Structure 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 2015 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 commands the Italian NATO Rapid Deployable Italian Corps (NRDC-IT), five commands (Special Forces, Army Aviation, Air Defense, Signal and Information, Operational Support), of three divisions Tridentina Division, Friuli Division and Acqui Division and the Folgore Parachute Brigade.
Order of Battle
Geographical Distribution
5 Av.
5 Cav.
5 Art.
8 Alpini
3 Aviation
NRDC-IT
The NRDC-IT or "NATO Rapid Deployable Italian 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)
- Battalion "Spluga"
- Battalion "Sempione"
- Transit Support Regiment in Bellinzago Novarese (Lombardy) tasked with transporting the NRDC-IT and/or divisions commands to their areas of operation
- (33rd) Logistic Support Regiment in Solbiate Olona (Lombardy)
- 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 (Veneto)
- 9th Parachutist Assault Regiment "Col Moschin" in Livorno (Tuscany)
- 28th Psychological Warfare Regiment "Pavia" in Pesaro (Marche)
- 185th Parachutist Reconnaissance Regiment "Folgore" in Livorno (Tuscany)
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 M56 105mm pack howitzers
- 8th Parachutist Engineer Regiment in Legnago (Veneto)
- Folgore Logistic Regiment in Pisa (Tuscany)
- 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
- Alpine Training Center in Aosta (Aosta)
- Training Regiment in Aosta
- 6th Alpini Regiment "Btg Bassano" in Bruneck (South Tyrol)
- 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
- 2nd Cavalry Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" in Villa Opicina (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
The Friuli Division in Florence (Tuscany) commands following brigades of the Italian Army:
- Friuli Support Battalion in Florence
- Ariete Armored Brigade in Pordenone (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- Ariete Combat Service Support Battalion in Pordenone
- 5th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" in Codroipo (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
- 32nd Tank Regiment in Tauriano (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Ariete
- 132nd Tank Regiment in Cordenons (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Ariete
- 11th Bersaglieri mechanized Infantry Regiment in Orcenigo Superiore (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with Dardo
- 132nd Self Propelled Artillery Rgt. "Ariete" in Maniago (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with 32 PzH 2000
- 10th Combat Engineer Regiment in Cremona (Lombardy)
- Ariete Logistic Regiment in Remanzacco (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- Pozzuolo del Friuli Brigade in Bologna (Emilia)
- Combat Service Support Battalion in Bologna
- 4th Cavalry Regiment Genova Cavalleria in Palmanova with Centauro and Puma 4x4
- 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
- 5th Army Aviation Regiment "Rigel" in Casarsa (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- 27th Squadron Group "Mercurio" with two NH90 transport helicopter squadrons and one A109A EOA reconnaissance helicopter squadron
- 49th Squadron Group "Capricorno" with three A129D Attack Helicopter squadrons
- 7th Army Aviation Regiment "Vega" in Rimini (Romagna)
- Horse Artillery Regiment "Volòire" in Vercelli (Piedmont) with 18 FH-70
- 3rd Engineer Regiment in Udine (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
- "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
- 151st Infantry Regiment "Sassari" in Cagliari (Sardinia) with VBM Freccia
- 152nd Infantry Regiment "Sassari" in Sassari (Sardinia) with VBM Freccia
- 5th Engineer Regiment in Macomer (Sardinia)
- Sassari Logistic Regiment in Teulada (Sardinia)
Acqui Division
The Acqui Division in San Giorgio a Cremano near Naples commands following brigades of the Italian Army:
- Acqui Support Battalion in Naples
- Garibaldi Bersaglieri Brigade in Caserta (Campania)
- Garibaldi Combat Service Support Battalion in Caserta (Campania)
- 19th Cavalry Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" in Salerno (Campania) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
- 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
- 8th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment "Pasubio" in Persano (Campania) with 32 PzH 2000
- 21st Engineer Regiment in Caserta (Campania)
- Garibaldi Logistic Regiment in Persano (Campania)
- Pinerolo Mechanized Brigade in Bari (Apulia)
- Pinerolo Combat Service Support Battalion in Bari
- 8th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" in Foggia (Apulia) with Centauro and Puma 4x4
- 7th Bersaglieri Regiment in Bari (Apulia) with VBM Freccia
- 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
- 11th Engineer Regiment in Foggia (Apulia)
- Pinerolo Logistic Regiment in Bari (Apulia)
- Aosta Mechanized Brigade Messina (Sicily)
- Aosta Combat Service Support Battalion in Messina
- 6th Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri d’Aosta" in Palermo (Sicily) Centauro and Puma 4x4
- 6th Bersaglieri Regiment in Trapani (Sicily) with VBM Freccia
- 5th Infantry Regiment "Aosta" in Messina (Sicily) with VBM Freccia
- 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia" in Catania (Sicily) with VBM Freccia
- 24th Self-propelled Artillery Regiment "Peloritani" in Messina (Sicily) with 32 M109/L
- 4th Engineer Regiment in Palermo (Sicily)
- 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)
- Deployable regiments:
- 2nd Signal Regiment (Alpini) in Bolzano (South Tyrol) with the battalions:
- "Gardena"
- "Pordoi"
- 7th Signal Regiment in Sacile (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) with the battalions:
- "Rolle"
- "Predil"
- 11th Signal Regiment in Civitavecchia (Lazio) with the battalions:
- "Leonessa"
- "Tonale"
- 232nd Signal Regiment in Avellino (Campania) with the battalions:
- "Fadalto"
- "Legnano"
- 2nd Signal Regiment (Alpini) in Bolzano (South Tyrol) with the battalions:
- National support regiments:
- 3rd Signal Regiment in Rome (Lazio) with the battalions:
- 32nd Signal Regiment in Padua (Veneto) with the battalions:
- "Valles" in Padua (Veneto)
- "Frejus" in Turin (Piedmont)
- 46th Signal Regiment in Palermo (Sicily) with the battalions:
- "Mongibello" in Palermo (Sicily)
- "Vulture" in Nocera Inferiore (Campania)
- Deployable regiments:
- 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, and Raven UAVs and AN/TPQ-37 Firefinder, Elta SCB 2130, Thales Ranger, ARTHUR Radars
- 13th Intelligence Battalion "Aquileia" in Anzio (Lazio) with Lince VTML
- RISTA-IEW ISTAR and Electronic Warfare (Training & Research) Center 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 (Lazio)
- Army Aviation Brigade in Viterbo
- 1st Army Aviation Regiment "Antares" in Viterbo (Lazio)
- 11th Squadron Group "Ercole" with two CH-47F "Chinook" squadrons
- 28th Squadron Group "Tucano" in Viterbo with one Dornier DO-228 squadron and one Piaggio P-180 squadron
- 2nd Army Aviation Regiment "Sirio" in Lamezia Terme (Calabria)
- 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment "Aldebaran" in (Viterbo) (Lazio)
- 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
- 1st Army Aviation Regiment "Antares" in Viterbo (Lazio)
- Army Aviation Support Command in Viterbo
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 3x SAMP/T batteries
- 17th Air Defense Regiment "Sforzesca" in Sabaudia with 3x Skyguard "Aspide" batteries
- 121st Air Defense Regiment "Ravenna" in Bologna with 3x Stinger batteries
Operational Support Command
The Operational Support Command commands the remaining support regiments of the army:
- 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
- 52nd Self-propelled Artillery Regiment "Torino" in Vercelli (Piedmont) with 32 M109/L (will be disbanded until 2016)
- 2nd Bridge Engineers Regiment in Piacenza
- 6th Pioneer Engineers Regiment in Rome
- 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.
- Infantry School in Rome
- 1st Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment (Grenadier Guards) in Rome
- 1x mechanized grenadier and 2x public duties companies in Rome
- 2x mechanized grenadier, 1x mechanized mortar and 1x mechanized anti-tank company in Spoleto
- 80th Infantry (Training) Regiment "Roma" in Cassino, training sergeants
- Volunteer Training Center in Capua
- 17th Infantry (Training) Regiment "Acqui" in Capua
- 85th Infantry (Training) Regiment "Verona" in Montorio Veronese
- 235th Infantry (Training) Regiment "Piceno" in Ascoli Piceno (training female recruits)
- 1st Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment (Grenadier Guards) in Rome
- other Training units:
- 1st Armored Regiment in Capo Teulada (Sardinia)
- 31st Tank Regiment in Altamura (Apulia)
- Technical Support units:
- 44th Signal Support Regiment in Rome
- 184th Signal Support Regiment in Treviso
- Others
- 8th Transport Regiment "Casilina" in Rome, providing transport for the Army General Staff
- 11th Transport Battalion "Flaminia" in Rome, providing transport for the Defense General Staff