Logistic Battalion "Trieste"

The Logistic Battalion "Trieste" (Battaglione Logistico "Trieste") is an inactive logistics unit of the Italian Army, which was assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Trieste". 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 Royal Italian Army's 101st Motorized Division "Trieste", which fought in the Italian invasion of France, Greco-Italian War, Western Desert campaign, and Tunisian campaign of World War II. In May 1943 the division surrendered to the Allies at the conclusion of the Tunisian campaign.

On 1 June 1950 the division was reconstituted in Bologna as Infantry Division "Trieste". On 15 October 1954 the division was split in two formations: the Grouping "Trieste" and the Grouping "Bologna". The Grouping "Trieste" moved from Bologna to the city of Trieste, when it returned to Italian control on 26 October 1954. On 23 October 1954 the division was disbanded. On 15 September 1955 Grouping "Bologna" was elevated to division and renamed Infantry Division "Trieste. On 6 October 1956 the logistic units of the division were assigned to the newly formed Service Units Command "Trieste" in Bologna. The command consisted of a medical section, a provisions section, a mobile vehicle park, a mobile workshop, and an auto unit.

On 1 July 1960 the mobile vehicle park, mobile workshop, and the light workshop of the division's 40th Infantry Regiment "Bologna" merged to form the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Trieste". On 20 October 1960 the division was reduced to Infantry Brigade "Trieste" and consequently on the same date the Service Units Command "Trieste" was disbanded. The brigade was supported by the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Trieste" and the Auto Unit "Trieste".

As part of the 1975 army reform the Infantry Brigade "Trieste" was reorganized as Mechanized Brigade "Trieste" and consequently on 18 September 1975 the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Trieste" and the Auto Unit "Trieste" were merged to form the Logistic Battalion "Trieste" in Budrio. The battalion consisted of a command, a command platoon, a supply and transport company, a medium workshop, and a vehicle park. At the time the battalion fielded 692 men (38 officers, 85 non-commissioned officers, and 569 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 battalion added a reserve medical unit and in 1981 the battalion was reorganized and consisted then of the following units:


 * CoA mil ITA btg logistico trieste.png Battalion Command, in Budrio
 * Command and Services Company
 * Supply Company
 * Maintenance Company
 * Medium Transport Company
 * Medical Unit (Reserve)

After the end of the Cold War and the subsequent reduction of the Italian Army the Mechanized Brigade "Trieste" was ordered to merge with the Motorized Brigade "Friuli". On 31 May 1991 the Mechanized Brigade "Trieste" was disbanded and the next day the Logistic Battalion "Trieste" joined the now Mechanized Brigade "Friuli" and was renamed Logistic Battalion "Friuli". Subsequently, the flag of the Logistic Battalion "Trieste" was transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.