Logistic Battalion "Orobica"

The Logistic Battalion "Orobica" (Battaglione Logistico "Orobica") is an inactive logistics unit of the Italian Army, which was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Orobica". As an alpine unit the battalion is associated with the army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, with whom the battalion shares the distinctive Cappello Alpino. The regimental anniversary falls, as for all units of the Transport and Materiel Corps, on 22 May, the anniversary of the Italian Army's first major automobile use to transport reinforcements to counter the Austro-Hungarian Offensive at Asiago in 1916.

History
The battalion is the spiritual successor of the logistic units of the Alpine Brigade "Orobica", which was formed on 1 November 1956 in Meran. On the same date the logistic units of the brigade were formed and assigned to the newly created Service Units Command "Orobica". The command consisted of a medical section, a provisions section, a mobile vehicle park, a mobile workshop, and an auto unit. On 1 January 1962 the mobile vehicle park and mobile workshop were merged to form the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Orobica".

On 1 January 1967 the Service Units Command "Orobica" was reorganized as Services Grouping Command "Orobica", which consisted of a command, the Auto Unit "Orobica", a provisions company, the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Orobica", and the reserve Medical Battalion "Orobica", which in turn consisted of the 42nd Field Hospital and a medical section.

As part of the 1975 army reform the Services Grouping Command "Orobica" was reorganized as Logistic Battalion "Orobica" on 1 May 1976. Initially the battalion consisted of a command, a command and services platoon, two light logistic units, a medium logistic unit, and two reserve medical units. At the time the battalion fielded 712 men (42 officers, 92 non-commissioned officers, and 588 soldiers). On 12 November 1976 the battalion was granted a flag by decree 846 of the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone.

In October 1980 the two medical units merged into a single reserve medical unit. On 1 November 1981 the battalion was reorganized and now consisted of the following units:


 * CoA mil ITA btg log orobica.png Battalion Command, in Meran
 * Command and Services Company
 * Supply Company
 * Maintenance Company
 * Medium Transport Company
 * Medical Unit (Reserve)

On 12 July the battalion's flag was transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome and on 27 July 1991 the Alpine Brigade "Orobica" and with it the Logistic Battalion "Orobica" were disbanded. One the same date the battalion's personnel and materiel were used to expand the 24th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Dolomiti", which had moved from Bolzano to Meran on 11 July 1991.