Logistic Regiment "Ariete"

The Logistic Regiment "Ariete" (Reggimento Logistico "Ariete") is a military logistics regiment of the Italian Army based in Maniago in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Today the regiment is the logistic unit of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete". 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
In 1963 the Italian Army reorganized its divisions along NATO standards and added a brigade level to the divisions' structure. As part of the reorganization the Armored Division "Ariete" formed three services battalions for its three brigades. On 1 June 1963 the command of the III Services Battalion "Ariete" was activated in Maniago and assigned to the III Armored Brigade "Ariete".

Initially the battalion consisted of a command, a command platoon, an auto unit, a mobile workshop, a mixed services platoon, and provisions team. On 1 January 1966 the battalion was reorganized and consisted now of a command, a command and services company, an auto unit, a medical company, and a Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit. On 1 October 1968 the battalion was assigned to the division's Services Grouping Command "Ariete" and the next day the brigade headquarters of the division were disbanded.

As part of the 1975 army reform the Armored Division "Ariete" was reorganized and three brigades were formed with the division's units: on 1 October 1975 the 32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli", and on 1 November 1975 the 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi" and 132nd Armored Brigade "Manin". On 1 November 1975 the III Services Battalion "Ariete" was renamed Logistic Battalion "Manin" and assigned to the 132nd Mechanized Brigade "Manin". Initially the battalion consisted of a command, a command platoon, and 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 1981 the battalion added a reserve medical unit. The same year the battalion was reorganized and consisted then of the following units:


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

In 1986 the Italian Army abolished the divisional level and brigades, which until then had been under one of the Army's four divisions, came under direct command of the Army's 3rd Army Corps or 5th Army Corps. As the Armored Division "Ariete" carried the traditions of the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete", which had distinguished itself in the Western Desert campaign of World War II, the army decided to retain the name of the division. On 30 September 1986 the Ariete's division command in Pordenone was disbanded and the next day the command of the Armored Brigade "Manin" moved from Aviano to Pordenone, where the command was renamed 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete". The brigade retained the Manin's units, which changed their names from Manin to Ariete.

From December 1992 to March 1994 the battalion provided personnel and materiel for the Unified Task Force and then the United Nations Operation in Somalia II in Somalia.

From 6 February to 24 May 2004 the battalion deployed to Iraq as part of the Italian contribution to the Multi-National Force – Iraq. For its conduct and work in Iraq the battalion was awarded a Bronze Cross of Army Merit, which was affixed to the battalion's flag.

On 30 June 2015 the Logistic Battalion "Ariete" lost its autonomy and the next day the battalion entered the newly formed Logistic Regiment "Ariete".

Organization
Like all Italian Army brigade logistic regiments the Logistic Regiment "Ariete" consists of:


 * CoA mil ITA rgt logistico ariete.png Regimental Command, in Maniago
 * Command and Logistic Support Company
 * Logistic Battalion
 * Supply Company
 * Transport Company
 * Maintenance Company