Operational structure of the Italian Army
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The following list gives an overview of the entire chain of command and organization of the Italian Army for the year 2015 and includes all units currently active.[1]
Contents
- 1 Italian Army Command structure
- 2 COMFOTER
- 2.1 Order of Battle
- 2.2 Geographical Distribution
- 2.3 NRDC-IT
- 2.4 Army Special Forces Command
- 2.5 Folgore Parachute Brigade
- 2.6 Tridentina Division
- 2.7 Friuli Division
- 2.8 Acqui Division
- 2.9 Signal and Information Command
- 2.10 Army Aviation Command
- 2.11 Air Defense Command
- 2.12 Operational Support Command
- 2.13 Support units
- 3 References
Italian Army Command structure
The Armed Forces of Italy are 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 Land Forces).
COMFOTER
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:
Order of Battle
Geographical Distribution
5 Av.
5 Cav.
5 Art.
8 Alpini
NRDC-IT
25px The NRDC or "NATO Rapid Deployable Corps" is located in Solbiate Olona and has a support brigade at its dependency, formed by:
- 20px NRDC-IT Support Brigade in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy)
- 20px 1st Signal Regiment in Milan (Lombardy)
- Battalion "Spluga"
- Battalion "Sempione"
- 20px 1st Transport Regiment in Bellinzago Novarese (Lombardy)
- 20px (33rd) Logistic Support Regiment in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy)
- 20px 1st Signal Regiment in Milan (Lombardy)
Army Special Forces Command
The Army Special Forces Command in Pisa commands all Special Operation Forces of the Army:
4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment "Btg Monte Cervino" in Verona (Verona)- 20px 9th Parachutist Assault Regiment "Col Moschin" in Livorno (Tuscany)
- 20px 28th Psychological Warfare Regiment "Pavia" in Pesaro (Marche)
- 20px 185th Parachutist Reconnaissance Regiment "Folgore" in Livorno (Tuscany)
- 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment "Aldebaran" in (Viterbo) (Lazio)
Folgore Parachute Brigade
The Folgore Parachute Brigade is the armys rapid reaction force and therefore directly under COMFOTER:
Folgore Parachute Brigade in Livorno (Tuscany)
"Folgore" Combat Service Support Battalion in Livorno
3rd Cavalry Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" in Grosseto (Tuscany) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
183rd Parachutist Regiment "Nembo" in Pistoia (Tuscany)
186th Parachutist Regiment "Folgore" in Siena (Tuscany)
187th Parachutist Regiment "Folgore" in Livorno (Tuscany)
185th Airborne Artillery Regiment "Folgore" in Bracciano (Lazio) with 18 FH-70
8th Parachutist Engineer Regiment in Legnago (Veneto)- Folgore Logistic Regiment in Pisa (Tuscany)
- 20px Parachutist Training Center in Pisa (Tuscany)
Tridentina Division
The Tridentina Division commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called Alpini (English: Alpines). The division is headquartered in Bolzano and consists of the following units:
Tridentina Support Battalion in Bolzano
Taurinense Alpine Brigade in Turin (Piedmont)
"Taurinense" Combat Service Support Battalion in Turin
1st Cavalry Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" in Bellinzago Novarese (Piedmont) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
2nd Alpini Regiment "Btg Saluzzo" in Cuneo (Piedmont) with Bv206S and Puma 6x6
3rd Alpini Regiment "Btg Susa" in Pinerolo (Piedmont) with Bv206S and Puma 6x6
9th Alpini Regiment "Btg l'Aquila" in L'Aquila (Abruzzi) with Bv206S and Puma 6x6
1st Mountain Artillery Regiment "Grp Aosta" in Fossano (Piedmont) with 18 FH-70
32nd Alpine Engineer Regiment in Turin (Piedmont)
Taurinense Logistic Regiment in Rivoli (Piedmont)
Julia Alpine Brigade in Udine (Friuli)
"Julia" Combat Service Support Battalion in Udine- 20px 2nd Cavalry Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" in Trieste (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
5th Alpini Regiment "Btg Morbegno" in Sterzing (South Tyrol) with Bv206S and Puma 6x6
7th Alpini Regiment "Btg Feltre" in Belluno (Veneto) with Bv206S and Puma 6x6
8th Alpini Regiment "Btg Tolmezzo" in Cividale (Friuli) with Bv206S and Puma 6x6
3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment "Grp Conegliano" in Tolmezzo (Friuli) with 18 FH-70
2nd Alpine Engineer Regiment "Btg Iseo" in Trento (Trentino)
Julia Logistic Regiment in Meran (South Tyrol)
Friuli Division
20px The Friuli Division Command in Florence (Tuscany) commands following brigades of the Italian Army:
- 20px Friuli Support Battalion in Florence
Ariete Armored Brigade in Pordenone (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- Ariete Combat Service Support Battalion in Pordenone
- 20px 5th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" in Codroipo (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
- 20px 32nd Tank Regiment in Tauriano (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Ariete
- 20px 132nd Tank Regiment in Cordenons (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Ariete
11th Bersaglieri mechanized Infantry Regiment in Orcenigo Superiore (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Dardo- 20px 132nd Self Propelled Artillery Rgt. "Ariete" in Maniago (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 32 PzH 2000
- 20px 10th Combat Engineer Regiment in Cremona (Lombardy)
- 20px Ariete Logistic Regiment in Remanzacco (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
Pozzuolo del Friuli Brigade in Bologna (Emilia)
- 20px Combat Service Support Battalion in Bologna
- 20px 4th Cavalry Regiment Genova Cavalleria in Palmanova with Centauro and Puma 4x4
- 20px 66th Air Assault Infantry Regiment "Trieste" in Forlì (Romagna) with Puma 6x6
Lagunari Amphibious Infantry Regiment "Serenissima" in Venice (Veneto) with AAV7-A1 and Puma 4x4- 20px 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel" in Casarsa (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- 27th Squadron Group "Mercurio" with three A129C Attack Helicopter squadrons and one AB 205A squadron
- 49th Squadron Group "Capricorno" with three A129C squadrons
- 20px 7th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega" in Rimini (Romagna)
- 20px Horse Artillery Regiment "Volòire" in Vercelli (Piedmont) with 18 FH-70
- 20px 3rd Engineer Regiment in Udine (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- 20px "Pozzuolo del Friuli" Logistic Regiment in Budrio (Romagna)
Sassari Mechanized Brigade in Sassari (Sardinia)
- Sassari Combat Service Support Battalion in Sassari
3rd Bersaglieri Regiment in Teulada (Sardinia) with VBM Freccia- 20px 151st Infantry Regiment "Sassari" in Cagliari (Sardinia) with VBM Freccia
- 20px 152nd Infantry Regiment "Sassari" in Sassari (Sardinia) with VBM Freccia
- 20px 5th Engineer Regiment in Macomer (Sardinia)
- Sassari Logistic Regiment in Teulada (Sardinia)
Acqui Division
20px The Acqui Division in San Giorgio a Cremano near Naples commands following brigades of the Italian Army:
- 20px Acqui Support Battalion in Naples
Garibaldi Bersaglieri Brigade in Caserta (Campania)
- 20px Garibaldi Combat Service Support Battalion in Caserta (Campania)
- 20px 19th Cavalry Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" in Salerno (Campania) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
- 20px 4th Tank Regiment in Persano (Campania) with Ariete main battle tanks
1st Bersaglieri Regiment in Cosenza (Calabria) with Dardo IFVs
8th Bersaglieri Regiment in Caserta (Campania) with Dardo IFVs- 20px 8th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment "Pasubio" in Persano (Campania) with 32 PzH 2000
- 20px 21st Engineer Regiment in Caserta (Campania)
- 20px Garibaldi Logistic Regiment in Persano (Campania)
Pinerolo Mechanized Brigade in Bari (Apulia)
- 20px Pinerolo Combat Service Support Battalion in Bari
- 20px 8th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" in Foggia (Apulia) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
7th Bersaglieri Regiment in Bari (Apulia) with VBM Freccia- 20px 9th Infantry Regiment "Bari" in Trani (Apulia) with VBM Freccia
- 20px 82nd Infantry Regiment "Torino" in Barletta (Apulia) with VBM Freccia
- 20px 21st Self-propelled Artillery Regiment Trieste in Foggia (Apulia)
- 20px 11th Engineer Regiment in Foggia (Apulia)
- 20px Pinerolo Logistic Regiment in Bari (Apulia)
Aosta Mechanized Brigade Messina (Sicily)
- 20px Aosta Combat Service Support Battalion in Messina
- 20px 6th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri d’Aosta" in Palermo (Sicily) Centauro and Puma 4x4
6th Bersaglieri Regiment in Trapani (Sicily) with VBM Freccia- 20px 5th Infantry Regiment "Aosta" in Messina (Sicily) with VBM Freccia
- 20px 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia" in Catania (Sicily) with VBM Freccia
- 20px 24th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment "Peloritani" in Messina (Sicily) with 32 M109/L
- 20px 4th Engineer Regiment in Palermo (Sicily)
- 20px Aosta Logistic Regiment in Messina (Sicily)
Signal and Information Command
"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 in Anzio (Lazio)
2nd Signal Regiment (Alpini) in Bolzano with the battalions:
- "Gardena"
- "Pordoi"
- 20px 3rd Signal Regiment in Rome (Lazio) with the battalions:
- 20px 7th Signal Regiment in Sacile with the battalions:
- 20px 11th Signal Regiment in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with the battalions:
- 20px 32nd Signal Regiment in Padova (Veneto) with the battalions:
- 20px 46th Signal Regiment in Palermo (Sicily) with the battalions:
- 20px 232nd Signal Regiment in Avellino (Campania) with the battalion:
- 20px "Fadalto"
- Signal Brigade Support Battalion in Anzio (Lazio)
- RISTA-IEW ISTAR & Electronic Warfare Brigade in Anzio (Lazio)
- 20px 33rd EW Regiment "Falzarego" in Cassino (Veneto)
- 20px 41st Surveillance Regiment "Cordenons" in Sora (Lazio) with Mirach 20, Pointer, Raven UAVs and AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder, Elta SCB 2130, Thales Ranger, ARTHUR Radars
- 15px 13th Intelligence Battalion "Aquileia" in Anzio (Lazio) with Lince VTML
- RISTA-IEW ISTAR and Electronic Warfare Brigade Support Battalion 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,…)
- 20px Army Aviation Instruction Center in Viterbo (Lazio)
- 1st Squadron Group "Auriga" in Viterbo
- Army Aviation Brigade in Viterbo
- 20px 1st Army Aviation Regiment "Antares" in Viterbo (Lazio)
- 11th Squadron Group "Ercole" with two CH-47C "Chinook" squadrons
- 26th Squadron Group "Giove" Special Operations Helicopter Group (REOS) with one CH-47C "Chinook" and one AB 412 squadron
- 28th Squadron Group "Tucano" in Viterbo with one Dornier DO-228 squadron and one Piaggio P-180 squadron
- 20px 2nd Army Aviation Regiment "Sirio" in Lamezia Terme (Calabria)
- 21st Squadron Group "Orsa Maggiore" in Elmas (Sardinia) with one AB 205A squadron
- 30th Squadron Group "Pegaso" with two AB 212 squadrons
4th Army Aviation Regiment "Altair" in Bolzano (South Tyrol)
- 34th Squadron Group "Toro" in Venaria Reale with two AB 205A squadrons
- 54th Squadron Group "Cefeo" in Bolzano with two AB 205A squadrons
- 20px 1st Army Aviation Regiment "Antares" in Viterbo (Lazio)
- Army Aviation Material Department
Air Defense Command
Air Defense Artillery Command in Sabaudia, with dual training and operational role
- Air Defense Training Regiment in Sabaudia
- 20px 4th Air Defense Regiment "Peschiera" in Mantova with 3x SAMP/T batteries
- 20px 17th Air Defense Regiment "Sforzesca" in Sabaudia with 4x Skyguard "Aspide" batteries
- 20px 121st Air Defense Regiment "Ravenna" in Bologna with 2x SIDAM 25 and 2x Stinger batteries
Operational Support Command
The Operational Support Command commands the remaining support regiments of the army:
- 20px 5th Rocket Artillery Regiment "Superga" in Portogruaro (Veneto) with 22 MLRS
- 20px 7th NBC Defense Regiment "Cremona" in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with VAB in the NBC configuration
- 20px 52nd Self-propelled Artillery Regiment "Torino" in Vercelli (Piedmont) with 32 M109/L (will be disbanded until 2016)
- 20px 2nd Bridge Engineers Regiment in Piacenza
- 20px 6th Pioneer Engineers Regiment in Rome
- 20px Railway Engineers Regiment in Castel Maggiore (near Bologna; 2 Battalions) (will merge with the 2nd Bridge Engineers Regiment until 2017)
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.
- other Training units:
- Technical Support units:
