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
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
3rd Army Corps, in Milan: 3rd Army Corps Command Unit, in Milan Artillery Command, in Vercelli Horse Artillery Regiment, in Milan Command Battery, in Milan 1st Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Gioacchino Bellezza", (M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzers), in Milan 2nd Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Sergio Bresciani", (M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzers), in Cremona 3rd Heavy Field Artillery Group (Reserve), (M59 155/45 towed howitzers), in Cremona 3rd Battery, 30th Artillery Specialists Group "Brianza", in Milan 131st Heavy Field Artillery Group "Vercelli", in Vercelli, (FH70 155 mm towed howitzers) 205th Heavy Field Artillery Group "Lomellina", in Vercelli, (FH70 155 mm towed howitzers) 11th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group "Falco" (Reserve), in Vercelli 12th Artillery Specialists Group "Biella", in Vercelli 30th Artillery Specialist Group "Brianza" (Reserve),With one permanent operational battery attached to the Horse Artillery Regiment in Milan, see above. in Milan Engineer Command, in Novara 3rd Engineer Battalion "Lario", in Pavia 131st Engineer Battalion "Ticino", in Bellinzago Novarese Signal Command, in Milan 3rd Signal Battalion "Spluga", in Milan 231st Signal Battalion "Sempione", in Novara Light Aviation Command, at Bresso Air Base 23rd Recon Helicopters Squadrons Group "Eridano", at Bresso Air Base 423rd Recon Helicopter Squadron (AB-206) 461st Recon Helicopter Squadron (AB-206) 462nd Recon Helicopter Squadron (AB-206) 53rd Multirole Helicopters Squadrons Group "Cassiopea", at Bresso Air Base 531st Multirole Helicopter Squadron (AB-205) 532nd Multirole Helicopter Squadron (AB-205) 33rd Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Ambrosiano", in Novara
Armored Brigade "Centauro" 31st Armored Brigade "Centauro", in Novara Command and Signal Unit "Centauro", in Novara 1st Tank Battalion "M.O. Cracco", in Bellinzago Novarese, (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 101st Tank Battalion "M.O. Zappalà", in Bellinzago Novarese, (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 28th Bersaglieri Battalion "Oslavia", in Bellinzago Novarese, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 9th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Brennero", in Vercelli, (M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Centauro", in Bellinzago Novarese Anti-tank Company "Centauro", in Bellinzago Novarese Engineer Company "Centauro", in Novara
Mechanized Brigade "Goito" 3rd Mechanized Brigade "Goito" in Milan Command and Signal Unit "Goito", in Milan 4th Tank Battalion "M.O. Passalacqua", in Solbiate Olona, (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 6th Bersaglieri Battalion "Palestro", in Turin, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 10th Bersaglieri Battalion "Bezzecca", in Solbiate Olona, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 18th Bersaglieri Battalion "Poggio Scanno", in Milan, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 3rd Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Pastrengo", in Vercelli, (M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Goito", in Monza Anti-tank Company "Goito", in Turin Engineer Company "Goito", in Novara
Mechanized Brigade "Legnano" Mechanized Brigade "Legnano", in Bergamo Command and Signal Unit "Legnano", in Bergamo 20th Tank Battalion "M.O. Pentimalli", in Legnano, (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 2nd Bersaglieri Battalion "Governolo", in Legnano, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 67th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Montelungo", in Monza, (M113 armored personnel carriers) 68th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Palermo", in Bergamo, (M113 armored personnel carriers, disbanded on 30 November 1989) 11th Field Artillery Group "Monferrato", in Cremona, (M114 155 mm towed howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Legnano", in Presezzo Anti-tank Company "Legnano", in Monza Engineer Company "Legnano", in Bergamo
Mechanized Brigade "Trieste" Mechanized Brigade "Trieste", in Bologna Command and Signal Unit "Trieste", in Bologna 11th Tank Battalion "M.O. Calzecchi", in Ozzano dell'Emilia, (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 37th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Ravenna", in Bologna, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 40th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Bologna", in Bologna, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 66th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Valtellina", in Forlì, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 21st Field Artillery Group "Romagna", in Bologna, (M114 155 mm towed howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Trieste", in Budrio Anti-tank Company "Trieste", in Bologna Engineer Company "Trieste", in Bologna
Mechanized Brigade "Brescia" Mechanized Brigade "Brescia", in Brescia Command and Signal Unit "Brescia", in Brescia 15th Tank Squadrons Group "Cavalleggeri di Lodi", in Lenta (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 20th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Monte San Michele", in Brescia, (VCC-1 armored personnel carriers) 30th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Pisa", in Montorio Veronese, (VCC-1 armored personnel carriers) 85th Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Verona", in Montorio Veronese, (VCC-1 armored personnel carriers, reduced to reserve unit on 30 November 1989) 52nd Field Artillery Group "Venaria", in Brescia, (M114 155 mm towed howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Brescia", in Montorio Veronese Anti-tank Company "Brescia", in Montorio Veronese Engineer Company "Brescia", in Montorio Veronese
Motorized Brigade "Cremona" Motorized Brigade "Cremona", in Turin Command and Signal Unit "Cremona", in Turin 1st Armored Squadrons Group "Nizza Cavalleria", in Pinerolo, (two Leopard 1A2 tank companies and one VCC-2 mech infantry company) 21st Motorized Infantry Battalion "Alfonsine", in Alessandria 22nd Infantry Battalion "Primaro" (Recruits Training), in Fossano 157th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Liguria", in Novi Ligure 7th Field Artillery Group "Adria", in Turin, (M114 155 mm towed howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Cremona", in Venaria Reale Anti-tank Company "Cremona", in Turin Engineer Company "Cremona", in Pinerolo
4th Army Corps
4th Alpine Army Corps, in Bolzano: 4th Alpine Army Corps Command Unit, in Bolzano Artillery Command, in Trento 4th Heavy Field Artillery Group "Pusteria", in Trento, (FH70 155 mm towed howitzers) 184th Heavy Field Artillery Group "Filottrano", in Trento, (FH70 155 mm towed howitzers) 3rd Artillery Specialists Group "Bondone", in Trento Engineer Command, in Bolzano 2nd Mining Engineer Battalion "Iseo", in Bolzano 4th Engineer Battalion "Orta", in Trento Signal Command, in Bolzano 4th Signal Battalion "Gardena", in Bolzano 7th Signal Company, in Bassano del Grappa 4th Army Aviation Regiment "Altair", at Bolzano-San Giacomo Air Base 24th Army Aviation Squadrons Group "Orione", at Bolzano-San Giacomo Air Base (transformed in Support and Command Unit on 20 September 1989) 241st Light Airplanes Squadron (SM-1019) (disbanded on 20 September 1989) 440th Recon Helicopters Squadron (AB-206) (reassigned to the 54th Squadrons Group "Cefeo" on 20 September 1989) 34th Army Air Aviation Squadrons Group "Toro", at Venaria Reale Air Base 441st Recon Helicopters Squadron (AB-206) 544th Multirole Helicopters Squadrons (AB-205) 44th Recon Helicopters Squadrons Group "Fenice", at Belluno Air Base 441st Recon Helicopters Squadron (AB-206) 544th Multirole Helicopters Squadron (AB-205) 54th Multirole Helicopters Squadrons Group "Cefeo", at Bolzano-San Giacomo Air Base 541st Multirole Helicopters Squadrons (AB-205) 542nd Multirole Helicopters Squadrons (AB-205) 543rd Multirole Helicopters Squadrons (AB-205) 3rd Armored Squadrons Group "Savoia Cavalleria", in Merano, (two Leopard 1A2 tank companies and one VCC-2 mech infantry company) 24th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Dolomiti", in Bolzano 7th Armored Carabinieri Battalion "M.O. Petrucelli", in Laives, (one M47 Patton tank company, two M113 mech infantry companies and one M113/120mm heavy mortars company) Alpini Paratroopers Company "Monte Cervino", in Eppan
Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" Alpine Brigade "Taurinense", in Turin Command and Signal Unit "Taurinense", in Turin Alpini Battalion "Saluzzo", in Borgo San Dalmazzo Alpini Battalion "Susa"x, in Pinerolo Alpini Battalion "Mondovì" (Recruits Training), in Cuneo Mountain Artillery Group "Aosta"x, in Saluzzo, (M114 155 mm towed howitzers) Mountain Artillery Group "Pinerolo", in Susa, (M56 105 mm pack howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Taurinense"x, in Rivoli Anti-tank Company "Taurinense"x, in Turin Engineer Company "Taurinense", in Abbadia Alpina Airmobile Medical Unit "Taurinense"x, in Rivoli The units marked with an x were earmarked for the NATO Allied Mobile Force (Land) AMF(L)
Alpine Brigade "Orobica" Alpine Brigade "Orobica", in Merano Command and Signal Unit "Orobica", in Merano Alpini Battalion "Morbegno", in Sterzing Alpini Battalion "Tirano", in Mals Alpini Battalion "Edolo" (Recruits Training), in Merano Mountain Artillery Group "Bergamo", in Schlanders, (M56 105 mm pack howitzers) Mountain Artillery Group "Sondrio", in Sterzing, (M114 155 mm towed howitzers, disbanded 1989, howitzers reassigned to the "Bergamo" Group) Logistic Battalion "Orobica", in Merano Anti-tank Company "Orobica", in Merano Engineer Company "Orobica", in Merano
Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" Alpine Brigade "Tridentina", in Brixen Command and Signal Unit "Tridentina", in Brixen Alpini Battalion "Bassano", in Innichen Alpini Battalion "Trento", in Welsberg Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta" (Reserve), in InnichenIts 262nd company was fully operational (see above), with 13 other companies to be manned from reservists in case of mobilization and assigned to the extensive network of bunkers and fortified strong points defending the passes and road chokepoints in the upper Puster Valley. 262nd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Cismon", in Innichen Alpini Battalion "Bolzano" (Reserve), in Bruneck Mountain Artillery Group "Asiago", in Toblach, (M56 105 mm pack howitzers) Mountain Artillery Group "Vicenza", in Elvas, (M114 155 mm towed howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Tridentina", in Vahrn Anti-tank Company "Tridentina", in Bruneck Engineer Company "Tridentina", in Brixen
Alpine Brigade "Cadore" Alpine Brigade "Cadore", in Belluno Command and Signal Unit "Cadore", in Belluno Alpini Battalion "Feltre", in Feltre Alpini Battalion "Pieve di Cadore", in Tai di Cadore Alpini Battalion "Belluno" (Recruits Training), in Belluno Mountain Artillery Group "Lanzo", in Belluno, (M56 105 mm pack howitzers) Mountain Artillery Group "Agordo", in Bassano del Grappa, (M114 155 mm towed howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Cadore", in Belluno Anti-tank Company "Cadore", in Belluno Engineer Company "Cadore", in Belluno
Alpine Brigade "Julia" Alpine Brigade "Julia", in Udine