Italian Army
The Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) is the ground defense force of the Italian Republic . It has recently become a professional all-volunteer force of 112,000 active duty personnel. The headquarters of the Army General Staff is in Rome, opposite the Presidential Palace.
Command Structure
The Italian Military is under the command of the Italian Supreme Defense Council, presided over by the President of the Italian Republic. The Italian Army is commanded by the SME or “Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito” (Chief of the Army General Staff) in Rome. The Chief of staff has direct control of all support and logistics operations in Italy (i.e. military clinics, repair facilities, acquisitions,…), but no direct control of the operational forces, which are all assigned to and commanded by COMFOTER: “Comando delle Forze Operative Terrestri” (Command of Operational Terrestrial Forces).
Operational Forces
COMFOTER has direct command on a NATO rapid reaction Corps Command (NRDC-IT), of four support brigades (Artillery, Air Defense, Logistics, Engineering), as well as command of the Army Aviation, the Army Communication and Transmission command and of three commands called COMFOD 1, COMFOD 2 and COMALP, which between them command the actual 11 Italian combat Brigades. The attached units are in detail:
NRDC-IT
NRDC is located in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy) and has only one regiment at its dependency:
COMALP
“Comando Truppe Alpini” or COMALP has command over the light Mountain Troops - called Alpini- of the Italian Army. It is located in Bolzano and consist of the following units:
- Alpini Training Center in Aosta
- 6° Alpini Regiment (high altitude training areas) in San Candido (South Tyrol) with 21 Bv206
- 4° Alpini Paracadutisti (Parachutist) Regiment “Monte Cervino” in Bolzano with 21 Bv206 and 33 Puma 4x4 (Forces for Special Operations)
- “Tridentina” Division Command (without fixed units) in Brixen-Bressanone (South Tyrol)
- “Taurinense” Alpini Brigade in Turin (Piedmont)
- 2° Alpini Regiment in Cuneo (Piedmont) with 21 Bv206 and Puma 6x6
- 3° Alpini Regiment in Pinerolo (Piedmont) with 21 Bv206 and Puma 6x6
- 9° Alpini Regiment in l'Aquila (Abruzzi) with 21 Bv206 and Puma 6x6
- 1 °Cavalry Regiment “Nizza Cavalleria” in Pinerolo (Piedmont) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4
- 1° Mountain Artillery Regiment in Fossano (Piedmont) with 24 FH-70
- 32° Alpini Engineer Regiment in Turin (Piedmont)
- “Julia” Alpini Brigade in Udine (Friuli)
- 5° Alpini Regiment in Sterzing-Vipiteno (South Tyrol) with 21 Bv206 and Puma 6x6
- 7° Alpini Regiment in Belluno (Veneto) with 21 Bv206 and Puma 6x6
- 8° Alpini Regiment in Cividale e Venzone (Friuli) with 21 Bv206 and Puma 6x6
- 3° Mountain Artillery Regiment in Tolmezzo (Friuli) with 24 FH-70
- 2° Alpini Engineer Regiment in Trento (Trentino)
- 1° Hungarian Mechanized Battalion (for out of area NATO peacekeeping deployment)
- 182. Slovenian Infantry Battalion (for out of area NATO peacekeeping deployment)
COMFOD 1
“Comando Forze di Difesa 1” or COMFOD 1 resides in the north-eastern city of Vittorio Veneto (Veneto) and commands the most specialized brigades of the Italian Army:
- “Mantova” Infantry Division Command (without fixed units)
- “Folgore” Parachutist Brigade in Livorno (Tuscany)
- Parachutist Training Center in Pisa (Tuscany)
- 9° Parachutist Assault Regiment “Col Moschin” in Livorno (Tuscany) (Special forces)
- 183° Parachutist Regiment “Nembo” in Pistoia (Tuscany) with Puma 6x6
- 186° Parachutist Regiment “Folgore” in Siena (Tuscany) with Puma 6x6
- 187° Parachutist Regiment “Folgore” in Livorno (Tuscany) with Puma 6x6
- 185° Parachutist Reconnaissance Regiment “Folgore” in Livorno (Tuscany) (Forces for Special Operations)
- 8° Parachutist Engineer Regiment in Legnago (Veneto)
- “Friuli” Air Assault Brigade in Bologna (Emilia)
- 3 °Cavalry Regiment “Savoia Cavalleria” in Grosseto (Tuscany) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4
- 66° Air Assault Infantry Regiment “Trieste” in Forlì (Romagna) with 33 Puma 6x6
- 5° Army Aviation Regiment “Rigel” in Casarsa (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with
- 36 A129 "Mangusta" Attack Helicopters
- 12 AB 109EOA "Hirundo" Observation helicopters
- 24 AB 206C/1 Battlefield Surveillance helicopter
- 7° Army Aviation Regiment “Vega” in Rimini (Romagna) with
- 24 A129 "Mangusta" Attack Helicopters
- 12 AB 109EOA "Hirundo" Observation helicopters
- 24 AB 412 Support helicopters
- “Pozzuolo del Friuli” Cavalry Brigade in Gorizia (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- 2 °Cavalry Regiment “Piemonte Cavalleria” in Trieste (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4
- 4 °Cavalry Regiment “Genova Cavalleria” in Palmanova (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4
- 5 °Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri di Novara” in Codroipo (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4
- Lagunari (Marine Infantry) Regiment “Serenissima ” in Venice (Veneto) with 25 AAV7-A1 and Puma 6x6
- Artillery Regiment “a cavallo” in Milan (Lombardy) with 24 FH-70
- 3° Engineer Regiment in Udine (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- “Ariete” Armored Brigade in Pordenone (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- 4° Tank Regiment in Bellinzago Novarese (Piedmont) with 54 Ariete
- 32° Tank Regiment in Tauriano (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 54 Ariete
- 132° Tank Regiment in Cordenons (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 54 Ariete
- 3° Bersaglieri mechanized Infantry Regiment in Milan (Lombardy) with 50 VCC (M113 improved)
- 11° Bersaglieri mechanized Infantry Regiment in Orcenigo Superiore (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 50 Dardo
- 132° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Ariete” in Maniago (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 32 M109/L
- 10° Engineer Regiment in Cremona (Lombardy)
COMFOD 2
“Comando Forze di Difesa 2” or COMFOD 2 resides in S. Giorgio a Cremano near Naples and commands 5 brigades. Three of those, the brigades “Aosta”, “Pinerolo” and “Granatieri di Sardegna” are made up of one year volunteers and therefore are supposed to be used only on Italian soil. COMFOD 2 commands:
- “Acqui” Division Command (without fixed units)
- 91° Training Battalion “Lucania”
- “Sassari” Mechanized Brigade in Sassari (Sardinia)
- 151° Infantry Regiment “Sassari” in Cagliari (Sardinia) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 152° Infantry Regiment “Sassari” in Sassari (Sardinia) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 5° Engineer Regiment in Macomer (Sardinia)
- “Garibaldi” Bersaglieri Mechanized Brigade in Caserta (Campania)
- 131° Tank Regiment in Persano (Campania) with 54 Leopard 1
- 19 °Cavalry Regiment “Cavalleggeri Guide” in Salerno (Campania) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4
- 1° Bersaglieri Regiment in Cosenza (Calabria) with 50 Dardo
- 8° Bersaglieri Regiment in Caserta (Campania) with 50 Dardo
- 8° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Pasubio” in Persano (Campania) with 32 M109/L
- 21° Engineer Regiment in Caserta (Campania)
- “Pinerolo” Mechanized Brigade in Bari (Apulia)
- 31° Tank Regiment in Altamura (Apulia) with 54 Leopard 1
- 7° Bersaglieri Regiment in Bari (Apulia) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 9° Infantry Regiment “Bari” in Trani (Apulia) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 82° Infantry Regiment “Torino” in Barletta (Apulia) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 21° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Trieste” in Foggia (Apulia) with 32 M109/L
- 11° Engineer Regiment in Foggia (Apulia)
- “Aosta” Mechanized Brigade Messina (Sicily)
- 6 °Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri d’Aosta” in Palermo (Sicily) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4
- 6° Bersaglieri Regiment in Trapani (Sicily) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 5° Infantry Regiment “Aosta” in Messina (Sicily) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 62° Infantry Regiment “Sicilia” in Catania (Sicily) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 24° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Peloritani” in Messina (Sicily) with 32 M109/L
- 4° Engineer Regiment in Palermo (Sicily)
- “Granatieri di Sardegna” Mechanized Brigade in Rome (Lazio)
- 1° “Granatieri di Sardegna” Mechanized Infantry Regiment in Rome (Lazio) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 2° “Granatieri di Sardegna” Mechanized Infantry Regiment in Spoleto (Umbria) with VCC (M113 improved)
- 8 °Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri di Montebello” in Rome (Lazio) with 50 Centauro and 33 Puma 4x4
- 33° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Acqui” in l'Aquila (Abruzzi) with 32 M109/L
CoTIE
“Comando Trasmissioni e ed Informazioni dell’Esercito” or CoTIE is the Italian Army’s Signal and Information Command, it resides in Anzio (Lazio) and consists of the following units:
- Signal Brigade for Maneuver Support
- 2° Alpini Signal Regiment in Bolzano with the Battalions "Gardena" and "Pordoi".
- 7° Signal Regiment in Sacile with the Battalions "Rolle" and "Predil".
- 11° Signal Regiment in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with the Battalions "Leonessa" and "Tonale".
- 232° Signal Regiment in Avellino (Campania) with the Battalion "Fadalto".
- Signal Brigade for National Support
- 3° Signal Regiment in Rome (Lazio) with the Battalions "Lanciano", "Abetone" and "Gennargentu".
- 32° Signal Regiment in Padova (Veneto) with the Battalions "Valles" and "Frejus".
- 46° Signal Regiment in Palermo (Sicily) with the Battalions "Mongibello" and "Vulture".
- RISTA EW Brigade
- 33° IEW Regiment “Falzarego” in Treviso (Veneto)
- 41° Regiment “Cordenons” in Casarsa (Friuli)
- 13° Battalion “Aquileia” in Anzio (Lazio)
Army Aviation Command
The Army Aviation Command resides in Viterbo and includes the non combat flying formations of the Army (i.e. Transport Planes, support helicopters,…)
- Army Aviation Instruction Center in Viterbo
- 1° Squadron “Auriga” in Viterbo
- 2° Squadron “Sestante”
- 21° Squadron “Orsa Maggiore” in Elmas (Cagliari) with 12 AB 205A
- Army Aviation Brigade
- 1° Army Aviation Regiment “Antares” in Viterbo (Lazio) with 36 CH-47C "Chinook" and 24 AB 205A
- 2° Army Aviation Regiment “Sirio” in Lamezia Terme (Calabria) with 24 AB 206C/1
- 4° AVES Regiment “Altair” in Venaria (Piedmont) and Bolzano with 24 AB 205A and 24 AB 206C/1
- 28° Army Aviation Squadron “Tucano” in Viterbo (Lazio) with 3 Dornier DO-228 and 3 Piaggio P-180
- ITALAIR Squadron in Naqoura (Lebanon) with 4 AB 205
Air Defense Brigade
- 4° Air Defense Regiment “Peschiera” in Mantova with 30 Hawk surface-to-air missile systems
- 5° Air Defense Regiment “Pescara” in Rovigo with 30 Hawk surface-to-air missile systems
- 17° Air Defense Regiment “Sforzesca” in Sabaudia with 16 Skyguard "Aspide", 104 SIDAM and 56 Stinger
- 121° Air Defense Regiment “Ravenna” in Bologna 16 Skyguard "Aspide", 104 SIDAM 25 and 56 Stinger
Field Artillery Brigade
- 2° Mountain Artillery Regiment “Vicenza” in Trento (Trentino) with 24 FH-70
- 5° Rocket Artillery Regiment “Superga” in Portogruaro (Veneto) with 22 MLRS
- 7° NBC Defense Regiment “Cremona” in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with VAB in the NBC configuration
- 28° Psychological Warfare Regiment “Pavia” in Pesaro (Marche)
- 52° Self propelled Artillery Regiment “Torino” in Vercelli (Piedmont) with 32 M109/L
Engineering Brigade
- 2° Bridge Engineers Regiment in Piacenza
- 6° Pioneer Engineers Regiment in Rome
- Railway Engineers Regiment in Castel Maggiore (near Bologna)
Logistics Brigade
- 1° Maneuver Logistics Regiment in Rivoli
- 6° Maneuver Logistics Regiment in Pisa (Tuscany)
- 10° Maneuver Logistics Regiment in Persano (Campania)
- 24° Maneuver Logistics Regiment “Dolomiti” in Merano (South Tyrol)
- 1° Transport Regiment
- 6° Transport Regiment in Budrio
- 8° Transport Regiment in Orzano
- 10° Transport Regiment in Bari (Apulia)
Support units
The following support units are not under the command of COMFOTER and their role is exclusively the support of units on Italian soil. They are commanded by various sub staffs of the SME- Army General Staff in Rome.
- Training Brigade in Capua
- 17° Infantry Regiment “Acqui” in Capua
- 47° Infantry Regiment “Ferrara” in Capua
- 80° Infantry Regiment “Roma” in Cassino
- 85° Infantry Regiment “Verona” in Montorio Veronese
- 235° Infantry Regiment “Piceno” in Ascoli Piceno
- other Training units:
- Technical Support and Logistics units:
- Military Region North
- 184° Signal Support Regiment in Treviso
- 2° Army Aviation Support Regiment “Orione” in Bologna
- 3° Army Aviation Support Regiment “Aquila” in Orio al Serio
- Military Region South
- Others
- 8° Transport Regiment “Casilina”
- 11° Transport Battalion “Flaminia”
- 57° Infantry Battalion “Abruzzi” in Rome
Effective Operational Capability
All the brigades - with the exception of the home service Brigades “Aosta”, “Pinerolo” and “Granatieri di Sardegna” may be deployed outside Italy and are often involved in either war-fighting or peace-keeping operations on foreign soil. The three home service brigades have a role of 'presence and surveillance' of key Italian institutions, i.e. the “Granatieri di Sardegna” Brigade guards the capital city Rome and the Presidential Palace. They are not destined for extra-territorial missions and members expect to remain in Italy throughout their service years. The remaining eight brigades are combat brigades, numbering between 3-7,000 troops each. These units are the pride of the Italian Army and are a front-line well-equipped force capable of dealing with most emergency situations. They are characterised by quality, efficiency, motivation and mobility. In total numbers the Italian Army can field about 85,000 ground troops out of a total Army strength of 112,000 men and women. But although most units are designated as regiments they consist of one expanded Logistics, Support and Command company and a combat battalion, which- in the case of the infantry (Alpini, Bersaglieri, Granatieri, Lagunari, Fanti) units- consists of:
- 3 Infantry Companies
- 1 Mortar Company
- 1 Antitank Company
The naming has historical reasons. Most regiments are deployed singularly, especially the support brigades' regiments as adjuncts to combat units, formed for the task ahead.
Weapons
- Beretta AR70/90 - 5.56 mm assault rifle
- Minimi - 5.56 mm light machine gun
- MG3 - 7.62 mm machine gun
- Dynamit Nobel Panzerfaust 3—Rocket propelled grenade
Combat vehicles
- Ariete - Main Battle Tanks ( 200 )
- Leopard 1 - Main Battle Tanks ( 108 )
- Centauro - Amour fire Support Vehicle(AFSV) ( 400 )
- Dardo - Infantry fighting vehicle ( 200 )
- VBC - Infantry fighting vehicle
- VCC - Armoured personnel carrier (Highly modified M113) (1638)
- M113 (882)
Artillery
- M109L self-propelled howitzer ( 192 )
- FH-70 towed howitzer ( 70 )
- PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer ( 70 )
- Brandt 120 mm mortar
Helicopters
- Agusta A129 Mangusta - attack ( 60 )
- AB 212 - tactical transport ( 14 )
- AB 412 - tactical transport ( 20 )
- NH-90 - tactical transport (60)
Operations
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 of 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 5 Italian soldiers have died under ISAF. Italy has sent 411 troops, based on one infantry company from the 2nd Alpine 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. Three AB 212 helicopters also are deployed to Kabul.
The Italian Army did not take part in combat operations of the 2003 Second Gulf War, despatching 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, 2004 - a suicide car bombing of the Italian Carabinieri Corps HQ left a dozen Carabinieri, five Army soldiers, two Italian civilians, and eight Iraqi civilians dead.
A recent law promotes membership of the Italian Army guaranteeing volunteers post-Army careers in the Carabinieri, Italian State Police, Italian Finance Guard and Italian State Forestry Corps, amongst other state bodies.
External links