biella, *1975-29 September 1992, named Artillery Specialist Group Centauro 1975-1986
  • 30th Artillery Specialist Group Brianza, *1975-28 February 1991, for III Army Corps, but only the 3rd battery was active as part of the Horse Artillery Regiment in Milan

Artiglieria Controaerei (Anti-aircraft Artillery)

Active units

Each Air-defense Artillery regiment consists of a HQ battery, a logistic support battery and an air-defense group.

  • Air-defense Artillery Command, *1941 (Sabaudia)
  • Air-defense Artillery Training Regiment (Sabaudia)
  • 4th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment Peschiera, *1930 (Mantova)
  • 17th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment Sforzesca, *1888 (Sabaudia)
  • 121st Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment Ravenna, *1941 (Bologna)

Inactive units

  • Anti-Aircraft Artillery Command, *???
  • 1st Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, *1992-1996
  • 2nd Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, *1992-1996
  • 3rd Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment Firenze, *1992-2001
  • 5th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment Pescara, *1964-2014
  • 8th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, *1992-1995
    • 8th Field Artillery Group Marmore, *1986-1992
  • 18th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment, *1992-1997
    • 18th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Gran Sasso, *1976-1981

Light anti-aircraft artillery groups were activated in 1975 as reserve units with older equipment, but never filled with troops. They were named for birds of prey and disbanded in the early 1990s:

  • 11th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group Falco, *1975-??
  • 12th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group Nibbio, *1975-??
  • 13th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group Condor, *1975-??
  • 14th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group Astore, *1975-??
  • 21st Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group Sparviero, *1975-??
  • 22nd Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group Alcione, *1975-??

Special Artillery Units

  • 7th CBRN defense Regiment Cremona, *1860 (Civitavecchia)
    • 7th Field Artillery Group Adria, *1975-1992, elevated in 1992 to 7th Field Artillery Regiment Cremona, in 1995 the regiment moved to Civitavecchia, where it changed configuration to NBC-defense regiment in 1998.
  • 41st ISTAR Electronic Warfare Regiment Cordenons, *1915 (Sora)
  • 13th HUMINT Battalion Aquileia, *2005 (Anzio)
    • 13th Target Acquisition Group Aquileia, *1960-1993, re-raised in 2005 (Verona)
  • 1st CBRN defense Battalion Etruria, *1967-?? (Rieti)

Engineer Corps

History

The Engineer Corps was founded on 11 June 1775 as the "Royal Corps of Engineers" ("Corpo Reale degli Ingegneri") of the army of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. With the integration of the engineer units of the Italian states conquered during the Second Italian War of Independence the Corps was elevated on 11 January 1861 to a service branch of the Army and became the "Arma del Genio". In 1915 when Italy entered World War I the Royal Italian Army fielded six regiments and two battalions:

  • 1st Sapper Regiment in Pavia
  • 2nd Sapper Regiment in Casale Monferrato
  • 3rd Telegraph Engineer Regiment in Florence
  • 4th Bridging Engineer Regiment in Piacenza
  • 5th Mining Engineer Regiment in Turin
  • 6th Railroad Engineer Regiment in Turin
  • Specialist Engineer Battalion
  • Aviation Engineer Battalion (transferred to the Corpo Aeronautico Militare at the outbreak of hostilities)

During the war the Engineer Branch expanded and created new types of units:

  • Sapper Companies were mostly employed to build the trenches along the Isonzo front - expanded from 43x to 236x companies
  • Flamethrower Companies - 9x were raised
  • Telegraph Companies tasked with managing the military's communications - expanded from 24x to 139x companies
  • Telephone Companies tasked with laying and maintaining phone cables along the front - 57x companies were raised
  • Bridging Companies - expanded from 12x to 26x companies
  • Mining Companies tasked with building defensive positions in the Alps - expanded from 20x to 53x companies
  • Lagunari Companies tasked with providing transportation in the Marano lagoon and on Lake Garda and Lake Idro.

Besides these also transport, ropeway, photography and poison gas companies were raised during the war.

In May 1940 when Italy entered World War II the branch fielded 18x engineer regiments, which contained a mix of sappers and signalers, and two mining, two bridging and one railroad engineer regiment. During the war each division received a mixed engineer battalion providing sappers and signalers. After the war the branch was rebuilt as part of the Italian Army, fielding three pioneer, one bridging, one railroads and one fortification engineer battalion, along with mixed engineer battalions for the army's divisions and sapper companies for the army's brigades. In 1953 the signal units were split from the engineer branch to form their own service branch.

In 1975 all battalions of the engineer branch were given the name of lakes and rivers in Italy, while the companies of the branch continued to carry the name of the brigade they were subordinated too. The only exception to this naming rule were the three battalions of the 2nd Bridge Engineer Regiment and the two battalions of the Railroad Engineer Regiment. In 1975 the army fielded two mining, one sapper and 12x pioneer engineer battalions, along with 25x engineer companies in the army's brigades.

After the end of the Cold War the army renamed all battalions as regiments, although the composition of the units didn't change. In 1993 the brigade's engineer companies were merged with the brigade's signal battalions to create Command and Tactical Support Battalions. In 2001 the engineer companies of the remaining brigades were merged with the armies engineer battalions and each brigade received an engineer regiment.

Active units

Today the service branch is divided into four specialties: Engineers ("Guastatori"), Pioneers ("Pionieri"), Bridge Engineers ("Pontieri") and Railroad Engineers ("Ferrovieri"). All engineer battalions are named for rivers and lakes in Italy.

  • Railway Engineer Regiment, *1895 (Castel Maggiore)
  • 2nd Bridge Engineer Regiment, *1883 (Piacenza)
  • 2nd Engineer Regiment, *1860 (Trento)
    • 2nd Mining Engineer Battalion Iseo, *1975-1995
  • 3rd Engineer Regiment, *1926 (Udine)
    • 3rd Sapper Battalion Verbano, *1976-1992
  • 4th Engineer Regiment, *1922 (Palermo)
    • 51st Sapper Battalion Simeto, *1982-1992, became 4th Engineer Regiment in 1992 and received flag of the 4th Engineer Regiment in 1995
  • 5th Engineer Regiment, *1895-1976, re-raised 2003 (Macomer)
    • 5th Engineer Battalion Bolsena, *1976-2001, in 2001 the battalion was renamed as 8th Paratroopers Engineer Battalion Folgore, so traditions and flag of the battalion could be used to raise the 5th Engineer Regiment in Sardinia.
  • 6th Pioneer Regiment, *1926 (Rome)
    • 6th Engineer Battalion Trasimeno, *1976-1993
  • 8th Paratroopers Engineer Regiment, *1926-1995, regiment re-raised in 2004 (Legnago)
    • 8th Paratroopers Engineer Battalion Folgore *2001-2004, raised by changing the name of the 5th Paratroopers Engineer Battalion Bolsena
  • 10th Engineer Regiment, *1920 (Cremona)
    • 3rd Engineer Battalion Lario, *1976-1993
  • 11th Engineer Regiment, *1928 (Foggia)
    • 132nd Engineer Battalion Livenza, *1976-1993
  • 21st Engineer Regiment, *1937 (Caserta)
    • 21st Engineer Battalion Timavo, *1975-1993
  • 32nd Engineer Regiment, *1940 (Turin)
    • 32nd Engineer Battalion *2002-2004

Inactive units

Inactivated units of the Engineer branch:

  • 1st Engineer Regiment, *1860-1975, then active 1993-1995
    • 1st Mining Engineer Battalion Garda, *1975-1992, flag of the 1st Engineer Regiment
    • 4th Engineer Battalion Orta, *1976-1995, flag of the 4th Engineer Regiment, became 1st Engineer Regiment in 1993, regiment and battalion inactivated in 1995
  • 104th Engineer Battalion Torre, *1976-1986, flag of the 7th Engineer Regiment
  • 131st Engineer Battalion Ticino, *1976-1993, flag of the 9th Engineer Regiment
  • 184th Engineer Battalion Santerno 1976-1995, became 8th Engineer Regiment in 1992, regiment and battalion inactivated in 1995, regiment re-raised in 2004

Signal Corps

History

Coat of Arms 11th Signal Regiment

The Signal branch of the army began as a speciality of the army's engineer branch, when in 1883 two telegraph battalions were raised and joined the 3rd Engineer Regiment. During World War I the speciality expanded rapidly and the war's end fielded 139x Telegraph Companies and 57x Telephone Companies. After the war a second Telegraph Regiment was raised and 26 Telegraph battalions were assigned to various commands of the army. During World War II the Signal Speciality raised a hundreds of units to join the various divisions of the Regio Esercito.

After the war the specialty was finally split from the Engineer Branch and on 16 May 1953 became a autonomous specialty of the army. Over the years the specialty grew and on 30 December 1997 it was finally elevated to a service branch of the army, with two specialities: Signal specialists and Electronic Warfare Specialists.

Active units

If not specified otherwise all Signal battalions below were activated in 1975. All signal battalions, with the exception of the 45th, 46th, 47th, 51st and 184th, were named after Italian mountain passes. The 45th and 46th were named after volcanoes, while the 47th and 184th were named after mountain massifs and the 51st kept the name of the Cold War Legnano division it once belonged to.

  • Signal Brigade *2007 (Anzio)
  • RISTA-IEW ISTAR & Electronic Warfare Brigade *2001 (Anzio)
  • NATO Rapid Deployable Corps (NRDC-IT) Support Brigade *2001 (Milan)
  • Signal and IT School (Rome)
  • 1st Signal Regiment, *1919 (Milan)
    • 3rd Signal Battalion Spluga, raised 1975, elevated to 1st Signal Regiment in 1995
    • 231st Signal Battalion Sempione, raised 1975, disbanded 1991, re-raised and entered the 1st Signal Regiment in 2001
  • 2nd Alpine Signal Regiment (Alpini), *1926 (Bolzano)
    • 4th Signal Battalion Gardena, raised 1975, elevated to 2nd (Alpine) Signal Regiment in 1992
    • 42nd Signal Battalion Pordoi, raised 1975, disbanded 1992, re-raised and entered the 2nd (Alpine) Signal Regiment in 2005
  • 3rd Signal Regiment, *1883 (Rome)
    • 10th Signal Battalion Lanciano, raised 1975, elevated to 3rd Signal Regiment in 1993
    • 43rd Signal Battalion Abetone, raised 1975, elevated to 43rd Signal Regiment in 1993, regiment disbanded in 1998 and the battalion entered the 3rd Signal Regiment the next day
    • 47th Signal Battalion Gennargentu, raised 1996, entered 3rd Signal Regiment in 2000
  • 7th Signal Regiment, *1918 (Sacile)
    • 5th Signal Battalion Rolle, raised 1975, elevated to 7th Signal Regiment in 1992
    • 107th Signal Battalion Predil, raised 1975, disbanded 1991, re-raised and entered the 7th Signal Regiment in 2002
  • 11th Signal Regiment, *1940 (Civitavecchia)
    • 8th ELINT Battalion Tonale, raised 1976, disbanded 1998, re-raised as Signal Battalion Tonale and entered the 11th Signal Regiment in 2001
    • 11th Signal Battalion Leonessa, raised 1975, elevated to 11th Signal Regiment in 1992
  • 32nd Signal Regiment, *1953 (Padova)
    • 32nd Signal Battalion Valles, raised 1975, elevated to 32nd Signal Regiment in 1992
    • 41st Signal Battalion Fréjus, raised 1975, elevated to 41st Signal Regiment in 1993, regiment disbanded in 1998 and the battalion entered the 32nd Signal Regiment the next day
  • 33rd Electronic Warfare Regiment Falzarego, *2002 (Treviso)
    • 33rd Electronic Warfare Battalion Falzarego, raised 1975, elevated to 33rd Electronic Warfare Regiment in 2002
  • 44th Signal Support Regiment, *1957 (Rome)
    • 44th Signal Battalion Penne, raised 1976, elevated to 44th Signal Regiment in 1993, became 44th Signal Support Regiment in 1997
  • 46th Signal Regiment, *1997 (Palermo)
    • 45th Signal Battalion Vulture, raised 1975, elevated to 45th Signal Regiment in 1993, regiment disbanded in 2000 and the battalion entered the 46th Signal Regiment the next day
    • 46th Signal Battalion Mongibello, raised 1976, elevated to 46th Signal Regiment in 1997
  • 184th Signal Support Regiment, *1944 (Treviso)
    • 184th Signal Battalion Cansiglio, raised 1976, disbanded in 1993, re-raised in 1998 as 184th Signal Support Regiment
  • 232nd Signal Regiment, *1939-1991, activated anew in 2004 (Avellino)
    • 51st Signal Battalion Legnano, raised in 2004
    • 232nd Signal Battalion Fadalto, raised 1975, disbanded 1991, re-raised and entered the 232nd Signal Regiment in 2015

Inactive units

Inactivated units of the Signal branch:

  • Maneuver Support Signal Brigade, *1998-2007
  • National Support Signal Brigade *2000-2007
  • 9th Electronic Warfare Battalion Rombo, *1976 - inactivated on 20 January 1998
  • 13th Signal Battalion Mauria, *1975 - inactivated on 30 November 1991

Transport and Material Corps

Active units

  • Aosta Logistic Regiment (Messina)
  • Ariete Logistic Regiment, *2015 (Remanzacco)
    • 8th Transport Regiment, *2002-2015
      • 8th Maneuver Regiment Carso, *1994-2002
        • 8th Maneuver Logistic Battalion Carso, *1986-1994
          • Mechanized Division Mantova Maneuver Logistic Battalion, *1975-1986
  • Folgore Logistic Regiment, *2013 (Pisa)
    • 6th Maneuver Logistic Regiment, *2001-2013
      • Paratroopers Brigade Folgore Logistic Battalion, *1975-2001
  • Friuli Logistic Regiment, *2013 (Budrio)
    • 6th Transport Regiment, *2001-2013
      • Friuli Brigade Logistic Battalion, *1975-2001
  • Garibaldi Logistic Regiment, *2013 (Persano)
    • 10th Maneuver Regiment, *2001-2013
      • Persano Logistic Battalion, *1991-2001
        • Garibaldi Brigade Logistic Battalion, *1976-1991
  • Julia Logistic Regiment, *2013 (Meran)
    • 24th Maneuver Regiment Dolomiti, *1994-2013
      • Orobica Logistic Battalion, joined the battalion in 1991
      • 24th Maneuver Logistic Battalion Dolomiti, *1986-1994
        • 4th Alpine Army Corps Transport Battalion Claudia, *1975-1986
  • Pinerolo Logistic Regiment, *2013 (Bari)
    • 10th Transport Regiment, *2001-2013
      • Pinerolo Brigade Logistic Battalion, joined the regiment in 2001
      • 10th Logistic Support Regiment, *1998-2001
        • 10th Transport Battalion Appia, *1987-1998
  • Sassari Logistic Regiment, *2013 (Teulada)
  • Taurinense Logistic Regiment, *2013 (Rivoli)
    • 1st Maneuver Regiment, *2001-2013
      • Taurinense Brigade Logistic Battalion, joined the regiment in 2001
      • 1st Logistic Support Regiment Monviso, *1998-2001
        • 1st Transport Battalion Monviso, *1990-1998
  • Joint Forces Maneuver Regiment (Rome)
    • 10th Inter-arms Transport Battalion Salaria, *???-???
  • 1st Transport Regiment (Bellinzago Novarese)
    • Centauro Brigade Logistic Battalion, *1986-???
      • Curtatone Brigade Logistic Battalion, *1975-1986
  • 8th Transport Regiment Casilina, (Rome)
  • 11th Transport Regiment Flaminia, (Rome)
  • 33rd Tactical and Logistic Support Regiment, *2002 (Solbiate Olona)
    • 33rd Logistic Maneuver Regiment Ambrosiano, *1993-2002
      • 33rd Logistic Maneuver Battalion Ambrosiano, *1986-1993
        • 3rd Logistic Maneuver Battalion Piemonte, *1982-1986
        • Armored Division "Centauro" Logistic Maneuver Battalion, *1975-1986
        • 3rd Army Corps Transport Battalion Fluvia, *1975-1986

Inactive units

  • 5th Army Corps Transport Battalion Postumia,in Treviso, *1975-???
  • 13th Logistic Battalion Aquileia, in Portogruaro
  • Acqui Logistic Battalion, in L'Aquila
  • Ariete Logistic Battalion, in Maniago, * 1986-???
    • Manin Logistic Battalion, in Maniago, *1975-1986
  • Brescia Logistic Battalion, in Montorio Veronese
  • Cadore Logistic Battalion, in Belluno
  • Cremona Logistic Battalion, in Venaria Reale
  • Goito Logistic Battalion, in Monza
  • Granatieri di Sardegna Logistic Battalion in Civitavecchia
  • Gorizia Logistic Battalion, in Gradisca d'Isonzo
  • Julia Logistic Battalion, in Udine
  • Legnano Logistic Battalion, in Presezzo
  • Mameli Logistic Battalion, in Vacile
  • Mantova Logistic Battalion, in Tricesimo, * 1986-???
  • Isonzo Logistic Battalion, in Tricesimo, *1975-1986
  • Orobica Logistic Battalion, in Tricesimo, *1975-???
  • Pozzuolo del Friuli Logistic Battalion, in Visco
  • Trieste Logistic Battalion, in Budrio
  • Tridentina Logistic Battalion, in Vahrn
  • Vittorio Veneto Logistic Battalion, in Cervignano del Friuli
  • 5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion Euganeo, in Treviso, *1986-???
    • Mechanized Division Folgore Maneuver Logistic Battalion, in Treviso, *1975-1986
  • 50th Maneuver Logistic Battalion Carnia, in Casarsa della Delizia, *1986-???
    • Armored Division Ariete Maneuver Logistic Battalion, in Casarsa della Delizia, *1975-1986
  • 5th Mixed Transport Battalion, in Treviso
  • 7th Mixed Transport Battalion, in Florence
  • 11th Mixed Transport Battalion Etnea, in Palermo
  • 12th Mixed Transport Battalion, in Cagliari
  • 14th Transport Battalion Flavia, in Montorio Veronese
  • 16th Mixed Transport Battalion, in Padua

Army Aviation Corps

History

In May 1951 the first aviation unit was created at the army's Artillery School in Rome. The first planes put in service were the Piper L21 A. By 1952 the army created four Light Plane Sections to support the four corps. In 1954 the first AB 47 helicopters arrived. On 1 June 1957 the training unit was moved to Viterbo and became the Army Light Aviation Instruction Center. By 1964 four squadrons of helicopters and 19 sections of light airplanes existed and the service was named Light Aviation of the Army ("Aviazione Leggera dell'Esercito", abbreviated as ALE)

By 1974 the L21 planes had been replaced by Cessna L19E planes, while the only helicopter in service was the AB 206 utility helicopter. With the army reform in 1975 the many light plane sections and helicopter sections were renamed squadrons and merged to form squadrons groups, equally in size to a battalion. The army also created four Army Light Aviation Groupings, equally in size to a regiment, for the three army corpses and the general staff. Squadrons groups were given the names of planets and constellations, while the groupings were given then names of stars.

After the Cold War the army reduced the number of squadrons groups, renamed the groupings to regiments and dropped the "Light" from the specialties name.

Active units

Coat of Arms 4th Army Aviation Regiment

Aviation regiments are named for stars, while Aviation Support Regiments are named for constellations. All squadrons groups (with the exception of "Giove" and "Mercurio") are named for constellations:

Inactive units

Inactivated units of the Aviation speciality:

  • 12th Squadrons Group Gru - inactivated on 30 April 1998
  • 20th Squadrons Group Andromeda
  • 23rd Squadrons Group Eridano
  • 24th Squadrons Group Orione
  • 44th Squadrons Group Fenice - inactivated on 4 July 1996
  • 46th Squadrons Group Sagittario
  • 47th Squadrons Group Levrieri
  • 51st Squadrons Group Leone - inactivated on 4 November 2002
  • 53rd Squadrons Group Cassiopea
  • 55th Squadrons Group Dragone

See also

References

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