The 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" (Italian: 132a Brigata Corazzata "Ariete") is currently the only active armored brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units are tank and Bersaglieri regiments. The brigade's headquarters is in Pordenone, and most of its units are based in the northeast of Italy. The brigade's name comes from the battering ram (Italian: Ariete). The brigade draws much of its historical traditions from the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete," which fought in the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. In 1948, the Ariete was reconstituted as a division and remained active until 1986. Today the brigade is part of the Multinational Division South.
History World War II The 132nd Armored Division "Ariete" was formed in February 1939. In December 1940, the division was sent to Libya to fight in the Western Desert Campaign. The division was destroyed in the Second Battle of El Alamein and declared lost due to wartime events on 8 December 1942.
Reconstitution On 23 May 1948, the Italian Army raised the Armored Brigade "Ariete" at Forte Pietralata in Rome. The same year, it was transferred to Pordenone in the Friuli region in Northern Italy and assigned to V Army Corps. The brigade consisted of the following units.
Armored Brigade "Ariete", in Pordenone 8th Bersaglieri Regiment, in Pordenone (formed on 15 September 1949) III Bersaglieri Battalion (M3 Half-tracks) V Bersaglieri Battalion (M3 Half-tracks) 132nd Tank Regiment, in Aviano I Tank Battalion (M26 Pershing tanks) II Tank Battalion (M26 Pershing tanks) 132nd Armored Artillery Regiment, in Pordenone I Self-propelled Howitzer Group (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) II Self-propelled Howitzer Group (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) III Self-propelled Howitzer Group (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) IV Light Air-defense Group (M1 40 mm anti-aircraft guns) Engineer Platoon Signal Platoon Brigade Services
Armored Division "Ariete" On 1 October 1952 the brigade was expanded to full division and consisted of the following units:
Armored Division "Ariete" 8th Bersaglieri Regiment III Bersaglieri Battalion (M3 Half-tracks) V Bersaglieri Battalion (M3 Half-tracks) XII Bersaglieri Battalion (M3 Half-tracks) Bersaglieri Anti-tank Company (M40 recoilless rifles) 132nd Tank Regiment I Tank Battalion (M26 Pershing tanks, later replaced by M47 Patton main battle tanks) II Tank Battalion (M26 Pershing tanks, later replaced by M47 Patton main battle tanks) III Tank Battalion (M26 Pershing tanks, later replaced by M47 Patton main battle tanks) 132nd Armored Artillery Regiment I Self-propelled Howitzer Group (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) II Self-propelled Howitzer Group (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) III Self-propelled Howitzer Group (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) IV Self-propelled Howitzer Group (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) V Light Air-defense Group (M1 40 mm anti-aircraft guns) VI Light Air-defense Group (M1 40mm anti-aircraft guns) Armored Cavalry Squadron "Cavalleggeri Guide" (M8 Greyhound) 132nd Engineer Company (expanded to Engineer Battalion "Ariete" on 1 July 1958) 132nd Signal Company (expanded to Signal Battalion "Ariete" on 1 October 1958) Divisional Services
1963 reorganization In 1963, Italian divisions adapted their organization to NATO standards and thus added a brigade level to the division's structure. In the same year, the reconstitution of the 32nd Tank Regiment began. The Ariete was now organized as follows:
Armored Division "Ariete", in Pordenone I Mechanized Brigade "Ariete", in Pordenone (formed 1 January 1963) 8th Bersaglieri Regiment, in Pordenone III Bersaglieri Battalion (M113 armored personnel carriers) XII Bersaglieri Battalion (M113 armored personnel carriers) VII Tank Battalion (M47 Patton main battle tanks) Bersaglieri Anti-tank Company (M40 recoilless rifles) I/132nd Armored Artillery Regiment (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) I Service Battalion 1st Engineer Company 1st Signal Company II Armored Brigade "Ariete", in Pordenone (formed 1 October 1963) 32nd Tank Regiment, in Cordenons (operational from 1 March 1964) III Tank Battalion (M47 Patton main battle tanks) V Tank Battalion (M47 Patton main battle tanks) XXIII Bersaglieri Battalion (M113 armored personnel carriers) II/132nd Armored Artillery Regiment (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) II Service Battalion 2nd Engineer Company 2nd Signal Company III Armored Brigade "Ariete", in Maniago (formed 1 January 1963) 132nd Tank Regiment, in Aviano VIII Tank Battalion (M47 Patton main battle tanks) X Tank Battalion (M47 Patton main battle tanks) XXXVIII Bersaglieri Battalion (M113 armored personnel carriers) III/132nd Armored Artillery Regiment (M7 Priest self-propelled howitzers) III Service Battalion 3rd Engineer Company 3rd Signal Company Artillery Brigade "Ariete" (1 October 1963 in Casarsa della Delizia) 132nd Armored Artillery Regiment, in Pordenone IV Heavy Self-propelled Field Artillery Group (M44 self-propelled howitzers) V Heavy Self-propelled Artillery Group (M55 self-propelled howitzers) VI Light Air-defense Group (L60 40 mm anti-aircraft guns) XIX Reconnaissance Squadrons Group "Cavalleggeri Guide" (M24 Chaffee (M24 Chaffee light tanks and M113 armored personnel carriers) Engineer Battalion "Ariete" Signal Battalion "Ariete" Light Airplane Section "Ariete" (L-21B airplanes) Helicopter Section "Ariete" (AB 47J helicopters)
On 1 October 1968, the brigade headquarters were disbanded, and the divisions returned to their former structure. The "Ariete" was part of the 5th Army Corps based in North-Eastern Italy. The 5th Army Corps was tasked (with defending the Yugoslav-Italian border against possible attacks by either the Warsaw Pact, Yugoslavia, or both. The Ariete was the corps' armored reserve.
1975 army reform Before the Italian Army reform of 1975 the division had the following organization:
132nd Armored Division Ariete|Armored Division "Ariete", in Pordenone 8th Bersaglieri Regiment, in Pordenone Command and Services Company, in Pordenone (includes an anti-tank guided missile platoon) III Bersaglieri Battalion, in Pordenone (M113 armored personnel carriers) VII Tank Battalion, in Vivaro (M60A1 Patton main battle tanks) XII Bersaglieri Battalion, in Pordenone (M113 armored personnel carriers) 32nd Tank Regiment, in Tauriano Command and Services Company, in Tauriano (includes an anti-tank guided missile platoon) III Tank Battalion, in Tauriano (M60A1 Patton main battle tanks) V Tank Battalion, in Tauriano (M60A1 Patton main battle tanks) XXIII Bersaglieri Battalion, in Tauriano (M113 armored personnel carriers) 132nd Tank Regiment, in Aviano Command and Services Company, in Aviano (includes an anti-tank guided missile platoon) VIII Tank Battalion, in Aviano (M60A1 Patton main battle tanks) X Tank Battalion, in Aviano (M60A1 Patton main battle tanks) XXXVIII Bersaglieri Battalion, in Aviano (M113 armored personnel carriers) 132nd Armored Artillery Regiment, in Casarsa della Delizia Command and Services Battery, in Casarsa della Delizia I Self-propelled Field Artillery Group, in Vacile (M109G 155 mm self-propelled howitzers) II Self-propelled Field Artillery Group, in Sequals (M109G 155 mm self-propelled howitzers) III Self-propelled Field Artillery Group, in Maniago (M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers) IV Heavy Self-propelled Field Artillery Group, in Casarsa della Delizia (M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers) V Heavy Self-propelled Artillery Group, in Casarsa della Delizia (M55 203 mm self-propelled howitzers) VI Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group (Reserve), in Casarsa della Delizia (Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns and 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns) Artillery Specialists Battery, in Casarsa della Delizia "Cavalleggeri Guide" Squadrons Group, in Casarsa della Delizia (Fiat Campagnola reconnaissance vehicles and M47 Patton tanks) LXXIII Infantry Fortification Battalion "Lombardia", in Arzene / Latisana Light Aviation Unit "Ariete", at Casarsa Air Base (L-19E Bird Dog light aircraft and AB 206 reconnaissance helicopters) Engineer Battalion "Ariete", in Motta di Livenza Signal Battalion "Ariete", in Casarsa della Delizia Services Grouping "Ariete", in Pordenone Command and Services Company, in Pordenone Supply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Ariete", in Pordenone Transport Unit "Ariete", in Pordenone I Services Battalion "Ariete", in Pordenone II Services Battalion "Ariete", in Vacile III Services Battalion "Ariete", in Maniago
In 1975, the Italian Army undertook a major reorganization of its forces: the regimental level was abolished, and battalions came under direct command of newly formed multi-arms brigades. The 8th Bersaglieri Regiment became the 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi" based in Pordenone, the 32nd Tank Regiment became the 32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli" based in Tauriano, and the 132nd Tank Regiment became the 132nd Armored Brigade "Manin" in Aviano. All three brigades were named for personalities of the First Italian War of Independence. On 1 October 1975, the Ariete took command of the three brigades and additional units to bring it up to full strength.
Armored Division "Ariete", in Pordenone Command Unit "Ariete", in Pordenone Divisional Artillery Command, in Casarsa della Delizia 108th Heavy Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Cosseria", in Casarsa della Delizia (M109G 155 mm self-propelled howitzers) 132nd Heavy Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Rovereto", in Casarsa della Delizia (M109G 155mm self-propelled howitzers) Artillery Specialists Group "Ariete", in Casarsa della Delizia 14th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group "Astore" (Reserve), in Casarsa della Delizia 19th Squadrons Group "Cavalleggeri Guide", in Casarsa della Delizia (M47 Patton tanks, M113 armored personnel carriers and AR59 Campagnola reconnaissance vehicles) 14th Bersaglieri (Recruits Training) Battalion "Sernaglia", in Albenga 16th Infantry (Recruits Training) Battalion "Savona", in Savona 73rd Infantry Fortification Battalion "Lombardia", in Arzene (9x companies) 132nd Engineer Battalion "Livenza", in Motta di Livenza 232nd Signal Battalion "Fadalto", in Casarsa della Delizia Logistic Battalion "Ariete", in Casarsa della Delizia 49th Reconnaissance Helicopters Squadrons Group "Capricorno", at Casarsa Airport Command and Services Squadron 491st Reconnaissance Helicopters Squadron (AB 206 reconnaissance helicopters) 492nd Reconnaissance Helicopters Squadron (AB 206 reconnaissance helicopters) Medical Battalion "Ariete" (Reserve), in Casarsa della Delizia Carabinieri Company "Ariete", in Pordenone 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi", in Pordenone Command and Signal Unit "Garibaldi", in Pordenone 7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio", in Vivaro (M60A1 Patton main battle tanks) 3rd Bersaglieri Battalion "Cernaia", in Pordenone 11th Bersaglieri Battalion "Caprera", in Orcenico Superiore 26th Bersaglieri Battalion "Castelfidardo", in Pordenone 19th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Rialto", in Sequals (M109G 155 mm self-propelled howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Garibaldi", in Pordenone Anti-tank Company "Garibaldi", in Vivaro (BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missiles) Engineer Company "Garibaldi", in Orcenico Superiore 32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli", in Tauriano Command and Signal Unit "Mameli", in Tauriano 3rd Tank Battalion "M.O. Galas", in Tauriano (M60A1 Patton main battle tanks) 5th Tank Battalion "M.O. Chiamenti", in Tauriano (M60A1 Patton main battle tanks) 23rd Bersaglieri Battalion "Castel di Borgo", in Tauriano 12th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Capua", in Vacile (M109G 155 mm self-propelled howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Mameli", in Vacile Anti-tank Company "Mameli", in Vacile (BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missiles) Engineer Company "Mameli", in Vacile 132nd Armored Brigade "Manin", in Aviano