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Wikipedia

Italian Army

January 13, 2024

The Italian Army (Italian: Esercito Italiano [EI]) is the land force branch of the Italian Armed Forces. The army's history dates back to the Italian unification in the 1850s and 1860s. The army fought in colonial engagements in China, Libya, Northern Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, Abyssinia before World War II and in World War II in Albania, Balkans, North Africa, the Soviet Union, and Italy itself. During the Cold War, the army prepared itself to defend against a Warsaw Pact invasion from the east. Since the end of the Cold War, the army has seen extensive peacekeeping service and combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank and among its aircraft the Mangusta attack helicopter, recently deployed in UN missions. The headquarters of the Army General Staff are located in Rome opposite the Quirinal Palace, where the president of Italy resides. The army is an all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel.

Italian Army
Esercito Italiano
Coat of arms of the Italian Army
Founded27 March 1861
(162 years, 9 months)
Country Italy
TypeArmy
RoleLand warfare
Size97,755 (2018)[1]
Part ofItalian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQRome
Motto(s)Latin: Salus Rei Publicae Suprema Lex Esto
"The safeguard of the republic shall be the supreme law"
MarchParata d'Eroi ("Heroes' parade") by Francesco Pellegrino,
4 Maggio (May 4) by Fulvio Creux
Anniversaries4 November, National Unity and Armed Forces Day
4 May, Army Day
EngagementsRisorgimento
War of 1866
Italo-Ethiopian War of 1887–1889
Mahdist War
First Italo-Abyssinian War
Boxer Rebellion
Italo-Turkish War
World War I
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Spanish Civil War
Italian invasion of Albania
World War II
Gulf War
Kosovo War
1999 East Timorese crisis
Global War on Terrorism
Decorations3 Cavalier Crosses of the Military Order of Italy
1 Gold Medal of Military Valor
2 Gold Medals of Civil Valor
1 Silver Medal of Civil Valor
1 Silver Medal of Civil Merit
Commanders
President of ItalySergio Mattarella
Capo di Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito
(Chief of Staff)		Generale di Corpo d'Armata
Pietro Serino
Notable
commanders		Giuseppe Garibaldi
Luigi Cadorna
Armando Diaz
Emanuele Filiberto, 2nd Duke of Aosta
Enrico Caviglia
Pietro Badoglio
Giovanni Messe
Insignia
Logo
Wordmark
Dardo IFVs on an exercise in Capo Teulada

History edit

The Italian Army originated as the Royal Army (Regio Esercito), which dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy following the seizure of the Papal States and the unification of Italy (Risorgimento). In 1861, under the leadership of Giuseppe Garibaldi, Victor Emmanuel II of the House of Savoy was invited to take the throne and of the newly created kingdom.

Italian expeditions were dispatched to China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 and to Libya during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–1912.

World War I edit

See also: Italian Campaign (World War I) and Military history of Italy during World War I

The Italian Royal Army's first real taste of modern warfare was during World War I. Most of the actions were fought in northern Italy, and the Royal Army suffered many casualties. This included over 700,000 dead. In particular, the frequency of the offensives in which Italian soldiers participated between May 1915 and August 1917, one every three months, was higher than demanded by the armies on the Western Front. Italian discipline was also harsher, with punishments for infractions of duty of a severity not known in the German, French, and British armies.[2]

During the Interwar Years the Royal Army participated in the Italian Invasion of Ethiopia, provided men and materials during the Spanish Civil War to fight in the Corps of Volunteer Troops (Corpo Truppe Volontarie), and launched the Italian invasion of Albania.

World War II edit

See also: Military history of Italy during World War II and Royal Italian Army during World War II

On paper, the Royal Army was one of the largest ground forces in World War II, and it was one of the pioneers in using paratroopers. In reality, it could not field the numbers claimed. Due to their generally smaller size, many Italian divisions were reinforced by an Assault Group (Gruppo d'Assalto) of two battalions of Blackshirts (MVSN).

Reports of Italian military prowess in the Second World War were almost always dismissive. This perception was the result of disastrous Italian offensives against Egypt and the performance of the army in the Greco-Italian War. Both campaigns were ill-prepared and executed inadequately. The Italian 10th Army initially advanced into Egypt but surrendered after being pushed back into central Libya and almost all destroyed by British forces a fifth its size during the three-month Operation Compass.

The incompetent military leadership was aggravated by the Italian military's equipment, which predominantly dated back to the First World War and was not up to the standard of either the Allied or the German armies.[3] Italian 'medium' M11, M13, M14 and M15 tanks were at a marked disadvantage against the comparatively heavily armed American Sherman tanks, for example. More crucially, Italy lacked suitable quantities of equipment of all kinds, and the Italian high command did not take the necessary steps to plan for possible battlefield setbacks or proper logistical support to its field armies.[4] There were too few anti-aircraft weapons, obsolete anti-tank guns, and too few trucks.

The Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia fought under General Giovanni Messe, who acknowledged the limitations of his Corps in material and equipment and thus was relieved of his command on November 1, 1942. When the Soviet offensive Operation Saturn began on December 12, 1942 the Italian 8th Army was quickly crushed. Only about a third of its troops managed to escape the Soviet cauldron, including from the three Alpini Divisions Tridentina, Julia and Cuneense.

In North Africa, the Italian 132 Armored Division Ariete and the 185 Airborne Division Folgore fought to total annihilation at the Second Battle of El Alamein. Although the battle was lost, the determined resistance of the Italian soldiers at the Battle of Keren in East Africa is still commemorated today by the Italian military.

After the Axis defeat in Tunisia, the morale of the Italian troops dropped. Once the Allies landed in Sicily on July 10, 1943, most Italian Coastal divisions simply dissolved. The sagging morale led to the overthrow of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy 15 days later.

In September 1943, Italy made an armistice with the Allies and split into the Italian Social Republic – effectively a puppet state of Germany – in the north and that of the Badoglio government in the south. The Italian Co-Belligerent Army (Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano) was the army of the Italian royalist forces fighting on the side of the Allies in southern Italy after the Allied armistice with Italy in September 1943. The Italian soldiers fighting in this army no longer fought for Benito Mussolini as their allegiance was to King Victor Emmanuel and to Marshal of Italy (Maresciallo d'Italia) Pietro Badoglio, the men who ousted Mussolini.

Cold War edit

On 2 June 1946 the kingdom was replaced by a Republic, and the Royal Army changed its name to become the Italian Army ("Esercito Italiano"). Initially, the army fielded five infantry divisions, created from the five combat groups of the Italian Co-belligerent Army and equipped with British material. Additionally the army fielded three internal security divisions without heavy equipment to garrison the country's two major islands:

As the status of the city of Free Territory of Trieste was disputed by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia the Italian army moved the Infantry Division "Folgore" to Treviso and the Infantry Division "Mantova" to Gorizia in 1947. At the same time, the army began training an additional seven divisions and five Alpini brigades.

Following the creation of NATO, the Italian Army was integrated into NATO's Allied Forces Southern Europe and prepared for a feared invasion from the east, possibly via Yugoslavia. Allied Land Forces Southern Europe (LANDSOUTH), was activated on 10 July 1951 to defend northeastern Italy. The command was headquartered at Verona, and placed under Lieutenant General Maurizio Lazzaro De Castiglioni.[5] Some three infantry divisions and three brigades were the only forces initially available to this command to defend northeastern Italy. The divisions in question were the Infantry Division "Mantova" in Gorizia, the Infantry Division "Folgore" in Treviso, the Infantry Division "Trieste" in Bologna. Two of the three brigades were Alpini mountain infantry brigades – the Alpine Brigade "Julia" in Cividale del Friuli and Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" in Brixen, while the third brigade was the Armored Brigade "Ariete" in Pordenone. Exercise "Italic Weld", a combined air-naval-ground exercise in northern Italy involving the United States, Italy, Turkey, and Greece, appears to have been one of the first exercises in which the new Italian Army orientation was tested.[6]

On 1 May 1952 the army activated one army command and two corps commands, the Third Army in Padua, and the IV Army Corps in Bolzano and V Army Corps in Vittorio Veneto, to be able to circumvent NATO's chain of command in case a war should break out between Italy and Yugoslavia for the Free Territory of Trieste.[7] Later in 1952 the army also raised the VI Army Corps in Bologna, followed by the III Army Corps in Milan in 1957, both of which were also assigned to the Third Army.

During the early 1960s the army reduced the "Trieste", "Friuli", "Pozzuolo del Friuli", "Pinerolo", "Avellino", and "Aosta" divisions to brigades and raised the I Paratroopers Brigade in Pisa. On 1 October 1965, the Infantry Brigade "Avellino" was disbanded and, on 10 June 1967, the 1st Paratroopers Brigade was allowed to add "Folgore" to its name. It was now named Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". With the easing of tensions between Italy and Yugoslavia, the Third Army, along with VI Army Corps, was disbanded on 1 April 1972, and its functions were taken over by NATO's Allied Forces Southern Europe in Verona. Before the disbanding of Third Army the army's structure was as follows:

1975 reform edit

See also: Structure of the Italian Army in 1974, Italian Army 1975 reform, and Structure of the Italian Army in 1977

The most significant reorganization of the Italian Army took place in 1975, when the regimental level was abolished and battalions came under direct command of newly formed multi-arms brigades. At the same time, the reduction of the military service from 15 to 12 months for the army and air force and from 24 to 18 months for the navy forced the army to reduce its forces by nearly 45,000 troops. Therefore, while in the existing brigades "Orobica", "Tridentina", "Cadore", "Julia", "Taurinense", "Friuli", "Trieste", "Folgore", "Pinerolo", "Aosta" and "III Missile Brigade" only the regimental level was abolished, the divisions and "Pozzuolo del Friuli" brigade were subjected to major changes:

While the Infantry Division "Cremona" was reduced to a brigade, the Infantry Division "Granatieri di Sardegna" and Infantry Division "Legnano" and the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" were split to create two new brigades each. Afterwards, the three units ceased to exist.

The remaining four divisions were also subjected to major changes and reductions, however, unlike the above three divisions, they remained in service after the reform. The units of the Infantry Division "Folgore" and Infantry Division "Mantova" were mostly disbanded, and the remnants used to create one brigade each; then each of the two divisions was augmented with two brigades to bring them back up to strength. The 131st Armored Division "Centauro" was split into two brigades and then brought back to full strength by adding the Mechanized Brigade "Legnano". Only the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete" saw no reduction in its ranks, and its three regiments were used to create three brigades for the division.

Name before 1975 Brigades created from divisional assets in 1975 Name after 1975 Assigned brigades after 1975 Notes
Infantry Division "Folgore" Mechanized Brigade "Gorizia" Mechanized Division "Folgore" Mechanized Brigade "Gorizia"
Mechanized Brigade "Trieste" from the Tuscan-Emilian Military Region
Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto" split from the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli"
Infantry Division "Mantova" Mechanized Brigade "Isonzo" Mechanized Division "Mantova" Mechanized Brigade "Isonzo"
Mechanized Brigade "Brescia" split from the Infantry Division "Legnano"
Armored Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" from the 5th Army Corps
Armored Division "Centauro" 31st Armored Brigade "Curtatone"
3rd Mechanized Brigade "Goito" 		Armored Division "Centauro" 31st Armored Brigade "Curtatone"
3rd Mechanized Brigade "Goito"
Mechanized Brigade "Legnano" former Infantry Division "Legnano"
Armored Division "Ariete" 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi"
32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli"
132nd Armored Brigade "Manin" 		Armored Division "Ariete" 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi"
32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli"
132nd Armored Brigade "Manin"

After the reform the organization of the army was:

The brigades under operational control of the Military Regions were:

 
Structure of the Italian Army in 1984

1986 reform edit

In 1986 the remaining four divisional headquarters were dissolved and all brigades in Northern Italy came under direct command of the Army's three Army Corps, while the brigades in Central and Southern Italy came under operational control of the local administrative Military Regions. With the disappearance of the divisions the army renamed some of the divisional brigades and granted all of them a new coat of arms to reflect their new independence. By 1989 the army was structured as depicted in the graphic below:

 
Structure of the Italian Army in 1989

Post Cold War edit

Main article: Structure of the Italian Army in 1989
class=notpageimage|
Combat brigade locations of the Italian Army in 1989

At the end of the Cold War in 1989 the Italian Army consisted of 26 Combat Brigades: four Armored Brigades, ten Mechanized Infantry Brigades, five Motorized Infantry Brigades, five Alpine Brigades, one Rocket Artillery Brigade and one paratroopers Brigade.

The units were placed as follows under the three Army Corps's:

The brigades under operational control of the Military Regions were:

The Armored Brigades consisted of one Command & Signals Battalion, two or three Tank Battalions with Leopard 1A2 tanks, one Mechanized Infantry Battalion with M113 APCs, one Self-propelled Field Artillery Group with M109 howitzers, one Logistic Battalion, an Anti-Tank Company and an Engineer Company.

The Mechanized Brigades consisted of one Command & Signals Battalion, one Tank Battalion (Leopard 1), three Mechanized Infantry Battalions (M113), one Self-propelled Field Artillery Battalion with M109 howitzers, one Logistic Battalion, an Anti-Tank Company and an Engineer Company; however, the Pinerolo Mechanized Brigades fielded a Field Artillery Group with FH-70 howitzers. Additionally, the "Gorizia" and "Mantova" mechanized brigades fielded two Position Infantry battalions each, which were tasked with manning fortifications and bunkers along the Yugoslav-Italian border.

The Motorized Brigades consisted of one Command & Signals Battalion, one Armored Battalion (a mixed unit of tanks and mechanized infantry), three Motorized Infantry Battalions, one Field Artillery Group (FH-70), one Logistic Battalion, an Anti-Tank Company and an Engineer Company; however, the Sassari Brigade did not contain a field artillery battalion.

The Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" did field one Command & Signals Battalion, one Paratroopers Assault Battalion (a Special Forces Unit), three Paratroopers Battalions, one Airborne Field Artillery Group with Mod 56 howitzers, one Logistic Battalion, one Army Aviation Helicopter Battalion and an Engineer Company.

Three of the five Alpine Brigades consisted of one Command & Signals Battalion, two Alpini Battalions, one Alpini Training Battalion, two Mountain Artillery Groups (Mod 56), one Logistic Battalion, an Anti-Tank Company and an Engineer Company; In contrast, the "Tridentina" brigade fielded an Alpini d'Arresto Battalion instead of the Alpini Training Battalion. The exception was the Julia Alpine Brigade which consisted of one Command & Signals Battalion, four Alpini Battalions, one Alpini d'Arresto Battalion, one Alpini Training Battalion, three Mountain Artillery Battalions, one Logistic Battalion, an Anti-Tank Company and an Engineer Company, making the Julia the largest brigade of the Italian Army. The "d'Arresto" Alpini and Infantry units were designated to hold specific fortified locations directly at the border to slow down an attacking enemy. They were not a maneuver element but attached for training and logistic purposes to brigades stationed close to the border.

The Missile Brigade "Aquileia" fielded a mix of heavy artillery and missile units, both capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons. The main missile weapon of the brigade was the MGM-52 Lance missile.

Unit Summary edit

In total the Italian Army fielded at the end of the Cold War:

Quantity Unit Type Equipment Notes
19
 Tank Battalions Leopard 1A2
M60A1 		Two battalions per Armored Brigade, one battalion per mechanized brigade, while the "Ariete" brigade fielded three tank battalions. Each tank battalion fielded three tank companies of 16 tanks and one tank for the battalion commander for a total of 49 tanks.
9
 Armored Battalions M47 Patton
M113 APC 		Armored battalions combined tanks and mechanized infantry, and one was assigned to each Motorized Brigade. One battalion was assigned to the 4th Alpine Army Corps, one battalion to the 5th Army Corps, one battalion to the Central Military Region, and two were training battalions of the Armored Cavalry School and the 1st Armored Infantry Regiment, respectively. Each battalion fielded 33 M47 Patton tanks and 24 M113 APCs.
2
 Reconnaissance Squadrons Groups Leopard 1A2
M113 APC 		Originally each division had one reconnaissance squadrons group. With the abolition of the divisional level, one squadron was reformed as a tank squadron group and joined the "Brescia" brigade. One was reformed as a mechanized squadron group and joined the "Vittorio Veneto" brigade. The two remaining reconnaissance squadron groups joined the "Mameli" and "Pozzuolo del Friuli" brigades. Each group fielded three reconnaissance squadrons of ten tanks and eight M113 APCs, with the battalion commander's tank, a group fielded a total of 31 tanks and 24 M113.
35
 Mechanized Infantry M113 APC One battalion per Armored Brigade, three battalions per mechanized brigade. The twelve Bersaglieri battalions were, without exception, mechanized infantry units; the remainder of the mechanized infantry were two Granatieri di Sardegna battalions, sixteen infantry battalions, and four cavalry squadron groups. One battalion was a training and demonstration unit of the army's Infantry and Cavalry School. Each battalion fielded 68 M113 APCs and 17 M106 mortar carriers.
12
 Motorized Infantry Two battalions per motorized brigade, three battalions in the "Aosta" brigade, and one battalion in Triest as part of the "Vittorio Veneto" brigade tasked with defending the city in case of a Yugoslavian attack. The army stored the equipment for five additional motorized battalions.
13
 Alpini Two battalions per Alpine Brigade; with the "Julia" brigade fielding a total of four Alpini battalions, an additional battalion under the Military Alpine School in Aosta.
5
 Paratroopers One Carabinieri paratroopers battalion, two paratroopers battalions, and one paratroopers assault (Special Forces) battalion. Additionally, the 4th Army Corps fielded an Alpini Paratroopers Company.
6
 Fortification Infantry One Alpini, five infantry battalions, and one Alpini company designated to hold specific fortified sectors of the Eastern and Northern Italian border. The strength of the battalions varied from 10 to 19 companies.
2
 Amphibious Infantry LVT-7 One Lagunari battalion, one amphibious vehicles battalion and one training company tasked with defending Venice under the Amphibious Troop Command. The Lagunari battalion was organized like a mechanized infantry battalion.
33
 Training Battalions The training battalions were tasked with the basic training of recruits: four Alpini, one paratrooper, one Granatieri, and 27 infantry battalions trained.
11
 Self-Propelled Artillery M109 howitzers One group (equivalent to a battalion) per armored and mechanized brigade (except for the "Pinerolo", "Legnano", "Trieste", "Granatieri di Sardegna" and "Brescia" mechanized brigades), two groups in one regiment under 3rd Army Corps, one battery as part of the army's artillery school in Rome and one training battery on Sardinia. Each group fielded three batteries of six M109 howitzers.
18
 Field Artillery M114 howitzers One group per motorized brigade (except the "Sassari" Motorized Brigade), one group per alpine brigade, one group in "Pinerolo", "Legnano", "Trieste", "Granatieri di Sardegna" and "Brescia" mechanized brigades, one group under 5th Army Corps, one under the Tuscan-Emilian Military Region, two in Southern Italy under the Southern Military Region, and one battery as part of the Army's artillery school in Rome. Each group fielded three batteries of six M114 howitzerss.
6
 Mountain Artillery Mod 56 howitzers One group per Alpine Brigade, with the "Julia" Alpine Brigade fielding two groups. Each group fielded three batteries of six Mod 56 howitzers.
1
 Airborne Artillery Mod 56 howitzers One airborne field artillery group as part of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" with three batteries of 6x Mod 56 howitzers each.
8
 Heavy Field Artillery FH-70 howitzers Heavy Field Artillery groups, served as Corps Artillery: two under 3rd Army Corps, two under 4th Alpine Army Corps, four under 5th Army Corps and one battery as part of the army's artillery school in Rome. Each group fielded three batteries of six FH-70 howitzers.
1
 Heavy Artillery M115 howitzers One group under 5th Army Corps. Originally capable of firing tactical nuclear ammunition and part of the "Aquileia" artillery brigade, the unit lost its nuclear role in 1986. The group fielded three batteries of four M115 howitzers.
1
 Heavy Self-Propelled Artillery M110A2 howitzers One group as part of "Aquileia" brigade capable of firing tactical nuclear ammunition. The group fielded three batteries of six M110A2 howitzers.
1
 Missile Artillery MGM-52 Lance The only missile artillery group of the army was capable of firing tactical nuclear missiles. The group fielded three batteries of two MGM-52 Lance launchers.
8
 Target Acquisition Six Artillery Specialist Groups with artillery radars and drones supporting the army corps, one target acquisition group supporting the Missile Brigade "Aquileia", one reserve group as part of the Horse Artillery Regiment.
7
 Light Anti-aircraft Artillery FIM-92 Stinger
40/70 Anti-air guns 		Five active and two reserve groups under the Anti-aircraft Artillery Command.
4
 Anti-aircraft Missile Artillery MIM-23 Hawk Grouped in two regiments under the Anti-aircraft Artillery Command. Each group fielded four batteries with six MIM-23 Hawk launchers.
17
 Engineer Battalions Engineer battalions were under the Army Corps', and the Military Regional Commands and came in various specializations: Eight pioneer battalions tasked with construction duties, two combat engineer battalions supported the Army Corps', two railway construction and two bridge construction battalions were grouped into two regiments under the Army's Engineer Inspectorate, one pioneer battalion served as training and demonstration unit under the Army's engineering school, while two mining battalions were tasked with building and maintaining fortifications in the Alpine border regions of Italy. Additionally 24 Combat Engineer companies supported each of the army's brigades (with the exception of the "Sassari" brigade).
5
 Reconnaissance Helicopter AB 206 A109 EOA Four squadrons flying AB 206 and one squadron flying A109 EOA helicopters.
5
 Transport Helicopter AB 205 AB 412 CH-47 Chinook One squadron flying CH-47 Chinook Helicopters in Viterbo and six squadrons flying AB 412 and AB 205 helicopters.
9
 General Aviation AB 212 SM-1019 The squadrons were dispersed all over the nation and supported various regional commands.
17
 Signal Battalions Additionally two independent companies.
3
 Electronic Warfare Battalions
1
 NBC-defense Battalion Part of Engineer corps, but under direct command of the Army's General Staff.
25
 Logistic Battalions One logistic battalion per brigade; with the exception of the "Sassari" brigade.
6
 Logistic Maneuver Battalions The logistic maneuver battalions ensured the mobility and logistic support of the Army's three Corps Commands.
9
 Transport Battalions Transport battalions provided mobility and logistic support to Territorial Commands and the Army and Armed Forces General Staffs in Rome.
26
 Command and Signal Units One command and signals unit per brigade, one for the Army's Anti-aircraft Artillery Command, and a Command and Signals Company for the Amphibious Troop Command.

Additionally the Army fielded 24 Anti-tank companies, one in each combat brigade except the "Sassari" brigade.

1991 reform edit

In 1991, the Army began the post-Cold War draw-down of its forces with the disbandment of seven brigades and a large number of smaller units. The brigades disbanded in 1991 were the "Aquileia", "Brescia", "Goito", "Mameli", "Orobica", "Trieste", and "Vittorio Veneto". The units subordinated to these brigades were mostly disbanded, while the "Garibaldi" brigade command was transferred with one of its battalions to Campania.

1997 reform edit

With the relaxing military situation, the Italian Army kept drawing down forces and disbanding smaller military units, which necessitated a major reorganization by 1997 to merge the remaining battalions into coherent units and disband now superfluous brigade commands. Thus a further six brigades were disbanded during the latter half of 1996 and 1997: "Acqui", "Cadore", "Cremona", "Gorizia", "Legnano", and "Mantova". In addition, the remaining units were moved to new bases and changed in composition, designation, and tasks. The three Army Corps were renamed, and their functions expanded: the 3rd Army Corps became the "Projection Forces Command" (COMFOP), commanding the rapid reaction forces of the Army, the 4th Alpine Army Corps became the "Alpine Troops Command" (COMALP) focusing on peace-keeping operations and the 5th Army Corps became the "1st Defense Forces Command" (COMFOD1) tasked with defending Northern Italy. On January 1, 1998, the "2nd Defense Forces Command" (COMFOD2) was activated in Naples and tasked with defending South and Central Italy. During the Cold War, the Italian Army units were to be commanded in wartime by NATO's LANDSOUTH Command in Verona; on October 1, 1997, out of elements of the aforementioned NATO Command, the new "Operational Terrestrial Forces Command" (COMFOTER) was activated. The COMFOTER took command of all the combat, combat support, combat service support and CIS units of the Italian Army. Along with the COMFOTER in Verona, a Support Command (COMSUP) was raised in Treviso, which gained operational control of all the remaining combat support, combat service support and CIS units of the Army. The COMSUP controlled three division-sized formations (Army Aviation Command, Anti-aircraft Artillery Command, C4-IEW Command) and three brigade-sized formations (Field Artillery Brigade, Engineer Brigade, Logistic Support Command).

Thus after the 1997 reform the structure of the Italian Army was as follows:

2002 reform edit

 
Alpini of the 7th Alpini Regiment during the Falzarego 2011 exercise

Between 1997 and 2002 the Army continued to tweak the new structure and with the abolition of obligatory military service a further two brigades ("Centauro", "Tridentina") were disbanded in 2002. On December 1, 2000, the COMFOP became the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy (NRDC-IT) and passed its subordinate units to the COMFOD 1 ("Friuli", "Folgore") and COMFOD 2 ("Garibaldi") commands. The "Friuli" Brigade changed its composition and became an airmobile brigade with Army Aviation, Cavalry and Infantry units. The COMSUP had already been reorganized and streamlined in 2000.

After 2002 the structure of the Italian Army was as follows:

  • COMFOTER (Verona):
    • NRDC-IT (Milan):
      •   NRDC-IT Signal Brigade (Milan)
    • COMALP (Bolzano):
      •   Alpine Brigade "Julia" (Udine)
      •   Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" (Turin)
    • COMFOD 1 (Vittorio Veneto):
      •   Armored Brigade "Ariete" (Pordenone)
      •   Parachute Infantry Brigade "Folgore" (Livorno)
      •   Airmobile Brigade "Friuli" (Bologna)
      •   Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" (Gorizia)
    • COMFOD 2 (Naples):
      •   Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Aosta" (Messina)
      •   Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi" (Caserta)
      •   Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" (Rome)
      •   Armored Brigade "Pinerlo" (Bari)
      •   Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Sassari" (Sassari)
    • C4-IEW Command (Anzio)
    • COMSUP (Treviso):
      • Anti-aircraft Artillery Brigade (Padua)
      • Air Cavalry Command (Viterbo)
      • Field Artillery Brigade (Portogruaro)
      • Engineer Brigade (Udine)
      • Logistic Projection Brigade (Udine)

2011 reform edit

During 2011 some small changes regarding the support units of the Army were enacted. The COMSUP took command of the Army's schools and merged them, where possible, with the support brigades. Minor units were moved South and to the islands to reduce the Army's footprint in the wealthier North of Italy. At the same time, the designation of the "Pinerolo" brigade was changed back to Mechanized Infantry Brigade. Afterwards the COMSUP consisted, besides four Army schools of the following commands:

  • Anti-aircraft Artillery Command (Sabaudia)
  • Artillery Command (Bracciano)
  • Engineer Command (Rome)
  • Logistic Projection Command (Rome)

2013 reform edit

 
The 1st Field Artillery Regiment (Mountain) on exercise

In 2013 the Army began a major reform. The three corp-level commands COMFOD 1, COMFOD 2 and COMALP were to disband, while the "Mantova" Division Command moved from Vittorio Veneto to Florence, where it was renamed as Division "Friuli", taking the name and traditions of the Air Assault Brigade "Friuli".[8] Together with the other two divisions Acqui and Tridentina the Friuli took command of operational brigades of the Italian Army.

The Logistic Projection Command was disbanded, and its units attached directly to the brigades. As part of the reform, the Army raised the Army Special Forces Command (COMFOSE) in Pisa, which took command of all Special Operations Forces of the Army. Furthermore, the Operational Terrestrial Forces Command (COMFOTER) in Verona was split on 1 October 2016 into the "Operational Land Forces Command and Army Operational Command" in Rome and the "Operational Land Forces Support Command" in Verona.

At the end of the reform the plan envisioned that the Army would consist of:

After the reform, each maneuver brigade, except the "Pozzuolo del Friuli" and "Sassari", was planned to field the following units: a command and signal unit with the brigade staff, one cavalry reconnaissance regiment, three combat maneuver regiments, one artillery regiment, one engineer regiment, and one logistic regiment.

The "Pozzuolo del Friuli" brigade was planned to merge with the "Friuli" brigade and field a cavalry reconnaissance regiment, an air-assault infantry regiment, an amphibious-assault infantry regiment, a reconnaissance helicopter regiment, an attack helicopter regiment, a field artillery regiment, an engineer regiment, a logistic regiment as well as the standard command and signal unit with the brigade staff.

The "Sassari" brigade would not field a cavalry reconnaissance regiment and an artillery regiment unless funds were to be found to raise these units on Sardinia. The "Granatieri di Sardegna" brigade was destined to disband, with its cavalry regiment joining the "Pinerolo" brigade. In contrast, the 1st Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment was planned to become a public duties unit under the Capital Military Command in Rome. In 2013 the reform started with the disbanding of the 131st Tank Regiment and the 57th Infantry Battalion "Abruzzi", while the 33rd Field Artillery Regiment "Acqui" was reformed as 185th Paratroopers Artillery Regiment "Folgore". In 2014 the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment was disbanded, followed by the 5th Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment "Pescara" and the 47th Infantry Regiment "Ferrara" in 2015.

As part of the reform, all army schools, training regiments and training centres were to be combined into the newly raised Army Formation, Specialisation and Doctrine Command (Comando per la Formazione, Specializzazione e Dottrina dell’Esercito or COMFORDOT) in Rome. However, as of July 2019, the Alpine Training Center and the Parachuting Training Center remain with the Alpine Troops Command and the Paratroopers Brigade Folgore, respectively.

2019 changes edit

 
Italian 8th Alpini Regiment snipers in winter ghillie suits in 2019

As the security situation in Europe had changed in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea the 2013 reform was paused. Neither were the "Pozzuolo del Friuli", and "Friuli" brigades merged, nor was the "Granatieri di Sardegna" brigade disbanded. On 1 July 2019, the army officially ended the 2013 reform: on that date in Florence, the Division "Friuli" was renamed Division "Vittorio Veneto". With this, the traditions of the name "Friuli" returned to the Airmobile Brigade "Friuli", whose merger with the "Pozzuolo del Friuli" brigade was disbanded.[9] Likewise the disbanding of the "Granatieri di Sardegna" brigade was disbanded, and it was decided that the second battalion of the brigade's 1st "Granatieri di Sardegna" "Regiment" would become independent as 2nd Grenadier Battalion "Cengio" and grow to regiment by 2020 as first step to bring the brigade back to full strength.

On 10 January 2020 the 31st Tank Regiment was reformed as Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th) thus completing the transformation of the Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo".[10]

2023 changes edit

In May 2023 the two deployable division commands "Acqui" and "Vittorio Veneto", as well as the Army Simulation and Validation Center were assigned to the Operational Land Forces Command and Army Operational Command.[11] On 1 July 2023 the Capital Military Command was merged into the Operational Land Forces Command and Army Operational Command, which on the same date changed its name to Operational Land Forces Command.[12]

Operations edit

The Italian Army has participated in operations to aid populations hit by natural disasters. It has, moreover, supplied a remarkable contribution to the forces of police for the control of the territory of the province of Bolzano/Bozen (1967), in Sardinia ("Forza Paris" 1992), in Sicily ("Vespri Siciliani"1992) and in Calabria (1994). Currently, it protects sensitive objectives and places throughout the national territory ("Operazione Domino") since the September 11 attacks in the United States. The army is also engaged in Missions abroad under the aegis of the UN, the NATO, and of Multinational forces, such as Beirut in Lebanon (1982), Namibia (1989), Albania (1991), Kurdistan (1991), Somalia (1992), Mozambique (1993), Bosnia (1995), East Timor and Kosovo (both in 1999), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2001), Darfur (2003), Afghanistan (2002), Iraq (2003) and Lebanon again (2006) (in fact from 1980, Italy was the third major world contributor, after USA and UK, in peacekeeping missions).

The Carabinieri, once the senior corps of the Army, is now an autonomous armed force (alongside the Army, Navy and Air Force). The Carabinieri provide military police services to all the Italian armed forces.

Command structure edit

 
7th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega" NH90 helicopter during a night-time mission

The Armed Forces of Italy are under the command of the Italian Supreme Defense Council, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic.

Ranks edit

Main article: Italian Army ranks

Ranks are part of the uniform.

Organisation edit

See also: Structure of the Italian Army and List of units of the Italian Army

For the detailed structure of the Italian Army, see Structure of the Italian Army.

class=notpageimage|
Combat brigade locations of the Italian Army in 2023
 
Structure of the Italian Army since 1 October 2023
Name Headquarters Subunits
  COMFOTER Rome   Division "Acqui"

  Division "Vittorio Veneto"
  Army Special Forces Command
  Army Aviation Command

  COMFOTER SUPPORT Verona   Artillery Command
  Anti-aircraft Artillery Command
  Engineer Command
  Signal Command
  Tactical Intelligence Brigade
  COMFOP Sud Naples   Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna"
  Mechanized Brigade "Aosta"
  Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo"
  Mechanized Brigade "Sassari"
  Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi"
  COMFOP Nord Padua   Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli"
  132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete"
  Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore"
  COMTA Bolzano   Alpine Brigade "Julia"
  Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"
  NRDC - Italy Milan   NRDC-ITA Support Brigade
  COMLOG Rome   Logistic Support Command
  COMFORDOT Rome

Unit organizations edit

 
Brigade, regiment, and battalion organizations

All brigades have been deployed and are continuously deployed in operations outside of Italy. Combat brigades field between 3–5,000 troops each. Brigade maneuver units are designated as regiments but field men and equipment similar to large battalions, consisting of large Command and Logistic Support Company and a combat battalion. Artillery regiments field an additional Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Tactical Liaison Battery.

Every complete Italian Army brigade fields the following units:

  • Brigade Headquarter
    • Command and Tactical Support Battalion
      • Command Company
      • Signal Company
    • Cavalry Regiment
      • Command and Logistic Support Squadron
      • Armored Squadrons Group
    • Artillery Regiment
    • Engineer Regiment
      • Command and Logistic Support Company
      • Engineer Battalion
    • Logistic Regiment
      • Command and Logistic Support Company
      • Logistic Battalion
        • Supply Company
        • Maintenance Company
        • Transport Company

Depending on the type of brigade (light, medium, heavy) each brigade fields three maneuver battalions. Currently, the Folgore, Taurinense, and Julia each field three light infantry regiments, the Pinerolo and Aosta each field three medium infantry regiments, and the Garibaldi and Ariete field two, respectively one heavy infantry regiment, and one, respectively two tank regiments. The Friuli, Sassari, Granatieri di Sardegna and Pozzuolo del Friuli brigades' regiments are structured like all other army regiments. However, these four brigades do not field the full complement of eight units.

Currently the army's maneuver regiments are organized as follows:

  • Light Infantry Regiment (Alpini, Lagunari, Paratroopers; and 66th Infantry Regiment)
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    • Infantry Battalion
      • 3× Rifle Companies (with Puma 6×6, Bv206 (Alpini), and VTLM Lince; each company with 3× 81mm mortars and 2× Spike MR launchers)
      • Maneuver Support Company (4× 120mm mortars, 4× Spike MR launchers)
  • Medium Infantry Regiment (5th, 9th, 62nd, and 82nd infantry regiments; 3rd, 6th, and 7th Bersaglieri regiments)
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    • Infantry Battalion
      • 3× Rifle Companies (each with 14× Freccia Combat, 3× 81mm mortars, 2× Freccia Combat Anti-tank with Spike LR and 2× Spike MR launchers)
      • Maneuver Support Company (2× Freccia Combat, 4× Freccia Mortar Carrier with 120mm mortar, 4× Freccia Combat Anti-tank with Spike LR and 4× Spike MR launchers, 12x VTLM Lince reconnaissance role)
  • Heavy Infantry Regiment (1st, 8th, and 11th Bersaglieri regiments; 1st and 2nd Grenadier regiments)
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    • Infantry Battalion
      • 3× Rifle Companies (each with 14× Dardo IFV, 3× 81mm mortars, 2× Dardo Spike LR)
      • Maneuver Support Company (2× Dardo IFV, 4× M106 120mm mortar carriers, 4× Dardo Spike LR)
  • Tank Regiment (4th, 32nd, and 132nd tank regiments)

Two of the three infantry regiments of the Sassari brigade are still equipped as light regiments, while the brigade's 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment has begun the switch to medium infantry regiment on 6 January 2018. The 2nd Regiment "Granatieri di Sardegna" was reactivated on 1 September 2022 as a light infantry regiment and will switch to heavy regiment once new tracked infantry fighting vehicles will be acquired by the army.

Equipment edit

Main article: List of equipment of the Italian Army

Uniforms edit

Main articles: Uniforms of the Italian Armed Forces and Italian Army gorget patches

The Italian Army uses uniforms that can be divided into four different "families", and hold strict rules that apply to the type of textile, color and badge of the uniforms.. These include: the Regular Uniform (the only one that includes seasonal variations), the Service Uniform, the Service Combat Uniform, and the Ceremonial Uniform (only for officials).

The Regular Uniform edit

The Regular Uniform comes in summer and winter versions differing exclusively in textiles used. A single-breasted jacket with four buttons and four pockets, and trousers with a classic cut and front pleats with five pockets. The undershirt also has two small pockets. The uniform is completed by a necktie, brown leather gloves, brown shoes, khaki socks, and a cap or headdress.

The Service Uniform edit

The summer and winter Service Uniform have identical cuts and colors to the Regular uniform, while active military personnel always utilize a special headdress included with the uniform.

The Service Combat Uniform edit

The Service Combat Uniform is most commonly used out of the four "families" and is distributed to all soldiers with the same mimetic pattern (paratroopers have a different model with strengthening on the shoulders). The uniform comprises a beret, a five-button closure jacket with two internal pockets, and trousers with four pockets. Accessories completing the uniform include gloves, special footwear and a t-shirt with short or long sleeves, depending on the season.

The Ceremonial Uniform edit

The Ceremonial Uniform includes a double-breasted jacket with six buttons and two pockets on the hips. Trousers come with a classic cut, having the same jacket fabric. The winter version can be worn with the blue cape infantry, a black rigid cap, white gloves and black shoes. Other accessories such as the necktie, a light blue scarf and a sabre complete the uniform.

Operations edit

 
Sassari Mechanized Brigade soldiers on patrol with a VBM Freccia in Afghanistan
 
3rd Alpini Regiment soldiers near Shindand in Afghanistan

A post-World War II peace treaty signed by Italy prevented the country from deploying military forces in overseas operations as well as possessing fixed-wing vessel-based aircraft for twenty-five years following the end of the war.

This treaty expired in 1970, but it would not be until 1982 that Italy first deployed troops on foreign soil, with a peacekeeping contingent dispatched to Beirut following a United Nations request for troops. Since the 1980s, Italian troops have participated with other Western countries in peacekeeping operations across the world, especially in Africa, Balkan Peninsula, and the Middle East.

The Italian Army has not engaged in major combat operations since World War II. However, Italian Special Forces have taken part in anti-Taliban operations in Afghanistan as part of Task Force 'Nibbio'. Italy was not yet a member of the United Nations in 1950 at the time of the war with North Korea.

Italy did take part in the 1990–91 Gulf War but solely through the deployment of eight Italian Air Force Panavia Tornado IDS bomber jets to Saudi Arabia; Italian Army troops were subsequently deployed to assist Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq following the conflict.

As part of Operation Enduring Freedom in response to the September 11 attacks, Italy contributed to the international operation in Afghanistan. Italian forces have contributed to ISAF, the NATO force in Afghanistan, and a Provincial reconstruction team, and 53 Italian soldiers have died under ISAF. Italy has sent 4200 troops, based on one infantry company from the 2nd Alpini Regiment tasked to protect the ISAF HQ, one engineer company, one NBC platoon, one logistic unit, as well as liaison and staff elements integrated into the operation chain of command. Italian forces also command a multinational engineer task force and have deployed a platoon of Italian military police. Italy leads the Regional Command West in Afghanistan, and its HQ is located in Herat at Camp Arena base. Italian Air Force deployed about 30 aircraft, both helicopters and planes: four AMX Ghibli and two RQ-1A Predator that are used in close air support and intelligence missions, Alenia C-27J Spartan, Boeing CH-47C Chinook, NH90 and Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which are used in transport missions; Bell UH-1N Twin Huey and Agusta A129CBT Mangusta are used in missions of fire support to the troops.

The Italian Army did not take part in combat operations of the 2003 Second Gulf War, dispatching troops only after May 1, 2003 – when major combat operations were declared over by the U.S. President George W. Bush. Subsequently, Italian troops arrived in the late summer of 2003 and began patrolling Nasiriyah and the surrounding area. On 26 May 2006, Italian foreign minister Massimo d'Alema announced that the Italian forces would be reduced to 1,600 by June. As of June 2006, 32 Italian troops have been killed in Iraq – with the greatest single loss of life coming on November 12, 2003 – a suicide car bombing of the Italian Carabinieri Corps HQ left a dozen Carabinieri, five Army soldiers, two Italian and eight Iraqi civilians dead.

As of 2006, Italy ranks third in the world in the number of deployed military forces operating in peacekeeping and peace-enforcing scenarios Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lebanon, behind only to the United States and the United Kingdom.

A recent law promoted recruitment in the Italian Army, giving volunteers a chance to find post-service careers in the Carabinieri, Italian State Police, Italian Finance Police, Fire Department and other state bodies.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Rapporto Esercito 2018" (PDF). Esercito Italiano. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  2. ^ Keegan, John (2001). The first World War; An Illustrated History. London: Hutchinson. ISBN 0-09-179392-0., p.319
  3. ^ Bierman, John; Smith, Colin (2003) [2002]. War without Hate: The Desert Campaign of 1940–1943 (New ed.). New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-200394-7. pp.13–14
  4. ^ Walker, Ian W. (2003). Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts; Mussolini's Elite Armoured Divisions in North Africa. Ramsbury: The Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-646-4., pp.9–29
  5. ^ . 93.63.251.100. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Chapter 9". NATO the first five years 1949–1954. NATO. from the original on 2008-11-10. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
  7. ^ "31 marzo 1972. Riordino degli Alti Comandi Militari" (PDF). Italian Parliament. (PDF) from the original on 2017-12-23. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  8. ^ . Esercito.difesa.it. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2016-12-19.
  9. ^ "La Friuli diventa Vittorio Veneto". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  10. ^ "A Lecce arriva il Reggimento "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15°)". Italian Army. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Comando Operativo delle Forze Terrestri". Italian Army. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Cambio al vertice del COMFOTER". Italian Army. Retrieved 6 July 2023.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Army of Italy.

    January 13, 2024
    italian, army, italian, esercito, italiano, land, force, branch, italian, armed, forces, army, history, dates, back, italian, unification, 1850s, 1860s, army, fought, colonial, engagements, china, libya, northern, italy, against, austro, hungarian, empire, dur. The Italian Army Italian Esercito Italiano EI is the land force branch of the Italian Armed Forces The army s history dates back to the Italian unification in the 1850s and 1860s The army fought in colonial engagements in China Libya Northern Italy against the Austro Hungarian Empire during World War I Abyssinia before World War II and in World War II in Albania Balkans North Africa the Soviet Union and Italy itself During the Cold War the army prepared itself to defend against a Warsaw Pact invasion from the east Since the end of the Cold War the army has seen extensive peacekeeping service and combat in Afghanistan and Iraq Its best known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank and among its aircraft the Mangusta attack helicopter recently deployed in UN missions The headquarters of the Army General Staff are located in Rome opposite the Quirinal Palace where the president of Italy resides The army is an all volunteer force of active duty personnel Italian ArmyEsercito ItalianoCoat of arms of the Italian ArmyFounded27 March 1861 162 years 9 months Country ItalyTypeArmyRoleLand warfareSize97 755 2018 1 Part ofItalian Armed ForcesGarrison HQRomeMotto s Latin Salus Rei Publicae Suprema Lex Esto The safeguard of the republic shall be the supreme law MarchParata d Eroi Heroes parade by Francesco Pellegrino 4 Maggio May 4 by Fulvio CreuxAnniversaries4 November National Unity and Armed Forces Day 4 May Army DayEngagementsRisorgimentoWar of 1866Italo Ethiopian War of 1887 1889Mahdist WarFirst Italo Abyssinian WarBoxer RebellionItalo Turkish WarWorld War ISecond Italo Abyssinian WarSpanish Civil WarItalian invasion of AlbaniaWorld War IIGulf WarKosovo War1999 East Timorese crisisGlobal War on Terrorism Iraq War War in AfghanistanDecorations3 Cavalier Crosses of the Military Order of Italy 1 Gold Medal of Military Valor 2 Gold Medals of Civil Valor 1 Silver Medal of Civil Valor 1 Silver Medal of Civil MeritCommandersPresident of ItalySergio MattarellaCapo di Stato Maggiore dell Esercito Chief of Staff Generale di Corpo d Armata Pietro SerinoNotablecommandersGiuseppe GaribaldiLuigi CadornaArmando DiazEmanuele Filiberto 2nd Duke of AostaEnrico CavigliaPietro BadoglioGiovanni MesseInsigniaLogoWordmark Dardo IFVs on an exercise in Capo Teulada Contents 1 History 1 1 World War I 1 2 World War II 1 3 Cold War 1 3 1 1975 reform 1 3 2 1986 reform 1 4 Post Cold War 1 4 1 Unit Summary 1 5 1991 reform 1 6 1997 reform 1 7 2002 reform 1 8 2011 reform 1 9 2013 reform 1 10 2019 changes 1 11 2023 changes 2 Operations 3 Command structure 4 Ranks 5 Organisation 6 Unit organizations 7 Equipment 8 Uniforms 8 1 The Regular Uniform 8 2 The Service Uniform 8 3 The Service Combat Uniform 8 4 The Ceremonial Uniform 9 Operations 10 See also 11 References 12 External linksHistory editThe Italian Army originated as the Royal Army Regio Esercito which dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy following the seizure of the Papal States and the unification of Italy Risorgimento In 1861 under the leadership of Giuseppe Garibaldi Victor Emmanuel II of the House of Savoy was invited to take the throne and of the newly created kingdom Italian expeditions were dispatched to China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 and to Libya during the Italo Turkish War of 1911 1912 World War I edit See also Italian Campaign World War I and Military history of Italy during World War I The Italian Royal Army s first real taste of modern warfare was during World War I Most of the actions were fought in northern Italy and the Royal Army suffered many casualties This included over 700 000 dead In particular the frequency of the offensives in which Italian soldiers participated between May 1915 and August 1917 one every three months was higher than demanded by the armies on the Western Front Italian discipline was also harsher with punishments for infractions of duty of a severity not known in the German French and British armies 2 During the Interwar Years the Royal Army participated in the Italian Invasion of Ethiopia provided men and materials during the Spanish Civil War to fight in the Corps of Volunteer Troops Corpo Truppe Volontarie and launched the Italian invasion of Albania World War II edit See also Military history of Italy during World War II and Royal Italian Army during World War II On paper the Royal Army was one of the largest ground forces in World War II and it was one of the pioneers in using paratroopers In reality it could not field the numbers claimed Due to their generally smaller size many Italian divisions were reinforced by an Assault Group Gruppo d Assalto of two battalions of Blackshirts MVSN Reports of Italian military prowess in the Second World War were almost always dismissive This perception was the result of disastrous Italian offensives against Egypt and the performance of the army in the Greco Italian War Both campaigns were ill prepared and executed inadequately The Italian 10th Army initially advanced into Egypt but surrendered after being pushed back into central Libya and almost all destroyed by British forces a fifth its size during the three month Operation Compass The incompetent military leadership was aggravated by the Italian military s equipment which predominantly dated back to the First World War and was not up to the standard of either the Allied or the German armies 3 Italian medium M11 M13 M14 and M15 tanks were at a marked disadvantage against the comparatively heavily armed American Sherman tanks for example More crucially Italy lacked suitable quantities of equipment of all kinds and the Italian high command did not take the necessary steps to plan for possible battlefield setbacks or proper logistical support to its field armies 4 There were too few anti aircraft weapons obsolete anti tank guns and too few trucks The Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia fought under General Giovanni Messe who acknowledged the limitations of his Corps in material and equipment and thus was relieved of his command on November 1 1942 When the Soviet offensive Operation Saturn began on December 12 1942 the Italian 8th Army was quickly crushed Only about a third of its troops managed to escape the Soviet cauldron including from the three Alpini Divisions Tridentina Julia and Cuneense In North Africa the Italian 132 Armored Division Ariete and the 185 Airborne Division Folgore fought to total annihilation at the Second Battle of El Alamein Although the battle was lost the determined resistance of the Italian soldiers at the Battle of Keren in East Africa is still commemorated today by the Italian military After the Axis defeat in Tunisia the morale of the Italian troops dropped Once the Allies landed in Sicily on July 10 1943 most Italian Coastal divisions simply dissolved The sagging morale led to the overthrow of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy 15 days later In September 1943 Italy made an armistice with the Allies and split into the Italian Social Republic effectively a puppet state of Germany in the north and that of the Badoglio government in the south The Italian Co Belligerent Army Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano was the army of the Italian royalist forces fighting on the side of the Allies in southern Italy after the Allied armistice with Italy in September 1943 The Italian soldiers fighting in this army no longer fought for Benito Mussolini as their allegiance was to King Victor Emmanuel and to Marshal of Italy Maresciallo d Italia Pietro Badoglio the men who ousted Mussolini Cold War edit On 2 June 1946 the kingdom was replaced by a Republic and the Royal Army changed its name to become the Italian Army Esercito Italiano Initially the army fielded five infantry divisions created from the five combat groups of the Italian Co belligerent Army and equipped with British material Additionally the army fielded three internal security divisions without heavy equipment to garrison the country s two major islands Infantry Division Cremona in Turin formerly part of British V Corps Infantry Division Folgore Florence formerly part of British XIII Corps Infantry Division Friuli in Bolzano formerly part of Polish II Corps Infantry Division Legnano in Bergamo formerly part of Polish II Corps Infantry Division Mantova in Varazze formerly part of British Eighth Army Internal Security Division Aosta in Palermo on Sicily Internal Security Division Sabauda in Enna on Sicily Internal Security Division Calabria in Sassari on SardiniaAs the status of the city of Free Territory of Trieste was disputed by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia the Italian army moved the Infantry Division Folgore to Treviso and the Infantry Division Mantova to Gorizia in 1947 At the same time the army began training an additional seven divisions and five Alpini brigades Infantry Division Aosta in Messina activated 1 February 1948 Infantry Division Granatieri di Sardegna in Civitavecchia activated 1 April 1948 Infantry Division Avellino in Salerno at reduced strength activated 1 September 1949 Alpine Brigade Julia in Cividale del Friuli activated 15 October 1949 Infantry Division Trieste in Bologna activated 1 June 1950 Alpine Brigade Tridentina in Bressanone activated 1 May 1951 Infantry Division Pinerolo in Bari at reduced strength activated 15 April 1952 Alpine Brigade Taurinense in Turin activated 15 April 1952 Armored Division Ariete in Pordenone activated 1 October 1952 Armored Division Centauro in Verona activated 1 November 1952 Alpine Brigade Orobica in Merano activated 1 January 1953 Armored Division Pozzuolo del Friuli in Rome activated 1 January 1953 Alpine Brigade Cadore in Belluno activated 1 July 1953 Following the creation of NATO the Italian Army was integrated into NATO s Allied Forces Southern Europe and prepared for a feared invasion from the east possibly via Yugoslavia Allied Land Forces Southern Europe LANDSOUTH was activated on 10 July 1951 to defend northeastern Italy The command was headquartered at Verona and placed under Lieutenant General Maurizio Lazzaro De Castiglioni 5 Some three infantry divisions and three brigades were the only forces initially available to this command to defend northeastern Italy The divisions in question were the Infantry Division Mantova in Gorizia the Infantry Division Folgore in Treviso the Infantry Division Trieste in Bologna Two of the three brigades were Alpini mountain infantry brigades the Alpine Brigade Julia in Cividale del Friuli and Alpine Brigade Tridentina in Brixen while the third brigade was the Armored Brigade Ariete in Pordenone Exercise Italic Weld a combined air naval ground exercise in northern Italy involving the United States Italy Turkey and Greece appears to have been one of the first exercises in which the new Italian Army orientation was tested 6 On 1 May 1952 the army activated one army command and two corps commands the Third Army in Padua and the IV Army Corps in Bolzano and V Army Corps in Vittorio Veneto to be able to circumvent NATO s chain of command in case a war should break out between Italy and Yugoslavia for the Free Territory of Trieste 7 Later in 1952 the army also raised the VI Army Corps in Bologna followed by the III Army Corps in Milan in 1957 both of which were also assigned to the Third Army During the early 1960s the army reduced the Trieste Friuli Pozzuolo del Friuli Pinerolo Avellino and Aosta divisions to brigades and raised the I Paratroopers Brigade in Pisa On 1 October 1965 the Infantry Brigade Avellino was disbanded and on 10 June 1967 the 1st Paratroopers Brigade was allowed to add Folgore to its name It was now named Paratroopers Brigade Folgore With the easing of tensions between Italy and Yugoslavia the Third Army along with VI Army Corps was disbanded on 1 April 1972 and its functions were taken over by NATO s Allied Forces Southern Europe in Verona Before the disbanding of Third Army the army s structure was as follows Third Army in Padua Anti aircraft Artillery Command in Padua III Army Corps in Milan Armored Division Centauro in Novara Infantry Division Legnano in Bergamo Infantry Division Cremona in Cuneo Alpine Brigade Taurinense in Turin transferred to IV Army Corps in 1972 IV Army Corps in Bolzano renamed IV Alpine Army Corps on 1 January 1973 Alpine Brigade Orobica in Merano Alpine Brigade Tridentina in Bressanone Carnia Cadore Troops Command in Belluno Alpine Brigade Cadore in Belluno Alpine Brigade Julia in Cividale del Friuli V Army Corps in Vittorio Veneto Armored Division Ariete in Pordenone Infantry Division Folgore in Treviso Infantry Division Mantova in Udine Cavalry Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli in Gorizia a division sized armored formation III Missile Brigade in Portogruaro armed with nuclear Honest John missiles Trieste Troops Command in Trieste Lagunari Regiment Serenissima in Venice a brigade sized formation VI Army Corps in Bologna Infantry Brigade Friuli in Firenze Infantry Brigade Trieste in Bologna Paratroopers Brigade Folgore in Pisa Army General Staff in Rome I Military Territorial Command in Turin V Military Territorial Command in Padua VII Military Territorial Command in Florence VIII Military Territorial Command Rome Infantry Division Granatieri di Sardegna in Rome Sardinia Military Command in Cagliari X Military Territorial Command in Naples Infantry Brigade Pinerolo in Bari XI Military Territorial Command in Palermo Infantry Brigade Aosta in Messina1975 reform edit See also Structure of the Italian Army in 1974 Italian Army 1975 reform and Structure of the Italian Army in 1977 The most significant reorganization of the Italian Army took place in 1975 when the regimental level was abolished and battalions came under direct command of newly formed multi arms brigades At the same time the reduction of the military service from 15 to 12 months for the army and air force and from 24 to 18 months for the navy forced the army to reduce its forces by nearly 45 000 troops Therefore while in the existing brigades Orobica Tridentina Cadore Julia Taurinense Friuli Trieste Folgore Pinerolo Aosta and III Missile Brigade only the regimental level was abolished the divisions and Pozzuolo del Friuli brigade were subjected to major changes While the Infantry Division Cremona was reduced to a brigade the Infantry Division Granatieri di Sardegna and Infantry Division Legnano and the Cavalry Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli were split to create two new brigades each Afterwards the three units ceased to exist Before 1975 After 1975 NotesInfantry Division Cremona Motorized Brigade Cremona assigned to 3rd Army CorpsInfantry Division Granatieri di Sardegna Mechanized Brigade Granatieri di Sardegna assigned to Central Military RegionMotorized Brigade Acqui assigned to Central Military RegionInfantry Division Legnano Mechanized Brigade Legnano joined the Armored Division Centauro Mechanized Brigade Brescia joined the Mechanized Division Mantova Cavalry Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli Armored Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli joined the Mechanized Division Mantova Armored Brigade Vittorio Veneto joined the Mechanized Division Folgore The remaining four divisions were also subjected to major changes and reductions however unlike the above three divisions they remained in service after the reform The units of the Infantry Division Folgore and Infantry Division Mantova were mostly disbanded and the remnants used to create one brigade each then each of the two divisions was augmented with two brigades to bring them back up to strength The 131st Armored Division Centauro was split into two brigades and then brought back to full strength by adding the Mechanized Brigade Legnano Only the 132nd Armored Division Ariete saw no reduction in its ranks and its three regiments were used to create three brigades for the division Name before 1975 Brigades created from divisional assets in 1975 Name after 1975 Assigned brigades after 1975 NotesInfantry Division Folgore Mechanized Brigade Gorizia Mechanized Division Folgore Mechanized Brigade Gorizia Mechanized Brigade Trieste from the Tuscan Emilian Military RegionArmored Brigade Vittorio Veneto split from the Cavalry Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli Infantry Division Mantova Mechanized Brigade Isonzo Mechanized Division Mantova Mechanized Brigade Isonzo Mechanized Brigade Brescia split from the Infantry Division Legnano Armored Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli from the 5th Army CorpsArmored Division Centauro 31st Armored Brigade Curtatone 3rd Mechanized Brigade Goito Armored Division Centauro 31st Armored Brigade Curtatone 3rd Mechanized Brigade Goito Mechanized Brigade Legnano former Infantry Division Legnano Armored Division Ariete 8th Mechanized Brigade Garibaldi 32nd Armored Brigade Mameli 132nd Armored Brigade Manin Armored Division Ariete 8th Mechanized Brigade Garibaldi 32nd Armored Brigade Mameli 132nd Armored Brigade Manin After the reform the organization of the army was 3rd Army Corps Milan nbsp Armored Division Centauro Novara nbsp 3rd Mechanized Brigade Goito Milan nbsp Mechanized Brigade Legnano Bergamo nbsp 31st Armored Brigade Curtatone Bellinzago Novarese nbsp Motorized Brigade Cremona Turin 4th Alpine Army Corps Bolzano nbsp Alpine Brigade Cadore Belluno nbsp Alpine Brigade Julia Udine nbsp Alpine Brigade Orobica Merano nbsp Alpine Brigade Taurinense Turin nbsp Alpine Brigade Tridentina Brixen 5th Army Corps Vittorio Veneto nbsp Armored Division Ariete Pordenone nbsp 8th Mechanized Brigade Garibaldi Pordenone nbsp 32nd Armored Brigade Mameli Tauriano nbsp 132nd Armored Brigade Manin Aviano nbsp Mechanized Division Folgore Treviso nbsp Mechanized Brigade Trieste Bologna nbsp Mechanized Brigade Gorizia Gorizia nbsp Armored Brigade Vittorio Veneto Villa Opicina Amphibious Troops Command Venice a regiment sized formation tasked with the defence of the Venetian Lagoon nbsp Mechanized Division Mantova Udine nbsp Mechanized Brigade Brescia Brescia nbsp Mechanized Brigade Isonzo Cividale del Friuli nbsp Armored Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli Palmanova nbsp 3rd Missile Brigade Aquileia Portogruaro nbsp Trieste Troops Command Trieste a brigade sized formation consisting mostly of reserve units The brigades under operational control of the Military Regions were VII Territorial Military Command Florence nbsp Paratroopers Brigade Folgore Livorno nbsp Motorized Brigade Friuli Florence VIII Territorial Military Command Rome nbsp Motorized Brigade Acqui L Aquila nbsp Mechanized Brigade Granatieri di Sardegna Rome X Territorial Military Command Naples nbsp Motorized Brigade Pinerolo Bari XI Territorial Military Command Palermo nbsp Motorized Brigade Aosta Messina nbsp Structure of the Italian Army in 19841986 reform edit In 1986 the remaining four divisional headquarters were dissolved and all brigades in Northern Italy came under direct command of the Army s three Army Corps while the brigades in Central and Southern Italy came under operational control of the local administrative Military Regions With the disappearance of the divisions the army renamed some of the divisional brigades and granted all of them a new coat of arms to reflect their new independence By 1989 the army was structured as depicted in the graphic below nbsp Structure of the Italian Army in 1989Post Cold War edit Main article Structure of the Italian Army in 1989 nbsp nbsp ArieteGaribaldi nbsp nbsp Mameli Julia nbsp Vittorio Veneto nbsp nbsp Pozzuolo del Friuli nbsp Brescia nbsp Gorizia nbsp Mantova nbsp Trieste nbsp Aquileia nbsp Centauro nbsp Goito nbsp Legnano nbsp Cremona nbsp Taurinense nbsp nbsp Tridentina nbsp Orobica nbsp Cadore nbsp Folgore nbsp Friuli nbsp Acqui nbsp Granatieri di Sardegna nbsp Aosta nbsp Pinerolo nbsp Sassariclass notpageimage Combat brigade locations of the Italian Army in 1989 At the end of the Cold War in 1989 the Italian Army consisted of 26 Combat Brigades four Armored Brigades ten Mechanized Infantry Brigades five Motorized Infantry Brigades five Alpine Brigades one Rocket Artillery Brigade and one paratroopers Brigade The units were placed as follows under the three Army Corps s 3rd Army Corps Milan nbsp Armored Brigade Centauro Novara nbsp Mechanized Brigade Goito Milan nbsp Mechanized Brigade Legnano Bergamo nbsp Mechanized Brigade Brescia Brescia nbsp Mechanized Brigade Trieste Bologna nbsp Motorized Brigade Cremona Turin 4th Alpine Army Corps Bolzano nbsp Alpine Brigade Cadore Belluno nbsp Alpine Brigade Julia Udine nbsp Alpine Brigade Orobica Merano nbsp Alpine Brigade Taurinense Turin nbsp Alpine Brigade Tridentina Brixen 5th Army Corps Vittorio Veneto nbsp Armored Brigade Ariete Aviano nbsp Armored Brigade Mameli Tauriano nbsp Armored Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli Palmanova nbsp Mechanized Brigade Garibaldi Pordenone nbsp Mechanized Brigade Vittorio Veneto Villa Opicina nbsp Mechanized Brigade Gorizia Gorizia nbsp Mechanized Brigade Mantova Udine nbsp 3rd Missile Brigade Aquileia Portogruaro The brigades under operational control of the Military Regions were VII Territorial Military Command Florence nbsp Paratroopers Brigade Folgore Livorno nbsp Motorized Brigade Friuli Florence VIII Territorial Military Command Rome nbsp Motorized Brigade Acqui L Aquila nbsp Mechanized Brigade Granatieri di Sardegna Rome X Territorial Military Command Naples nbsp Mechanized Brigade Pinerolo Bari XI Territorial Military Command Palermo nbsp Motorized Brigade Aosta Messina Autonomous Military Command Sardinia Cagliari nbsp Motorized Brigade Sassari Sassari The Armored Brigades consisted of one Command amp Signals Battalion two or three Tank Battalions with Leopard 1A2 tanks one Mechanized Infantry Battalion with M113 APCs one Self propelled Field Artillery Group with M109 howitzers one Logistic Battalion an Anti Tank Company and an Engineer Company The Mechanized Brigades consisted of one Command amp Signals Battalion one Tank Battalion Leopard 1 three Mechanized Infantry Battalions M113 one Self propelled Field Artillery Battalion with M109 howitzers one Logistic Battalion an Anti Tank Company and an Engineer Company however the Pinerolo Mechanized Brigades fielded a Field Artillery Group with FH 70 howitzers Additionally the Gorizia and Mantova mechanized brigades fielded two Position Infantry battalions each which were tasked with manning fortifications and bunkers along the Yugoslav Italian border The Motorized Brigades consisted of one Command amp Signals Battalion one Armored Battalion a mixed unit of tanks and mechanized infantry three Motorized Infantry Battalions one Field Artillery Group FH 70 one Logistic Battalion an Anti Tank Company and an Engineer Company however the Sassari Brigade did not contain a field artillery battalion The Paratroopers Brigade Folgore did field one Command amp Signals Battalion one Paratroopers Assault Battalion a Special Forces Unit three Paratroopers Battalions one Airborne Field Artillery Group with Mod 56 howitzers one Logistic Battalion one Army Aviation Helicopter Battalion and an Engineer Company Three of the five Alpine Brigades consisted of one Command amp Signals Battalion two Alpini Battalions one Alpini Training Battalion two Mountain Artillery Groups Mod 56 one Logistic Battalion an Anti Tank Company and an Engineer Company In contrast the Tridentina brigade fielded an Alpini d Arresto Battalion instead of the Alpini Training Battalion The exception was the Julia Alpine Brigade which consisted of one Command amp Signals Battalion four Alpini Battalions one Alpini d Arresto Battalion one Alpini Training Battalion three Mountain Artillery Battalions one Logistic Battalion an Anti Tank Company and an Engineer Company making the Julia the largest brigade of the Italian Army The d Arresto Alpini and Infantry units were designated to hold specific fortified locations directly at the border to slow down an attacking enemy They were not a maneuver element but attached for training and logistic purposes to brigades stationed close to the border The Missile Brigade Aquileia fielded a mix of heavy artillery and missile units both capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons The main missile weapon of the brigade was the MGM 52 Lance missile Unit Summary edit In total the Italian Army fielded at the end of the Cold War Quantity Unit Type Equipment Notes19 Tank Battalions Leopard 1A2M60A1 Two battalions per Armored Brigade one battalion per mechanized brigade while the Ariete brigade fielded three tank battalions Each tank battalion fielded three tank companies of 16 tanks and one tank for the battalion commander for a total of 49 tanks 9 Armored Battalions M47 PattonM113 APC Armored battalions combined tanks and mechanized infantry and one was assigned to each Motorized Brigade One battalion was assigned to the 4th Alpine Army Corps one battalion to the 5th Army Corps one battalion to the Central Military Region and two were training battalions of the Armored Cavalry School and the 1st Armored Infantry Regiment respectively Each battalion fielded 33 M47 Patton tanks and 24 M113 APCs 2 Reconnaissance Squadrons Groups Leopard 1A2M113 APC Originally each division had one reconnaissance squadrons group With the abolition of the divisional level one squadron was reformed as a tank squadron group and joined the Brescia brigade One was reformed as a mechanized squadron group and joined the Vittorio Veneto brigade The two remaining reconnaissance squadron groups joined the Mameli and Pozzuolo del Friuli brigades Each group fielded three reconnaissance squadrons of ten tanks and eight M113 APCs with the battalion commander s tank a group fielded a total of 31 tanks and 24 M113 35 Mechanized Infantry M113 APC One battalion per Armored Brigade three battalions per mechanized brigade The twelve Bersaglieri battalions were without exception mechanized infantry units the remainder of the mechanized infantry were two Granatieri di Sardegna battalions sixteen infantry battalions and four cavalry squadron groups One battalion was a training and demonstration unit of the army s Infantry and Cavalry School Each battalion fielded 68 M113 APCs and 17 M106 mortar carriers 12 Motorized Infantry Two battalions per motorized brigade three battalions in the Aosta brigade and one battalion in Triest as part of the Vittorio Veneto brigade tasked with defending the city in case of a Yugoslavian attack The army stored the equipment for five additional motorized battalions 13 Alpini Two battalions per Alpine Brigade with the Julia brigade fielding a total of four Alpini battalions an additional battalion under the Military Alpine School in Aosta 5 Paratroopers One Carabinieri paratroopers battalion two paratroopers battalions and one paratroopers assault Special Forces battalion Additionally the 4th Army Corps fielded an Alpini Paratroopers Company 6 Fortification Infantry One Alpini five infantry battalions and one Alpini company designated to hold specific fortified sectors of the Eastern and Northern Italian border The strength of the battalions varied from 10 to 19 companies 2 Amphibious Infantry LVT 7 One Lagunari battalion one amphibious vehicles battalion and one training company tasked with defending Venice under the Amphibious Troop Command The Lagunari battalion was organized like a mechanized infantry battalion 33 Training Battalions The training battalions were tasked with the basic training of recruits four Alpini one paratrooper one Granatieri and 27 infantry battalions trained 11 Self Propelled Artillery M109 howitzers One group equivalent to a battalion per armored and mechanized brigade except for the Pinerolo Legnano Trieste Granatieri di Sardegna and Brescia mechanized brigades two groups in one regiment under 3rd Army Corps one battery as part of the army s artillery school in Rome and one training battery on Sardinia Each group fielded three batteries of six M109 howitzers 18 Field Artillery M114 howitzers One group per motorized brigade except the Sassari Motorized Brigade one group per alpine brigade one group in Pinerolo Legnano Trieste Granatieri di Sardegna and Brescia mechanized brigades one group under 5th Army Corps one under the Tuscan Emilian Military Region two in Southern Italy under the Southern Military Region and one battery as part of the Army s artillery school in Rome Each group fielded three batteries of six M114 howitzerss 6 Mountain Artillery Mod 56 howitzers One group per Alpine Brigade with the Julia Alpine Brigade fielding two groups Each group fielded three batteries of six Mod 56 howitzers 1 Airborne Artillery Mod 56 howitzers One airborne field artillery group as part of the Paratroopers Brigade Folgore with three batteries of 6x Mod 56 howitzers each 8 Heavy Field Artillery FH 70 howitzers Heavy Field Artillery groups served as Corps Artillery two under 3rd Army Corps two under 4th Alpine Army Corps four under 5th Army Corps and one battery as part of the army s artillery school in Rome Each group fielded three batteries of six FH 70 howitzers 1 Heavy Artillery M115 howitzers One group under 5th Army Corps Originally capable of firing tactical nuclear ammunition and part of the Aquileia artillery brigade the unit lost its nuclear role in 1986 The group fielded three batteries of four M115 howitzers 1 Heavy Self Propelled Artillery M110A2 howitzers One group as part of Aquileia brigade capable of firing tactical nuclear ammunition The group fielded three batteries of six M110A2 howitzers 1 Missile Artillery MGM 52 Lance The only missile artillery group of the army was capable of firing tactical nuclear missiles The group fielded three batteries of two MGM 52 Lance launchers 8 Target Acquisition Six Artillery Specialist Groups with artillery radars and drones supporting the army corps one target acquisition group supporting the Missile Brigade Aquileia one reserve group as part of the Horse Artillery Regiment 7 Light Anti aircraft Artillery FIM 92 Stinger40 70 Anti air guns Five active and two reserve groups under the Anti aircraft Artillery Command 4 Anti aircraft Missile Artillery MIM 23 Hawk Grouped in two regiments under the Anti aircraft Artillery Command Each group fielded four batteries with six MIM 23 Hawk launchers 17 Engineer Battalions Engineer battalions were under the Army Corps and the Military Regional Commands and came in various specializations Eight pioneer battalions tasked with construction duties two combat engineer battalions supported the Army Corps two railway construction and two bridge construction battalions were grouped into two regiments under the Army s Engineer Inspectorate one pioneer battalion served as training and demonstration unit under the Army s engineering school while two mining battalions were tasked with building and maintaining fortifications in the Alpine border regions of Italy Additionally 24 Combat Engineer companies supported each of the army s brigades with the exception of the Sassari brigade 5 Reconnaissance Helicopter AB 206 A109 EOA Four squadrons flying AB 206 and one squadron flying A109 EOA helicopters 5 Transport Helicopter AB 205 AB 412 CH 47 Chinook One squadron flying CH 47 Chinook Helicopters in Viterbo and six squadrons flying AB 412 and AB 205 helicopters 9 General Aviation AB 212 SM 1019 The squadrons were dispersed all over the nation and supported various regional commands 17 Signal Battalions Additionally two independent companies 3 Electronic Warfare Battalions1 NBC defense Battalion Part of Engineer corps but under direct command of the Army s General Staff 25 Logistic Battalions One logistic battalion per brigade with the exception of the Sassari brigade 6 Logistic Maneuver Battalions The logistic maneuver battalions ensured the mobility and logistic support of the Army s three Corps Commands 9 Transport Battalions Transport battalions provided mobility and logistic support to Territorial Commands and the Army and Armed Forces General Staffs in Rome 26 Command and Signal Units One command and signals unit per brigade one for the Army s Anti aircraft Artillery Command and a Command and Signals Company for the Amphibious Troop Command Additionally the Army fielded 24 Anti tank companies one in each combat brigade except the Sassari brigade 1991 reform edit In 1991 the Army began the post Cold War draw down of its forces with the disbandment of seven brigades and a large number of smaller units The brigades disbanded in 1991 were the Aquileia Brescia Goito Mameli Orobica Trieste and Vittorio Veneto The units subordinated to these brigades were mostly disbanded while the Garibaldi brigade command was transferred with one of its battalions to Campania 1997 reform edit With the relaxing military situation the Italian Army kept drawing down forces and disbanding smaller military units which necessitated a major reorganization by 1997 to merge the remaining battalions into coherent units and disband now superfluous brigade commands Thus a further six brigades were disbanded during the latter half of 1996 and 1997 Acqui Cadore Cremona Gorizia Legnano and Mantova In addition the remaining units were moved to new bases and changed in composition designation and tasks The three Army Corps were renamed and their functions expanded the 3rd Army Corps became the Projection Forces Command COMFOP commanding the rapid reaction forces of the Army the 4th Alpine Army Corps became the Alpine Troops Command COMALP focusing on peace keeping operations and the 5th Army Corps became the 1st Defense Forces Command COMFOD1 tasked with defending Northern Italy On January 1 1998 the 2nd Defense Forces Command COMFOD2 was activated in Naples and tasked with defending South and Central Italy During the Cold War the Italian Army units were to be commanded in wartime by NATO s LANDSOUTH Command in Verona on October 1 1997 out of elements of the aforementioned NATO Command the new Operational Terrestrial Forces Command COMFOTER was activated The COMFOTER took command of all the combat combat support combat service support and CIS units of the Italian Army Along with the COMFOTER in Verona a Support Command COMSUP was raised in Treviso which gained operational control of all the remaining combat support combat service support and CIS units of the Army The COMSUP controlled three division sized formations Army Aviation Command Anti aircraft Artillery Command C4 IEW Command and three brigade sized formations Field Artillery Brigade Engineer Brigade Logistic Support Command Thus after the 1997 reform the structure of the Italian Army was as follows COMFOTER Verona COMFOP Milan nbsp Paratroopers Brigade Folgore Livorno nbsp Mechanized Infantry Brigade Friuli Bologna nbsp Bersaglieri Brigade Garibaldi Caserta COMALP Bolzano nbsp Alpine Brigade Julia Udine nbsp Alpine Brigade Taurinense Turin nbsp Alpine Brigade Tridentina Brixen COMFOD 1 Vittorio Veneto nbsp Armored Brigade Ariete Pordenone nbsp Mechanized Infantry Brigade Centauro Novara nbsp Cavalry Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli Gorizia COMFOD 2 Naples nbsp Mechanized Infantry Brigade Aosta Messina nbsp Mechanized Infantry Brigade Granatieri di Sardegna Rome nbsp Armored Brigade Pinerolo Bari nbsp Mechanized Infantry Brigade Sassari Sassari COMSUP Treviso Army Aviation Command Viterbo Anti aircraft Artillery Command Padua C4 IEW Command Anzio Field Artillery Brigade Portogruaro Engineer Brigade Udine Logistic Support Command Udine 2002 reform edit nbsp Alpini of the 7th Alpini Regiment during the Falzarego 2011 exerciseBetween 1997 and 2002 the Army continued to tweak the new structure and with the abolition of obligatory military service a further two brigades Centauro Tridentina were disbanded in 2002 On December 1 2000 the COMFOP became the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy NRDC IT and passed its subordinate units to the COMFOD 1 Friuli Folgore and COMFOD 2 Garibaldi commands The Friuli Brigade changed its composition and became an airmobile brigade with Army Aviation Cavalry and Infantry units The COMSUP had already been reorganized and streamlined in 2000 After 2002 the structure of the Italian Army was as follows COMFOTER Verona NRDC IT Milan nbsp NRDC IT Signal Brigade Milan COMALP Bolzano nbsp Alpine Brigade Julia Udine nbsp Alpine Brigade Taurinense Turin COMFOD 1 Vittorio Veneto nbsp Armored Brigade Ariete Pordenone nbsp Parachute Infantry Brigade Folgore Livorno nbsp Airmobile Brigade Friuli Bologna nbsp Cavalry Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli Gorizia COMFOD 2 Naples nbsp Mechanized Infantry Brigade Aosta Messina nbsp Bersaglieri Brigade Garibaldi Caserta nbsp Mechanized Infantry Brigade Granatieri di Sardegna Rome nbsp Armored Brigade Pinerlo Bari nbsp Mechanized Infantry Brigade Sassari Sassari C4 IEW Command Anzio COMSUP Treviso Anti aircraft Artillery Brigade Padua Air Cavalry Command Viterbo Field Artillery Brigade Portogruaro Engineer Brigade Udine Logistic Projection Brigade Udine 2011 reform edit During 2011 some small changes regarding the support units of the Army were enacted The COMSUP took command of the Army s schools and merged them where possible with the support brigades Minor units were moved South and to the islands to reduce the Army s footprint in the wealthier North of Italy At the same time the designation of the Pinerolo brigade was changed back to Mechanized Infantry Brigade Afterwards the COMSUP consisted besides four Army schools of the following commands Anti aircraft Artillery Command Sabaudia Artillery Command Bracciano Engineer Command Rome Logistic Projection Command Rome 2013 reform edit nbsp The 1st Field Artillery Regiment Mountain on exerciseIn 2013 the Army began a major reform The three corp level commands COMFOD 1 COMFOD 2 and COMALP were to disband while the Mantova Division Command moved from Vittorio Veneto to Florence where it was renamed as Division Friuli taking the name and traditions of the Air Assault Brigade Friuli 8 Together with the other two divisions Acqui and Tridentina the Friuli took command of operational brigades of the Italian Army The Logistic Projection Command was disbanded and its units attached directly to the brigades As part of the reform the Army raised the Army Special Forces Command COMFOSE in Pisa which took command of all Special Operations Forces of the Army Furthermore the Operational Terrestrial Forces Command COMFOTER in Verona was split on 1 October 2016 into the Operational Land Forces Command and Army Operational Command in Rome and the Operational Land Forces Support Command in Verona At the end of the reform the plan envisioned that the Army would consist of 2x heavy brigades Ariete Garibaldi armed with Centauro tank destroyers Ariete tanks Dardo infantry fighting vehicles and PzH2000 self propelled artillery 2x medium brigades Aosta Pinerolo armed with Centauro tank destroyers and Freccia infantry fighting vehicles and FH 70 towed artillery 4x light brigades Folgore Julia Taurinense Sassari armed with Centauro tank destroyers Puma armoured personnel carriers and FH 70 towed artillery 1x air assault brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli with Pumas A129 Mangusta attack and NH90 transport helicopters After the reform each maneuver brigade except the Pozzuolo del Friuli and Sassari was planned to field the following units a command and signal unit with the brigade staff one cavalry reconnaissance regiment three combat maneuver regiments one artillery regiment one engineer regiment and one logistic regiment The Pozzuolo del Friuli brigade was planned to merge with the Friuli brigade and field a cavalry reconnaissance regiment an air assault infantry regiment an amphibious assault infantry regiment a reconnaissance helicopter regiment an attack helicopter regiment a field artillery regiment an engineer regiment a logistic regiment as well as the standard command and signal unit with the brigade staff The Sassari brigade would not field a cavalry reconnaissance regiment and an artillery regiment unless funds were to be found to raise these units on Sardinia The Granatieri di Sardegna brigade was destined to disband with its cavalry regiment joining the Pinerolo brigade In contrast the 1st Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment was planned to become a public duties unit under the Capital Military Command in Rome In 2013 the reform started with the disbanding of the 131st Tank Regiment and the 57th Infantry Battalion Abruzzi while the 33rd Field Artillery Regiment Acqui was reformed as 185th Paratroopers Artillery Regiment Folgore In 2014 the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment was disbanded followed by the 5th Anti aircraft Artillery Regiment Pescara and the 47th Infantry Regiment Ferrara in 2015 As part of the reform all army schools training regiments and training centres were to be combined into the newly raised Army Formation Specialisation and Doctrine Command Comando per la Formazione Specializzazione e Dottrina dell Esercito or COMFORDOT in Rome However as of July 2019 the Alpine Training Center and the Parachuting Training Center remain with the Alpine Troops Command and the Paratroopers Brigade Folgore respectively 2019 changes edit nbsp Italian 8th Alpini Regiment snipers in winter ghillie suits in 2019As the security situation in Europe had changed in 2014 with the Russian annexation of Crimea the 2013 reform was paused Neither were the Pozzuolo del Friuli and Friuli brigades merged nor was the Granatieri di Sardegna brigade disbanded On 1 July 2019 the army officially ended the 2013 reform on that date in Florence the Division Friuli was renamed Division Vittorio Veneto With this the traditions of the name Friuli returned to the Airmobile Brigade Friuli whose merger with the Pozzuolo del Friuli brigade was disbanded 9 Likewise the disbanding of the Granatieri di Sardegna brigade was disbanded and it was decided that the second battalion of the brigade s 1st Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment would become independent as 2nd Grenadier Battalion Cengio and grow to regiment by 2020 as first step to bring the brigade back to full strength On 10 January 2020 the 31st Tank Regiment was reformed as Regiment Cavalleggeri di Lodi 15th thus completing the transformation of the Mechanized Brigade Pinerolo 10 2023 changes edit In May 2023 the two deployable division commands Acqui and Vittorio Veneto as well as the Army Simulation and Validation Center were assigned to the Operational Land Forces Command and Army Operational Command 11 On 1 July 2023 the Capital Military Command was merged into the Operational Land Forces Command and Army Operational Command which on the same date changed its name to Operational Land Forces Command 12 Operations editThe Italian Army has participated in operations to aid populations hit by natural disasters It has moreover supplied a remarkable contribution to the forces of police for the control of the territory of the province of Bolzano Bozen 1967 in Sardinia Forza Paris 1992 in Sicily Vespri Siciliani 1992 and in Calabria 1994 Currently it protects sensitive objectives and places throughout the national territory Operazione Domino since the September 11 attacks in the United States The army is also engaged in Missions abroad under the aegis of the UN the NATO and of Multinational forces such as Beirut in Lebanon 1982 Namibia 1989 Albania 1991 Kurdistan 1991 Somalia 1992 Mozambique 1993 Bosnia 1995 East Timor and Kosovo both in 1999 the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2001 Darfur 2003 Afghanistan 2002 Iraq 2003 and Lebanon again 2006 in fact from 1980 Italy was the third major world contributor after USA and UK in peacekeeping missions The Carabinieri once the senior corps of the Army is now an autonomous armed force alongside the Army Navy and Air Force The Carabinieri provide military police services to all the Italian armed forces Command structure edit nbsp 7th Army Aviation Regiment Vega NH90 helicopter during a night time missionThe Armed Forces of Italy are under the command of the Italian Supreme Defense Council presided over by the President of the Italian Republic Ranks editMain article Italian Army ranks Ranks are part of the uniform Organisation editSee also Structure of the Italian Army and List of units of the Italian Army For the detailed structure of the Italian Army see Structure of the Italian Army nbsp nbsp Aosta nbsp Ariete nbsp Folgore nbsp Friuli nbsp Garibaldi nbsp Granatieri di Sardegna nbsp Julia nbsp Pinerolo nbsp Pozzuolo del Friuli nbsp Sassari nbsp Taurinense nbsp Acqui nbsp Vittorio Venetoclass notpageimage Combat brigade locations of the Italian Army in 2023 nbsp Structure of the Italian Army since 1 October 2023Name Headquarters Subunits nbsp COMFOTER Rome nbsp Division Acqui nbsp Division Vittorio Veneto nbsp Army Special Forces Command nbsp Army Aviation Command nbsp Airmobile Brigade Friuli nbsp Army Aviation Support Brigade nbsp COMFOTER SUPPORT Verona nbsp Artillery Command nbsp Anti aircraft Artillery Command nbsp Engineer Command nbsp Signal Command nbsp Tactical Intelligence Brigade nbsp COMFOP Sud Naples nbsp Mechanized Brigade Granatieri di Sardegna nbsp Mechanized Brigade Aosta nbsp Mechanized Brigade Pinerolo nbsp Mechanized Brigade Sassari nbsp Bersaglieri Brigade Garibaldi nbsp COMFOP Nord Padua nbsp Cavalry Brigade Pozzuolo del Friuli nbsp 132nd Armored Brigade Ariete nbsp Paratroopers Brigade Folgore nbsp COMTA Bolzano nbsp Alpine Brigade Julia nbsp Alpine Brigade Taurinense nbsp NRDC Italy Milan nbsp NRDC ITA Support Brigade nbsp COMLOG Rome nbsp Logistic Support Command nbsp COMFORDOT RomeUnit organizations edit nbsp Brigade regiment and battalion organizationsAll brigades have been deployed and are continuously deployed in operations outside of Italy Combat brigades field between 3 5 000 troops each Brigade maneuver units are designated as regiments but field men and equipment similar to large battalions consisting of large Command and Logistic Support Company and a combat battalion Artillery regiments field an additional Surveillance Target Acquisition and Tactical Liaison Battery Every complete Italian Army brigade fields the following units Brigade Headquarter Command and Tactical Support Battalion Command Company Signal Company Cavalry Regiment Command and Logistic Support Squadron Armored Squadrons Group 3 Reconnaissance Squadrons each with 6 Centauro and 12 Puma 4 4 Centauros to be replaced with 6 Freccia EVO Reconnaissance and the Pumas with VTLM Lince II citation needed Heavy Armored Squadron 14 Centauro to be replaced with Centauro II Artillery Regiment Command and Logistic Support Battery Surveillance Target Acquisition and Tactical Liaison Battery with artillery radars drones forward observers Artillery Group 3 Howitzer Batteries each with 6 PzH2000 or FH70 howitzers Fire and Technical Support Battery Fire Direction Center Engineer Regiment Command and Logistic Support Company Engineer Battalion 3 Sapper Companies Combat engineers Deployment Support Company Construction bridging etc Logistic Regiment Command and Logistic Support Company Logistic Battalion Supply Company Maintenance Company Transport CompanyDepending on the type of brigade light medium heavy each brigade fields three maneuver battalions Currently the Folgore Taurinense and Julia each field three light infantry regiments the Pinerolo and Aosta each field three medium infantry regiments and the Garibaldi and Ariete field two respectively one heavy infantry regiment and one respectively two tank regiments The Friuli Sassari Granatieri di Sardegna and Pozzuolo del Friuli brigades regiments are structured like all other army regiments However these four brigades do not field the full complement of eight units Currently the army s maneuver regiments are organized as follows Light Infantry Regiment Alpini Lagunari Paratroopers and 66th Infantry Regiment Command and Logistic Support Company Infantry Battalion 3 Rifle Companies with Puma 6 6 Bv206 Alpini and VTLM Lince each company with 3 81mm mortars and 2 Spike MR launchers Maneuver Support Company 4 120mm mortars 4 Spike MR launchers Medium Infantry Regiment 5th 9th 62nd and 82nd infantry regiments 3rd 6th and 7th Bersaglieri regiments Command and Logistic Support Company Infantry Battalion 3 Rifle Companies each with 14 Freccia Combat 3 81mm mortars 2 Freccia Combat Anti tank with Spike LR and 2 Spike MR launchers Maneuver Support Company 2 Freccia Combat 4 Freccia Mortar Carrier with 120mm mortar 4 Freccia Combat Anti tank with Spike LR and 4 Spike MR launchers 12x VTLM Lince reconnaissance role Heavy Infantry Regiment 1st 8th and 11th Bersaglieri regiments 1st and 2nd Grenadier regiments Command and Logistic Support Company Infantry Battalion 3 Rifle Companies each with 14 Dardo IFV 3 81mm mortars 2 Dardo Spike LR Maneuver Support Company 2 Dardo IFV 4 M106 120mm mortar carriers 4 Dardo Spike LR Tank Regiment 4th 32nd and 132nd tank regiments Command and Logistic Support Company Tank Battalion 3 Tank Companies each with 13 Ariete main battle tanks Two of the three infantry regiments of the Sassari brigade are still equipped as light regiments while the brigade s 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment has begun the switch to medium infantry regiment on 6 January 2018 The 2nd Regiment Granatieri di Sardegna was reactivated on 1 September 2022 as a light infantry regiment and will switch to heavy regiment once new tracked infantry fighting vehicles will be acquired by the army Equipment editMain article List of equipment of the Italian Army nbsp Regiment Savoia Cavalleria 3rd Centauro tank destroyer nbsp 132nd Tank Regiment Ariete main battle tanks nbsp 1st Bersaglieri Regiment Dardo IFVs nbsp 8th Field Artillery Regiment Pasubio PzH 2000 nbsp 5th Army Aviation Regiment Rigel A129 Mangusta attack helicoptersUniforms editMain articles Uniforms of the Italian Armed Forces and Italian Army gorget patches The Italian Army uses uniforms that can be divided into four different families and hold strict rules that apply to the type of textile color and badge of the uniforms These include the Regular Uniform the only one that includes seasonal variations the Service Uniform the Service Combat Uniform and the Ceremonial Uniform only for officials The Regular Uniform edit The Regular Uniform comes in summer and winter versions differing exclusively in textiles used A single breasted jacket with four buttons and four pockets and trousers with a classic cut and front pleats with five pockets The undershirt also has two small pockets The uniform is completed by a necktie brown leather gloves brown shoes khaki socks and a cap or headdress The Service Uniform edit The summer and winter Service Uniform have identical cuts and colors to the Regular uniform while active military personnel always utilize a special headdress included with the uniform The Service Combat Uniform edit The Service Combat Uniform is most commonly used out of the four families and is distributed to all soldiers with the same mimetic pattern paratroopers have a different model with strengthening on the shoulders The uniform comprises a beret a five button closure jacket with two internal pockets and trousers with four pockets Accessories completing the uniform include gloves special footwear and a t shirt with short or long sleeves depending on the season The Ceremonial Uniform edit The Ceremonial Uniform includes a double breasted jacket with six buttons and two pockets on the hips Trousers come with a classic cut having the same jacket fabric The winter version can be worn with the blue cape infantry a black rigid cap white gloves and black shoes Other accessories such as the necktie a light blue scarf and a sabre complete the uniform Operations edit nbsp Sassari Mechanized Brigade soldiers on patrol with a VBM Freccia in Afghanistan nbsp 3rd Alpini Regiment soldiers near Shindand in AfghanistanA post World War II peace treaty signed by Italy prevented the country from deploying military forces in overseas operations as well as possessing fixed wing vessel based aircraft for twenty five years following the end of the war This treaty expired in 1970 but it would not be until 1982 that Italy first deployed troops on foreign soil with a peacekeeping contingent dispatched to Beirut following a United Nations request for troops Since the 1980s Italian troops have participated with other Western countries in peacekeeping operations across the world especially in Africa Balkan Peninsula and the Middle East The Italian Army has not engaged in major combat operations since World War II However Italian Special Forces have taken part in anti Taliban operations in Afghanistan as part of Task Force Nibbio Italy was not yet a member of the United Nations in 1950 at the time of the war with North Korea Italy did take part in the 1990 91 Gulf War but solely through the deployment of eight Italian Air Force Panavia Tornado IDS bomber jets to Saudi Arabia Italian Army troops were subsequently deployed to assist Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq following the conflict As part of Operation Enduring Freedom in response to the September 11 attacks Italy contributed to the international operation in Afghanistan Italian forces have contributed to ISAF the NATO force in Afghanistan and a Provincial reconstruction team and 53 Italian soldiers have died under ISAF Italy has sent 4200 troops based on one infantry company from the 2nd Alpini Regiment tasked to protect the ISAF HQ one engineer company one NBC platoon one logistic unit as well as liaison and staff elements integrated into the operation chain of command Italian forces also command a multinational engineer task force and have deployed a platoon of Italian military police Italy leads the Regional Command West in Afghanistan and its HQ is located in Herat at Camp Arena base Italian Air Force deployed about 30 aircraft both helicopters and planes four AMX Ghibli and two RQ 1A Predator that are used in close air support and intelligence missions Alenia C 27J Spartan Boeing CH 47C Chinook NH90 and Lockheed C 130 Hercules which are used in transport missions Bell UH 1N Twin Huey and Agusta A129CBT Mangusta are used in missions of fire support to the troops The Italian Army did not take part in combat operations of the 2003 Second Gulf War dispatching troops only after May 1 2003 when major combat operations were declared over by the U S President George W Bush Subsequently Italian troops arrived in the late summer of 2003 and began patrolling Nasiriyah and the surrounding area On 26 May 2006 Italian foreign minister Massimo d Alema announced that the Italian forces would be reduced to 1 600 by June As of June 2006 32 Italian troops have been killed in Iraq with the greatest single loss of life coming on November 12 2003 a suicide car bombing of the Italian Carabinieri Corps HQ left a dozen Carabinieri five Army soldiers two Italian and eight Iraqi civilians dead As of 2006 Italy ranks third in the world in the number of deployed military forces operating in peacekeeping and peace enforcing scenarios Afghanistan Kosovo Bosnia and Herzegovina and Lebanon behind only to the United States and the United Kingdom A recent law promoted recruitment in the Italian Army giving volunteers a chance to find post service careers in the Carabinieri Italian State Police Italian Finance Police Fire Department and other state bodies See also editList of units of the Italian Army Regio Esercito World War II Uniforms of the Italian Armed Forces List of military weapons of ItalyReferences edit Rapporto Esercito 2018 PDF Esercito Italiano Retrieved 25 April 2019 Keegan John 2001 The first World War An Illustrated History London Hutchinson ISBN 0 09 179392 0 p 319 Bierman John Smith Colin 2003 2002 War without Hate The Desert Campaign of 1940 1943 New ed New York Penguin Books ISBN 978 0 14 200394 7 pp 13 14 Walker Ian W 2003 Iron Hulls Iron Hearts Mussolini s Elite Armoured Divisions in North Africa Ramsbury The Crowood Press ISBN 1 86126 646 4 pp 9 29 The Birth of AFSOUTH 93 63 251 100 Archived from the original on 31 March 2012 Retrieved 13 January 2022 Chapter 9 NATO the first five years 1949 1954 NATO Archived from the original on 2008 11 10 Retrieved 2008 11 03 31 marzo 1972 Riordino degli Alti Comandi Militari PDF Italian Parliament Archived PDF from the original on 2017 12 23 Retrieved 23 December 2017 Notizie Eventi Esercito Italiano Esercito difesa it Archived from the original on 2013 10 19 Retrieved 2016 12 19 La Friuli diventa Vittorio Veneto Italian Army Retrieved 12 August 2019 A Lecce arriva il Reggimento Cavalleggeri di Lodi 15 Italian Army Retrieved 10 January 2020 Comando Operativo delle Forze Terrestri Italian Army Retrieved 6 July 2023 Cambio al vertice del COMFOTER Italian Army Retrieved 6 July 2023 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Army of Italy Official Website of the Italian Army Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Italian Army amp oldid 1192678152, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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