Logistic Battalion "Taurinense"

The Logistic Battalion "Taurinense" (Battaglione Logistico "Taurinense") is an inactive logistics unit of the Italian Army, which was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". 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 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense", which had participated in the Italian invasion of France and the Italian occupation of Yugoslavia of World War II, and of the logistic units of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense", which was formed on 15 April 1952 in Turin.

On 1 December 1962 the Service Units Command "Taurinense" was formed in Rivoli, which consisted of a mobile vehicle park, a mobile workshop, and an auto unit. In 1963 the command received a provisions section, and the mobile vehicle park and mobile workshop were merged to form the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Taurinense". In 1964 the command received a medical section, the 101st Field Hospital, and a mountain vehicles section equipped with Moto Guzzi Triporteurs.

On 1 January 1967 the Service Units Command "Taurinense" was reorganized as Services Grouping Command "Taurinense", which consisted of a command, the Auto Unit "Taurinense", a provisions company, the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Taurinense", a medical section, and the 101st Field Hospital.

In 1973 the Medical Battalion "Taurinense" was formed, which consisted of the 101st Field Hospital for Arctic Climates, the 102nd Field Hospital, and a medical company. The battalion was meant to support the Tactical Group "Susa", which was Italy's contribution to NATO's Allied Command Europe Mobile Force-Land AMF(L), which in case of war with the Warsaw Pact would have reinforced NATO's Allied Forces North Norway Command in Northern Norway.

As part of the 1975 army reform the Services Grouping Command "Taurinense" was reorganized as Logistic Battalion "Taurinense" on 1 December 1975. Initially the battalion consisted of a command, a command and services platoon, two light logistic units, a medium logistic unit, two reserve medical units, and the 101st Field Hospital. On 1 June 1978 the 101st Field Hospital was reorganized as Airmobile Medical Unit "Taurinense", which was assigned to the brigade's command. Afterwards 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 1981 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 taurinense.png Battalion Command, in Rivoli
 * Command and Services Company
 * Supply Company
 * Maintenance Company
 * Medium Transport Company
 * Medical Unit (Reserve)

In May and June 1991 personnel of the battalion was deployed to Northern Iraq for Operation Provide Comfort. From February to October 1993 the battalion participated in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique in Mozambique. For its conduct and work in Mozambique the battalion was awarded a Bronze Cross of Army Merit, which was affixed to the battalion's flag.

On 1 February 2001 the Logistic Battalion "Taurinense" was disbanded and part of its personnel joined the 1st Logistic Support Regiment "Monviso". Shortly thereafter the battalion's flag was transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.