El ejército italiano ( italiano : Esercito Italiano ) es la base en tierra componente de las Fuerzas Armadas italianas de la República Italiana . La historia del ejército se remonta a la unificación italiana en las décadas de 1850 y 1860. El ejército luchó en enfrentamientos coloniales en China, Libia , el norte de Italia contra el Imperio austrohúngaro durante la Primera Guerra Mundial , Abisinia antes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial y en la Segunda Guerra Mundial en Albania, los Balcanes, el norte de África, la Unión Soviética y la propia Italia. Durante la Guerra Fría , el ejército se preparó para defenderse de unInvasión del Pacto de Varsovia desde el este. Desde el final de la Guerra Fría, el ejército ha sido testigo de un extenso servicio de mantenimiento de la paz y combate en Afganistán e Irak . Sus más conocidos de vehículos de combate son el Dardo vehículo de combate de infantería , el Centauro destructor del tanque y la Ariete tanque y entre sus aviones el Mangusta helicóptero de ataque , recientemente desplegado en misiones de la ONU. La sede del Estado Mayor del Ejército se encuentra en Roma frente al Palacio del Quirinal , donde reside el presidente de Italia . El ejército es una fuerza totalmente voluntaria de personal en servicio activo.
Ejército italiano | |
---|---|
Esercito Italiano | |
Fundado | 27 de marzo de 1861 |
País | Italia |
Lealtad | República italiana |
Tipo | Ejército |
Papel | Guerra terrestre |
Tamaño | 97.755 (2018) [1] |
Parte de | Consejo Supremo de Defensa de Italia |
Guarnición / HQ | Roma |
Lema (s) | Latín : Salus Rei Publicae Suprema Lex Esto "La salvaguardia de la república será la ley suprema" |
marcha | Parata d'Eroi ("Desfile de los héroes") de Francesco Pellegrino, 4 Maggio (4 de mayo) de Fulvio Creux |
Aniversarios | 4 de noviembre, Día de la Unidad Nacional y de las Fuerzas Armadas 4 de mayo, Día del Ejército |
Compromisos | Guerra del Risorgimento de 1866 Primera Guerra Italo-Abisinio Guerra Italo-Turca Primera Guerra Mundial Segunda Guerra Italo-Abisinio Guerra Civil Española Invasión italiana de Albania Segunda Guerra Mundial Guerra de Kosovo Guerra de Irak Guerra en Afganistán Guerra contra el Terrorismo |
Decoraciones | 3 Cruces de Caballeros de la Orden Militar de Italia 1 Medalla de Oro al Valor Militar 2 Medallas de Oro al Valor Civil 1 Medalla de Plata al Valor Civil 1 Medalla de Plata al Mérito Civil |
Comandantes | |
Presidente de italia | Sergio Mattarella |
Capo di Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito ( Jefe de personal ) | Teniente general Pietro Serino |
Comandantes notables | Giuseppe Garibaldi Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Emanuele Filiberto, segundo duque de Aosta Enrico Caviglia Pietro Badoglio Ugo Cavallero Rodolfo Graziani Italo Gariboldi Ettore Bastico Giovanni Messe |
Insignias | |
Logo |
Historia
El ejército italiano se originó como el Ejército Real ( Regio Esercito ) que data de la proclamación del Reino de Italia tras la toma de los Estados Pontificios y la unificación de Italia ( Risorgimento ). En 1861, bajo el liderazgo de Giuseppe Garibaldi , Victor Emmanuel II de la Casa de Saboya fue invitado a tomar el trono y del reino recién creado.
Se enviaron expediciones italianas a China durante la Rebelión de los Bóxers de 1900 ya Libia durante la Guerra Italo-Turca de 1911-1912.
Primera Guerra Mundial
La primera prueba real del ejército real italiano de la guerra moderna fue durante la Primera Guerra Mundial . La mayoría de las acciones se libraron en el norte de Italia y el Ejército Real sufrió muchas bajas. Esto incluyó más de 700.000 muertos. En particular, la frecuencia de las ofensivas en las que participaron los soldados italianos entre mayo de 1915 y agosto de 1917, una cada tres meses, fue superior a la exigida por los ejércitos del Frente Occidental. La disciplina italiana también fue más dura, con castigos por infracciones del deber de una severidad desconocida en los ejércitos alemán, francés y británico. [2]
Durante los años de entreguerras, el Ejército Real participó en la invasión italiana de Etiopía , proporcionó hombres y materiales durante la Guerra Civil española para luchar en el Cuerpo de Tropas Voluntarias ( Corpo Truppe Volontarie ) y lanzó la invasión italiana de Albania .
Segunda Guerra Mundial
Sobre el papel, el Ejército Real fue una de las fuerzas terrestres más grandes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial , aunque en realidad no pudo desplegar los números reclamados, y fue uno de los pioneros en el uso de paracaidistas . Debido a su tamaño generalmente más pequeño, muchas divisiones italianas fueron reforzadas por un Grupo de Asalto ( Gruppo d'Assalto ) de dos batallones de Camisas Negras ( MVSN ).
Los informes sobre la destreza militar italiana en la Segunda Guerra Mundial fueron, casi siempre, desdeñosos. Esta percepción fue el resultado de las desastrosas ofensivas italianas contra Egipto y el desempeño del ejército en la guerra greco-italiana . Ambas campañas estuvieron mal preparadas y ejecutadas de manera inadecuada. El 10º ejército italiano avanzó inicialmente hacia Egipto, pero se rindió después de ser empujado hacia el centro de Libia y casi todo destruido por una fuerza de una quinta parte de su tamaño en la campaña británica de tres meses de Operación Compass .
El liderazgo militar incompetente se vio agravado por el equipo militar italiano, que se remonta principalmente a la Primera Guerra Mundial y no estaba a la altura de los ejércitos aliados o alemanes. [3] Los tanques italianos "medianos" M11 , M13 , M14 y M15 estaban en una marcada desventaja frente a los tanques Sherman estadounidenses comparativamente fuertemente armados , por ejemplo. Más importante aún, Italia carecía de cantidades adecuadas de equipo de todo tipo y el alto mando italiano no tomó las medidas necesarias para planificar posibles contratiempos en el campo de batalla, o para el apoyo logístico adecuado a sus ejércitos de campaña. [4] Había muy pocas armas antiaéreas, cañones antitanques obsoletos y muy pocos camiones.
El Cuerpo Expedicionario Italiano en Rusia luchó bajo el mando del General Giovanni Messe , quien reconoció las limitaciones de su Cuerpo en material y equipo y, por lo tanto, fue relevado de su mando el 1 de noviembre de 1942. Cuando la ofensiva soviética Operación Saturno comenzó el 12 de diciembre de 1942, el italiano El 8º Ejército fue rápidamente aplastado. Solo alrededor de un tercio de sus tropas lograron escapar del caldero soviético, incluidas las tres Divisiones Alpini Tridentina , Julia y Cuneense .
En el norte de África, la 132 División Blindada italiana Ariete y la 185 División Aerotransportada Folgore lucharon hasta la aniquilación total en la Segunda Batalla de El Alamein . Aunque la batalla se perdió, la resistencia decidida de los soldados italianos en la Batalla de Keren en África Oriental todavía es conmemorada hoy por los militares italianos.
Después de la derrota del Eje en Túnez, la moral de las tropas italianas cayó y cuando los Aliados desembarcaron en Sicilia el 10 de julio de 1943, la mayoría de las divisiones costeras italianas simplemente se disolvieron. La moral decaída llevó al derrocamiento del dictador italiano Benito Mussolini por el rey Víctor Manuel III de Italia 15 días después.
En septiembre de 1943, Italia hizo un armisticio con los aliados y se dividió en la República Social Italiana - efectivamente un estado títere de Alemania - en el norte y el gobierno de Badoglio en el sur. El Ejército Cobeligerante Italiano ( Esercito Cobelligerante Italiano ) era el ejército de las fuerzas realistas italianas que luchaban del lado de los Aliados en el sur de Italia después del armisticio aliado con Italia en septiembre de 1943. Los soldados italianos que luchaban en este ejército ya no luchaban por Benito Mussolini como su lealtad era al rey Victor Emmanuel y al mariscal de Italia (Maresciallo d'Italia) Pietro Badoglio , los hombres que derrocaron a Mussolini.
Guerra Fría
El reino fue reemplazado por una República en junio de 1946 y el Ejército Real cambió su nombre para convertirse en Ejército Italiano ("Esercito Italiano"). Inicialmente, el ejército desplegó cinco divisiones de infantería, creadas a partir de los cinco grupos de combate del Ejército Cobeligerante italiano , y equipadas con material británico. Además, el ejército desplegó tres divisiones de seguridad interna sin equipo pesado para guarnecer las dos islas principales del país:
- División de infantería "Cremona" , en Turín (anteriormente parte del V Cuerpo británico )
- División de infantería "Folgore" , Florencia (anteriormente parte del XIII Cuerpo británico )
- División de infantería "Friuli" , en Bolzano (anteriormente parte del II Cuerpo Polaco )
- División de Infantería "Legnano" , en Bérgamo (anteriormente parte del II Cuerpo Polaco)
- División de infantería "Mantova" , en Varazze (anteriormente parte del Octavo Ejército Británico )
- División de Seguridad Interna "Aosta" , en Palermo en Sicilia
- División de Seguridad Interna "Sabauda" , en Enna, Sicilia
- División de Seguridad Interior "Calabria" , en Sassari en Cerdeña
Como el estado de la ciudad de Territorio Libre de Trieste fue disputado por la República Federativa Socialista de Yugoslavia, el ejército italiano trasladó el "Folgore" a Treviso y el "Mantova" a Gorizia en 1947. Al mismo tiempo, el ejército comenzó el proceso de levantando siete divisiones adicionales y cinco brigadas Alpini .
- División de infantería "Aosta" , en Messina (activada el 1 de febrero de 1948)
- División de infantería "Granatieri di Sardegna" , en Civitavecchia (activada el 1 de abril de 1948)
- División de infantería "Avellino", en Salerno (con fuerza reducida) (activada el 1 de septiembre de 1949)
- Brigada alpina "Julia" , en Cividale del Friuli (activada el 15 de octubre de 1949)
- División de Infantería Motorizada "Trieste" , en Bolonia (activada el 1 de junio de 1950)
- Brigada alpina "Tridentina" , en Bressanone (activada el 1 de mayo de 1951)
- División de infantería "Pinerolo" , en Bari (con efectivos reducidos) (activada el 15 de abril de 1952)
- Brigada alpina "Taurinense" , en Turín (activada el 15 de abril de 1952)
- División Blindada "Ariete" , en Pordenone (activada el 1 de octubre de 1952)
- División Blindada "Centauro" , en Verona (activada el 1 de noviembre de 1952)
- Brigada alpina "Orobica" , en Merano (activada el 1 de enero de 1953)
- División Blindada "Pozzuolo del Friuli" , en Roma (activada el 1 de enero de 1953)
- Brigada alpina "Cadore" , en Belluno (activada el 1 de julio de 1953)
Tras la creación de la OTAN , el ejército italiano se integró en las Fuerzas Aliadas de la OTAN en el sur de Europa y se preparó para una temida invasión desde el este, posiblemente a través de Yugoslavia . Las Fuerzas Terrestres Aliadas del Sur de Europa (LANDSOUTH), se activaron el 10 de julio de 1951 para defender el noreste de Italia. El mando tenía su sede en Verona y estaba bajo el mando del teniente general Maurizio Lazzaro De Castiglioni. [5] Unas tres divisiones de infantería y tres brigadas fueron las únicas fuerzas inicialmente disponibles para este comando para defender el noreste de Italia. Las divisiones en cuestión eran la División de Infantería "Mantova" en Gorizia , la División de Infantería Motorizada "Folgore" en Treviso , la División de Infantería Motorizada "Trieste" en Bolonia. Dos de las tres brigadas eran brigadas de infantería de montaña Alpini : la Brigada Alpina "Julia" en Cividale del Friuli y la Brigada Alpina "Tridentina" en Brixen , mientras que la tercera brigada era la Brigada Blindada "Ariete" en Pordenone . El ejercicio "Italic Weld", un ejercicio combinado aire-naval-terrestre en el norte de Italia que involucra a Estados Unidos, Italia, Turquía y Grecia, parece haber sido uno de los primeros ejercicios en los que se probó la nueva orientación del ejército italiano. [6]
El 1 de mayo de 1952, el ejército activó un comando del ejército y dos del Cuerpo de comandos, el Tercer Ejército en Padua , y el IV Cuerpo de Ejército en Bolzano y V Cuerpo de Ejército en Vittorio Veneto , para poder eludir la OTAN 's cadena de mando en caso de una Debería estallar la guerra entre Italia y Yugoslavia por el Territorio Libre de Trieste . [7] Más tarde, en 1952, el ejército también levantó el VI Cuerpo de Ejército en Bolonia , seguido por el III Cuerpo de Ejército en Milán en 1957, ambos también asignados al Tercer Ejército.
A principios de la década de 1960 el ejército redujo a brigadas las divisiones "Trieste", "Friuli", "Pozzuolo del Friuli", "Pinerolo", "Avellino" y "Aosta" y elevó la I Brigada de Paracaidistas en Pisa . El 1 de octubre de 1965 se disolvió la Brigada de Infantería "Avellino" y el 10 de junio de 1967 se permitió a la I Brigada de Paracaidistas agregar " Folgore " a su nombre y pasó a denominarse Brigada de Paracaidistas "Folgore" . Con la disminución de las tensiones entre Italia y Yugoslavia, el Tercer Ejército, junto con el VI Cuerpo de Ejército, se disolvió el 1 de abril 1972 y sus funciones asumidas por la OTAN 's fuerzas aliadas el sur de Europa en Verona . Antes de la disolución del Tercer Ejército, la estructura del ejército era la siguiente:
- Tercer Ejército , en Padua
- Comando de Artillería Antiaérea , en Padua
- III Cuerpo de Ejército , en Milán
- División Blindada "Centauro" , en Novara
- División de Infantería Motorizada "Legnano" , en Bérgamo
- División de Infantería "Cremona" , en Cuneo
- Brigada Alpina "Taurinense" , en Turín (transferida al IV Cuerpo de Ejército en 1972)
- IV Cuerpo de Ejército , en Bolzano (rebautizado IV Cuerpo de Ejército Alpino el 1 de enero de 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
- Motorized 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
- Motorized 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 Messina
1975 reform
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 "Cremona" division was reduced to a brigade, the "Granatieri di Sardegna" and "Legnano" divisions, and the "Pozzuolo del Friuli" brigade were split to create two new brigades each. Afterwards the three divisions ceased to exist.
Before 1975 | After 1975 | Notes |
---|---|---|
Infantry Division "Cremona" | Motorized Brigade "Cremona" | under 3rd Army Corps |
Infantry Division "Granatieri di Sardegna" | Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" | under Central Military Region |
Motorized Brigade "Acqui" | under Central Military Region | |
Infantry 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 "Folgore" and "Mantova" divisions were mostly disbanded and the remnants used to create one brigade each; then the two divisions were augmented by two brigades each to bring them back up to strength. The "Centauro" division was split into two brigades and then brought back to full strength by adding the Mechanized Brigade "Legnano". Only the "Ariete" division saw no reduction of its ranks and its three regiments were used to create three brigades.
Name before 1975 | Brigades created from divisional assets in 1975 | Name after 1975 | Assigned brigades after 1975 | Notes |
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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 "Pozzuolo del Friuli" brigade | |||
Infantry Division "Mantova" | Mechanized Brigade "Isonzo" | Mechanized Division "Mantova" | Mechanized Brigade "Isonzo" | |
Mechanized Brigade "Brescia" | split from the "Legnano" division | |||
Armored Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" | joined 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 "Legnano" division | |||
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 structure of the army was:
- 3rd Army Corps (Milan):
- Armored Division "Centauro" (Novara)
- 3rd Mechanized Brigade "Goito" (Milan)
- Mechanized Brigade "Legnano" (Bergamo)
- 31st Armored Brigade "Curtatone" (Bellinzago Novarese)
- Motorized Brigade "Cremona" (Turin)
- Armored Division "Centauro" (Novara)
- 4th Alpine Army Corps (Bolzano):
- Alpine Brigade "Cadore" (Belluno)
- Alpine Brigade "Julia" (Udine)
- Alpine Brigade "Orobica" (Merano)
- Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" (Turin)
- Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" (Brixen)
- 5th Army Corps (Vittorio Veneto):
- Armored Division "Ariete" (Pordenone)
- 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi" (Pordenone)
- 32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli" (Tauriano)
- 132nd Armored Brigade "Manin" (Aviano)
- Mechanized Division "Folgore" (Treviso)
- Mechanized Brigade "Trieste" (Bologna)
- Mechanized Brigade "Gorizia" (Gorizia)
- Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto" (Villa Opicina)
- Amphibious Troops Command (Venice, a regiment-sized formation, tasked with the defence of the Venetian Lagoon)
- Mechanized Division "Mantova" (Udine)
- Mechanized Brigade "Brescia" (Brescia)
- Mechanized Brigade "Isonzo" (Cividale del Friuli)
- Armored Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" (Palmanova)
- 3rd Missile Brigade "Aquileia" (Portogruaro)
- Trieste Troops Command, (Trieste, a brigade-sized formation consisting mostly of reserve units)
- Armored Division "Ariete" (Pordenone)
The brigades under operational control of the Military Regions were:
- VII Territorial Military Command (Florence)
- Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" (Livorno)
- Motorized Brigade "Friuli" (Florence)
- VIII Territorial Military Command (Rome)
- Motorized Brigade "Acqui" (L'Aquila)
- Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" (Rome)
- X Territorial Military Command (Naples)
- Motorized Brigade "Pinerolo" (Bari)
- XI Territorial Military Command (Palermo)
- Motorized Brigade "Aosta" (Messina)
1986 reform
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 new coat of arms to reflect their new independence. By 1989 the army was structured as depicted in the graphic below:
Post Cold War
Pozzuolo del Friuli
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):
- Armored Brigade "Centauro" (Novara)
- Mechanized Brigade "Goito" (Milan)
- Mechanized Brigade "Legnano" (Bergamo)
- Mechanized Brigade "Brescia" (Brescia)
- Mechanized Brigade "Trieste" (Bologna)
- Motorized Brigade "Cremona" (Turin)
- 4th Alpine Army Corps (Bolzano):
- Alpine Brigade "Cadore" (Belluno)
- Alpine Brigade "Julia" (Udine)
- Alpine Brigade "Orobica" (Merano)
- Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" (Turin)
- Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" (Brixen)
- 5th Army Corps (Vittorio Veneto):
- Armored Brigade "Ariete" (Aviano)
- Armored Brigade "Mameli" (Tauriano)
- Armored Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" (Palmanova)
- Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi" (Pordenone)
- Mechanized Brigade "Vittorio Veneto" (Villa Opicina)
- Mechanized Brigade "Gorizia" (Gorizia)
- Mechanized Brigade "Mantova" (Udine)
- 3rd Missile Brigade "Aquileia" (Portogruaro)
The brigades under operational control of the Military Regions were:
- VII Territorial Military Command (Florence)
- Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" (Livorno)
- Motorized Brigade "Friuli" (Florence)
- VIII Territorial Military Command (Rome)
- Motorized Brigade "Acqui" (L'Aquila)
- Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" (Rome)
- X Territorial Military Command (Naples)
- Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" (Bari)
- XI Territorial Military Command (Palermo)
- Motorized Brigade "Aosta" (Messina)
- Autonomous Military Command Sardinia (Cagliari)
- Motorized Brigade "Sassari" (Sassari)
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; while 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 closest 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
In total the Italian Army fielded at the end of the Cold War:
Quantity | Unit Type | Equipment | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
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. | |
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 of the 5th Army Corps, one battalion to the Central Military Region, and two were training battalions of the Armored Cavalry School respectively the 1st Armored Infantry Regiment. Each battalion fielded 33 M47 Patton tanks and 24 M113 APCs. | |
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 tank squadrons group and joined the "Brescia" brigade, one was reformed as mechanized squadrons group and joined the "Vittorio Veneto" brigade. The two remaining reconnaissance squadrons 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 in total of 31 tanks and 24 M113. | |
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 squadrons groups. One battalion as training and demonstration unit of the army's Infantry and Cavalry School. Each battalion fielded 68 M113 APCs and 17 M106 mortar carriers. | |
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. | ||
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. | ||
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. | ||
Fortification Infantry | One Alpini and 5 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. | ||
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. | |
Training Battalions | The training battalions were tasked with the basic training of recruits: four Alpini, one paratroopers, one Granatieri, and 27 infantry battalions trained. | ||
Self-Propelled Artillery | M109 howitzers | One group (equivalent to a battalion) per armored and mechanized brigade (with the exception of 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. | |
Field Artillery | M114 howitzers | One group per motorized brigade (with the exception of 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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
Missile Artillery | MGM-52 Lance | The only missile artillery group of the army was capable to firing tactical nuclear missiles. The group fielded three batteries of two MGM-52 Lance launchers. | |
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. | ||
Light Anti-aircraft Artillery | FIM-92 Stinger 40/70 Anti-air guns | Five active and two reserve groups under the Anti-aircraft Artillery Command. | |
Air-defense 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. | |
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). | ||
Reconnaissance Helicopter | AB 206 A109 EOA | Four squadrons flying AB 206 and one squadron flying A109 EOA helicopters. | |
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. | |
General Aviation | AB 212 SM-1019 | The squadrons were dispersed all over the nation and supported various regional commands. | |
Signal Battalions | Additionally two independent companies. | ||
Electronic Warfare Battalions | |||
NBC-defense Battalion | Part of Engineer corps, but under direct command of the Army's General Staff. | ||
Logistic Battalions | One logistic battalion per brigade; with the exception of the "Sassari" brigade. | ||
Logistic Maneuver Battalions | The logistic maneuver battalions ensured the mobility and logistic support of the Army's three Corps Commands. | ||
Transport Battalions | Transport battalions provided mobility and logistic support to Territorial Commands and the Army and Armed Forces General Staffs in Rome. | ||
Command and Signal Units | One command and signals unit per brigade, one for the Army's Air-defense 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 with the exception of the "Sassari" brigade.
1991 reform
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
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 to 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, changed composition, designation and tasks. The three Army Corps's 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 during war 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 formation (Army Aviation Command, Air-Defense 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):
- Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" (Livorno)
- Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Friuli" (Bologna)
- Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi" (Caserta)
- COMALP (Bolzano):
- Alpine Brigade "Julia" (Udine)
- Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" (Turin)
- Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" (Brixen)
- COMFOD 1 (Vittorio Veneto):
- Armored Brigade "Ariete" (Pordenone)
- Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Centauro" (Novara)
- Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" (Gorizia)
- COMFOD 2 (Naples):
- Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Aosta" (Messina)
- Mechanized Infantry Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" (Rome)
- Armored Brigade "Pinerolo" (Bari)
- 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)
- COMFOP (Milan):
2002 reform
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 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)
- NRDC-IT (Milan):
2011 reform
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
In 2013 the Army began a major reform. The three corps 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
- 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, with the exception of 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, while 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 respectively the Paratroopers Brigade Folgore.
2019 changes
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" and with this the traditions of the name "Friuli" returned to the Airmobile Brigade "Friuli", whose merger with the "Pozzuolo del Friuli" brigade was canceled.[9] Likewise the disbanding of the "Granatieri di Sardegna" brigade was canceled 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]
Operaciones
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 objects 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 force.
Estructura de mando
The Armed Forces of Italy are under the command of the Italian Supreme Defense Council, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic.
Rangos
Ranks are part of the uniform.
Organización
For the detailed structure of the Italian Army see Structure of the Italian Army.
Name | Headquarters | Subunits |
---|---|---|
COMFOTER COE | Rome (Lazio) | Army Aviation Command (includes the Army Aviation Brigade) Army Special Forces Command |
COMFOTER SUPPORT | Verona (Veneto) | Artillery Command Air-defense Artillery Command Engineer Command Signal Command Logistic Support Command Tactical Intelligence Brigade |
NRDC - Italy | Milan (Lombardy) | NRDC-ITA Support Brigade |
Division "Acqui" | Napoli (Campania) | Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" Mechanized Brigade "Aosta" Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" Mechanized Brigade "Sassari" Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi" |
Division "Vittorio Veneto" | Florence (Tuscany) | Airmobile Brigade "Friuli" Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" |
Division "Tridentina" | Bolzano (South Tyrol) | Alpine Brigade "Julia" Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" |
Organizaciones de la unidad
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 regiments, but field men and equipment similar to a large battalions, with each consisting of large Command and Logistic Support Company, and a combat battalion. Artillery regiments field and additional Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Tactical Liaison Battery.
Every Italian Army standard 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
- 2x Reconnaissance Squadrons (each with 8x Centauro and 12x VTLM Lince (Centauros to be replaced with 6x Freccia EVO Reconnaissance))
- Heavy Armored Squadron (14x 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
- 3x Howitzer Batteries (each with 6x PzH2000, M109L, or FH70 howitzers)
- Fire and Technical Support Battery (Fire Direction Center)
- Engineer Regiment
- Command and Logistic Support Company
- Engineer Battalion
- 2x Sapper Companies (Combat engineers)
- Deployment Support Company (Construction)
- Mobility Support Company (Bridging, Route Clearing, etc.)
- Logistic Regiment
- Command and Logistic Support Company
- Logistic Battalion
- Supply Company
- Maintenance Company
- Transport Company
- Command and Tactical Support Battalion
Depending on the type of brigade (light, medium, heavy) each standard brigade also 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 as the army's standard brigades.
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 or Bv206 (Alpini), Lince; and 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, 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, 4× Spike MR launchers)
- Heavy Infantry Regiment (1st, 8th, and 11th Bersaglieri regiments; and 1st Regiment "Granatieri di Sardegna")
- 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
- 4× 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.
Equipo
Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) Centauro tank destroyer
132nd Tank Regiment Ariete main battle tanks
1st Bersaglieri Regiment Dardo IFVs
8th Field Artillery Regiment "Pasubio" PzH 2000
5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel" A129 Mangusta attack helicopters
Uniformes
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
The Regular Uniform includes both summer and winter versions, with the textile used being the only difference. A single-breasted jacket with four buttons and four pockets, as well as trousers that come with a classic cut and front pleats which have five pockets. The shirt worn underneath the jacket also has two small pockets. The uniform is completed with a necktie, brown leather gloves, brown shoes, khaki socks and a cap or headdress.
The Service Uniform
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
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 a strengthening on the shoulders). The uniform is composed of 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
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 fabric of the jacket. The winter version can be worn with the blue cape infantry, a black rigid cap, white gloves and black shoes. There are other accessories such as the necktie, a light blue scarf and a sabre that complete the uniform.
Operaciones
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 being 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.
As yet, the Italian Army has not engaged in major combat operations since World War II; though 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, when that organization went to 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, 2001 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. Actually, Italy leads the Regional Command West in Afghanistan, and its HQ is located in Herat in the base of Camp Arena. Italian Air Force deployed about 30 aircraft among helicopters and planes; some of them are: 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 number of military forces operating in peacekeeping and peace-enforcing scenarios Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lebanon following only the United States and United Kingdom.
A recent law promotes membership of the Italian Army giving volunteers a chance to find post-Army careers in the Carabinieri, Italian State Police, Italian Finance Police, State Forestry Department, Fire Department and other state bodies.
Ver también
- Guardia alla Frontiera
- List of units of the Italian Army
- Regio Esercito (World War II)
- Template:Italian Divisions World War II
- Uniforms of the Italian Armed Forces
Referencias
- ^ "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
- ^ [1]
- ^ "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.
enlaces externos
- Official Website of the Italian Army