Operational Structure of the Italian Army

See also: Italian Army

See also: List of active units of the Italian Army

The following list gives an overview of the entire chain of command and organization of the Italian Army for the year 2009 and includes all units currently active.^[1]

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

Structure of the Italian Army (click to enlarge).

Geographical Distribution

COMFOTER

COMFOD 1

Ariete

4 Armored

32 Arm.

132 Arm.

132 Art.

10 Eng.

Folgore

9 Para.

187 Para.

185° RAO

183 Para.

186 Para.

8 Engineer

Friuli

121 AirDef

Railway Eng.

3 Cavalry

66 Infantry

11 Bers.
5 Av.
5 Cav.
5 Art.

7 Aviation

Pozzuolo

2 Cavalry

4 Cav.

Lagunari

Horse Artillery

3 Eng.
8 Alpini

COMFOD 2

Garibaldi

131 Armored

8 Artillery

1 Bersaglieri

8 Bersaglieri

21 Engineer

3 Bersaglieri

19 Cavalry

Sassari

151 Infantry

152 Infantry

5 Engineer

Aosta

5 Infantry

24 Artillery

6 Cavalry

6 Bersaglieri

62 Infantry

4 Engineer

Granatieri

1 Granatieri

6 Pioneers

8 Cavalry

33 Artillery

Pinerolo

7 Bersaglieri

9 Infantry

82 Infantry

21 Artillery

11 Engineer

COMALP

Julia

5 Alpini

7 Alpini

3 ArtiMon

2 Engineer
2 ArtiMon

Taurinense

2 Alpini

3 Alpini

9 Alpini

1 ArtiMon

32 Engineer

6 Alpini

4 Alpini

Alpine Training

1 Cavalry

ParaTrain.

1 Aviation

2 Aviation

4 Aviation

52 Artillery

7 NBC Def

28 PsyOps

5 AirDef

4 AirDef

17 AirDef

2 Bridge Eng.

Unit Locations (Signal and Logistic units not included)

NRDC-IT

The NRDC or "NATO Rapid Deployable Corps" is located in Solbiate Olona and has a support brigade at its dependency, formed by:

• NRDC-IT Support Brigade in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy)
  • 1st Signal Regiment in Milan (Lombardy)
  • (33rd) Logistic Support Regiment in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy)

COMALP

"Comando Truppe Alpine" (Alpine Troops Command) or COMALP has command over the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called Alpini (English: Alpines). It is located in Bolzano and consists of the following units:

• COMALP Support Battalion in Bolzano
• Alpini Training Center "Btg Aosta" in Aosta
  • 6th Alpini Regiment "Btg Bassano" (high altitude training areas) in Innichen (South Tyrol) with 21 Bv206S
• 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment "Btg Monte Cervino" in Verona (Verona) (Special Operations Forces)
• Tridentina Division Command (without fixed units) in Bolzano (South Tyrol)

Alpini from the Taurinense Brigade.

• Taurinense Alpine Brigade in Turin (Piedmont)
  • "Taurinense" Combat Service Support Battalion in Turin
  • 1st Cavalry Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" in Pinerolo (Piedmont) with 40 Centauro and 36 Puma 4x4
  • 2nd Alpini Regiment "Btg Saluzzo" in Cuneo (Piedmont) with 21 Bv206S and 26 Puma 6x6
  • 3rd Alpini Regiment "Btg Susa" in Pinerolo (Piedmont) with 21 Bv206S and 26 Puma 6x6
  • 9th Alpini Regiment "Btg l'Aquila" in L'Aquila (Abruzzi) with 21 Bv206S and 26 Puma 6x6
  • 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment "Grp Aosta" in Fossano (Piedmont) with 24 FH-70
  • 32nd Alpini Engineer Regiment in Turin (Piedmont)

• Julia Alpine Brigade in Udine (Friuli)
  • "Julia" Combat Service Support Battalion in Udine
  • 5th Alpini Regiment "Btg Morbegno" in Sterzing (South Tyrol) with 21 Bv206S and 26 Puma 6x6
  • 7th Alpini Regiment "Btg Feltre" in Belluno (Veneto) with 21 Bv206S and 26 Puma 6x6
  • 8th Alpini Regiment "Btg Tolmezzo" in Cividale (Friuli) with 21 Bv206S and 26 Puma 6x6
  • 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment "Grp Conegliano" in Tolmezzo (Friuli) with 24 FH-70
  • 2nd Engineer Regiment "Btg Iseo" in Trento (Trentino)
  • 1st Hungarian Light Infantry Battalion (for out of area NATO peacekeeping deployment)
  • 10th Slovenian Motorised Infantry Battalion (for out of area NATO peacekeeping deployment)

COMFOD 1

An NH90 Helicopter of the Italian Army

"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) in Vittorio Veneto
• "Mantova" Combat Service Support Battalion supporting COMFOD 1 and "Mantova" Division in Vittorio Veneto
• Ariete Armored Brigade in Pordenone (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
  • 4th Tank Regiment in Bellinzago Novarese (Piedmont) with 30 Ariete and 22 Dardo
  • 32nd Tank Regiment in Tauriano (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 30 Ariete and 22 Dardo
  • 132nd Tank Regiment in Cordenons (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 30 Ariete and 22 Dardo
  • 11st Bersaglieri mechanized Infantry Regiment in Orcenigo Superiore (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 36 Dardo and 14 Ariete
  • 132nd Self Propelled Artillery Rgt. "Ariete" in Maniago (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 32 PzH 2000
  • 10th Engineer Regiment in Cremona (Lombardy)
  • "Ariete" Combat Service Support Battalion in Pordenone
  • "Ariete" Logistic Battalion in Maniago

• Folgore Parachute Brigade in Livorno (Tuscany)
  • Parachutist Training Center in Pisa (Tuscany)
  • 9th Parachutist Assault Regiment "Col Moschin" in Livorno (Tuscany) (Special Forces)
  • 183rd Parachutist Regiment "Nembo" in Pistoia (Tuscany)
  • 186th Parachutist Regiment "Folgore" in Siena (Tuscany)
  • 187th Parachutist Regiment "Folgore" in Livorno (Tuscany)
  • 185th Parachutist Reconnaissance Regiment "Folgore" in Livorno (Tuscany) (Special Operations Forces)
  • 8th Parachutist Engineer Regiment in Legnago (Veneto)
  • "Folgore" Combat Service Support Battalion in Livorno

• Friuli Air Assault Brigade in Bologna (Emilia)
  • 3 thCavalry Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" in Grosseto (Tuscany) with 40 Centauro and 36 Puma 4x4
  • 66th Air Assault Infantry Regiment "Trieste" in Forlì (Romagna) with 26 Puma 6x6
  • 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel" in Casarsa (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 30 A129 "Mangusta" Attack Helicopters and 12 AB 205A-1 transport helicopters
  • 7th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega" in Rimini (Romagna) with 30 A129 "Mangusta" Attack Helicopters and 12 AB 205A-1 transport helicopters
  • "Friuli" Combat Service Support Battalion in Bologna

• Pozzuolo del Friuli Cavalry Brigade in Gorizia (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
  • 2nd Cavalry Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" in Trieste (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 40 Centauro and 36 Puma 4x4
  • 4th Cavalry Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" in Palmanova (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 40 Centauro and 36 Puma 4x4
  • 5th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" in Codroipo (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 40 Centauro and 36 Puma 4x4
  • Lagunari (Marine Infantry) Regiment "Serenissima" in Venice (Veneto) with 17 AAV7-A1 and 41 Puma 4x4
  • Horse Artillery Regiment "Volòire" in Milan (Lombardy) with 24 FH-70
  • 3rd Engineer Regiment in Udine (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
  • "Pozzuolo del Friuli" Combat Service Support Battalion in Gorizia

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 intended for use mainly on Italian soil. The COMFOD 2 commands:

• "Acqui" Division Command (without fixed units) in San Giorgio a Cremano, Naples
• "Acqui" Combat Service Support Battalion in Naples
• Garibaldi Bersaglieri Brigade in Caserta (Campania)
  • 131st Tank Regiment in Persano (Campania) with 30 Ariete and 22 Dardo
  • 19th Cavalry Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" in Salerno (Campania) with 40 Centauro and 36 Puma 4x4
  • 1st Bersaglieri Regiment in Cosenza (Calabria) with 36 Dardo and 14 Ariete
  • 8th Bersaglieri Regiment in Caserta (Campania) with 36 Dardo and 14 Ariete
  • 8th Self propelled Artillery Regiment "Pasubio" in Persano (Campania) with 32 PzH 2000
  • 21st Engineer Regiment in Caserta (Campania)
  • "Garibaldi" Combat Service Support Battalion in Caserta

Soldiers of the 8th Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri di Montebello”

Soldiers of the 6th Cavalry Regiment “Lancieri di Aosta”

Soldiers of the Sassari Brigade

• Granatieri di Sardegna Mechanized Brigade in Rome (Lazio)
  • 1st "Granatieri di Sardegna" Mechanized Infantry Regiment in Rome (Lazio) with 59 VCC-2 (will eventually be replaced by VBM Freccia)
  • 8th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" in Rome (Lazio) with 40 Centauro and 36 Puma 4x4
  • 33rd Self propelled Artillery Regiment "Acqui" in l'Aquila (Abruzzo) with 32 M109/L
  • "Granatieri di Sardegna" Combat Service Support Battalion in Rome

• Pinerolo Mechanized Brigade in Bari (Apulia)
  • 7th Bersaglieri Regiment in Bari (Apulia) with 59 VCC-2
  • 9th Infantry Regiment "Bari" in Trani (Apulia) with VBM Freccia)
  • 82nd Infantry Regiment "Torino" in Barletta (Apulia) with VBM Freccia
  • 21st Self propelled Artillery Regiment "Trieste" in Foggia (Apulia) with 32 M109/L
  • 11st Engineer Regiment in Foggia (Apulia)
  • "Pinerolo" Combat Service Support Battalion in Bari

• Aosta Mechanized Brigade Messina (Sicily)
  • 6th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri d’Aosta" in Palermo (Sicily) 40 Centauro and 36 Puma 4x4
  • 6th Bersaglieri Regiment in Trapani (Sicily) with 59 VCC-2 (M113 improved)
  • 5th Infantry Regiment "Aosta" in Messina (Sicily) with 59 VCC-2 (being replaced by VBM Freccia)
  • 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia" in Catania (Sicily) with 59 VCC-2 (being replaced by VBM Freccia)
  • 24th Self propelled Artillery Regiment "Peloritani" in Messina (Sicily) with 32 M109/L
  • 4th Engineer Regiment in Palermo (Sicily)
  • "Aosta" Combat Service Support Battalion in Messina

• Sassari Mechanized Brigade in Sassari (Sardinia)
  • 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment in Teulada (Sardinia) with 59 VCC-2
  • 151st Infantry Regiment "Sassari" in Cagliari (Sardinia) with 59 VCC-2
  • 152nd Infantry Regiment "Sassari" in Sassari (Sardinia) with 59 VCC-2
  • 5th Engineer Regiment in Macomer (Sardinia)
  • "Sassari" Combat Service Support Battalion in Sassari

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"
  • 3rd Signal Regiment in Rome (Lazio) with the Battalion:
    • "Lanciano"
    • "Abetone"
    • "Gennargentu"
  • 7th Signal Regiment in Sacile with the Battalions:
    • "Rolle"
    • "Predil"
  • 11st Signal Regiment in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with the Battalions:
    • "Leonessa"
    • "Tonale"
  • 32nd Signal Regiment in Padova (Veneto) with the Battalions :
    • "Valles"
    • "Frejus"
  • 46th Signal Regiment in Palermo (Sicily) with the Battalions:
    • "Mongibello"
    • "Vulture"
  • 232nd Signal Regiment in Avellino (Campania) with the Battalion:
    • "Fadalto"
  • Signal Brigade Support Battalion in Anzio (Lazio)

• RISTA-IEW ISTAR & Electronic Warfare Brigade in Anzio (Lazio)
  • 33rd EW Regiment "Falzarego" in Treviso (Veneto)
  • 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
  • 13rd Intelligence Battalion "Aquileia" in Anzio (Lazio) with Lince VTML
  • RISTA-IEW ISTAR & 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,…)

• Army Aviation Instruction Center in Viterbo
  • 1st Squadron "Auriga" in Viterbo 40x AB 206C-1
  • 2nd Squadron "Sestante"
  • 21st Squadron "Orsa Maggiore" in Elmas (Cagliari) with 12x AB 205
• Army Aviation Brigade in Viterbo
  • 1st Army Aviation Regiment "Antares" in Viterbo (Lazio) with 24x CH-47C "Chinook", 4x NH90 TTH and 6x AB 412
  • 2nd Army Aviation Regiment "Sirio" in Lamezia Terme (Calabria) with 6x AB 412 and 12x AB 205A-1
  • 4th Army Aviation Regiment "Altair" in Venaria (Piedmont) and Bolzano (South Tyrol) with 18x AB 205
  • 26th Army Aviation Squadron REOS "Giove" - Army Aviation Special Operations Squadron in Viterbo (Special Operations Forces)
  • 28th Army Aviation Squadron "Tucano" in Viterbo with 3x Dornier DO-228 and 3x Piaggio P-180
  • 51st Army Aviation Squadron SOATCC - Army Aviation ELINT Reconnaissance Squadron in Padova
  • ITALAIR Squadron in Naqoura (Lebanon) with 4x AB 205

Support Command

The Support Command commands four of the Armys schools and four commands, which combine Schools and active units.

• NBC-defense School
• Signal and Information Technology School
• Administration and Commissariat School
• Medical & Veterinary School

Air Defense Command

Air Defense Artillery Command in Sabaudia, with dual training and operational role

• Air Defense Training Regiment in Sabaudia
• 4th Air Defense Regiment "Peschiera" in Mantova with 30 Hawk surface-to-air missile systems
• 5th Air Defense Regiment "Pescara" in Rovigo with 30 Hawk surface-to-air missile systems
• 17th Air Defense Regiment "Sforzesca" in Sabaudia with Skyguard "Aspide", SIDAM 25 and Stinger
• 121st Air Defense Regiment "Ravenna" in Bologna with Skyguard "Aspide", SIDAM 25 and Stinger

Field Artillery Command

Field Artillery Command in Bracciano (Lazio)

• Artillery Training Regiment in Bracciano
• 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Grp Vicenza" in Trento (Trentino) with 24 FH-70
• 5th Rocket Artillery Regiment "Superga" in Portogruaro (Veneto) with 22 MLRS
• 7th NBC Defense Regiment "Cremona" in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with VAB in the NBC configuration
• 28th Psychological Warfare Regiment "Pavia" in Pesaro (Marche)
• 52nd Self propelled Artillery Regiment "Torino" in Vercelli (Piedmont) with 32 M109/L

Engineer Command

Engineer Command in Rome (Lazio)

• Engineer Training Regiment in Rome
• 2nd Bridge Engineers Regiment in Piacenza
• 6th Pioneer Engineers Regiment in Rome
• Railway Engineers Regiment in Castel Maggiore (near Bologna; 2 Battalions)
• CIMIC Group South in Motta di Livenza (Veneto)

Logistic Projection Command

Logistics Command in Rome (Lazio)
Each Maneuver Logistics Regiment consists of a HQ company, a medical battalion, a maintenance battalion and a supply battalion. Each Transport Regiment consists of a HQ company, a transport battalion and a transport management battalion.

• Logistic Training Regiment in Rome
• 1st Maneuver Regiment in Rivoli
• 6th Maneuver Regiment in Pisa (Tuscany)
• 10th Maneuver Regiment in Persano (Campania)
• 24th Alpine Maneuver Regiment "Dolomiti" in Meran (Bolzano)
• 1st Transport Regiment in Bellinzago Novarese
• 6th Transport Regiment in Budrio
• 8th Transport Regiment in Orzano
• 10th 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
  • 17th Infantry Regiment "Acqui" in Capua
  • 47th Infantry Regiment "Ferrara" in Capua
  • 57th Infantry Battalion "Abruzzi" in Sora
  • 85th Infantry Regiment "Verona" in Montorio Veronese with two battalions
  • 123rd Infantry Regiment "Chieti" in Chieti
  • 235th Infantry Regiment "Piceno" in Ascoli Piceno

• other Training units:
  • 1st Armored Regiment in Capo Teulada (Sardinia)
  • 31st Armored Regiment in Altamura (Apulia)

• Technical Support and Logistics units:
  • Military Region North
    • 184th Signal Support Regiment in Treviso
    • 2nd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Orione" in Bologna
    • 3rd Army Aviation Support Regiment "Aquila" in Orio al Serio
  • Military Region South
    • 44th Signal Support Regiment in Rome
    • 1st Army Aviation Support Regiment "Idra" in Bracciano
    • 4th Army Aviation Support Regiment "Scorpione" in Viterbo

• Others
  • 8th Transport Regiment "Casilina"
  • 11st Transport Battalion "Flaminia"
  • 80th Infantry Regiment "Roma" in Cassino

References

1. ^ http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/unita_sez/unita_unita.asp