Outline of the Italian Army at the end of the Cold War

The following is a hierarchical outline for the Italian Army at the end of the Cold War. It is intended to convey the connections and relationships between units and formations.

This article is based on the 1984 publication of the Italian Army's order of battle by the Institute for Disarmament, Development and Peace (Istituto di ricerche per il disarmo, lo sviluppo e la pace (IRDISP) in Rome (a think tank of the Radical Party). The published order of battle, down to company level, can be found at the Radical's Radio's website (Link). The structure was then adapted with information from the Italian Army's website and its units' histories listed there. Additionally the following website was used, which lists every Order of Battle for Italy's armies from 1553 to 1997, Link. Specifically the Order of Battle after the 1986 reform was used, which was then corrected and expanded with the Italian Army's website information.

Graphic of the Italian Army in 1989

Structure of the Italian Army in 1989 (click image to enlarge)

Army General Staff

The Army General Staff in Rome oversaw all Italian Army units. However, in the event of war the three Corps' in Northern Italy would have come under command of NATO's Allied Land Forces Southern Europe (LANDSOUTH) Command in Verona.

3rd Army Corps

Structure of the 3rd Army Corps in 1989 (click image to enlarge)

Armored Brigade "Centauro"

Mechanized Brigade "Goito"

Mechanized Brigade "Legnano"

Mechanized Brigade "Trieste"

Mechanized Brigade "Brescia"

Motorized Brigade "Cremona"

4th Army Corps

Structure of the 4th Army Corps in 1989 (click image to enlarge)

Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"

Alpine Brigade "Orobica"

Alpine Brigade "Tridentina"

Alpine Brigade "Cadore"

Alpine Brigade "Julia"

5th Army Corps

Structure of the 5th Army Corps in 1989 (click image to enlarge)

Armored Brigade "Mameli"

Armored Brigade "Ariete"

Armored Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli"

Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi"

Mechanized Brigade "Vittorio Veneto"

Mechanized Brigade "Gorizia"

Mechanized Brigade "Mantova"

Amphibious Troops Command

3rd Missiles Brigade "Aquileia"

Northwestern Military Region

  • Northwestern Military Region (R.M.N.O.), in Turin, responsible for the regions of Piedmont, Aosta, Liguria and Lombardy
  • Alpine Military School, in Aosta
    • Command Company, in Aosta
    • Alpini Battalion "Aosta", in Aosta (from 9 November 1989 "Tactical and Logistic Support Battalion "Aosta")
    • Training Battalion, in Aosta
    • Logistic Company, in Aosta
  • Motorized Brigade "Piemonte" (Wartime mobilization)
    • Command and Signal Unit (to be formed by elements of the Northwest Military Command and the Alpine Military School)
    • 117th Motorized Infantry Battalion (from the "Mondovì" Alpini Recruits Training Battalion)
    • 217th Motorized Infantry Battalion (from the 4th Infantry Recruits Training Battalion "Guastalla")
    • 317th Motorized Infantry Battalion (from the "Aosta" Alpini Battalion)
    • 117th Field Artillery Group (M114 155mm towed howitzers, from 3rd Corps elements)
    • Logistic Battalion "Piemonte" (from 3rd Corps)
    • Engineer Company "Piemonte" (from the 131st Combat Engineers Battalion "Ticino")

Northeastern Military Region

Tuscan-Emilian Military Region

Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore"

Motorized Brigade "Friuli"

Central Military Region

Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna"

Motorized Brigade "Acqui"

Southern Military Region

Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo"

Sicily Military Region

Motorized Brigade "Aosta"

Sardinia Military Command

Motorized Brigade "Sassari"

Anti-aircraft Artillery Command

Units directly reporting to the Army General Staff

See also

References