Logistic Regiment "Folgore"

The Logistic Regiment "Folgore" (Reggimento Logistico "Folgore") is a military logistics regiment of the Italian Army based in Pisa in Tuscany. Today the regiment is the logistic unit of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". 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 185th Paratroopers Division "Folgore", which participated in the Western Desert campaign, during which the division fought in the First Battle of El Alamein, Battle of Alam el Halfa, and was destroyed in the Second Battle of El Alamein.

On 1 January 1963 the Italian Army raised the I Paratroopers Brigade in Pisa, which received the name "Folgore" on 10 June 1967.

As part of the 1975 army reform the logistic units of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" were reorganized: on 1 October 1975 the Air-supplies Company "Folgore" in Pisa and the Maintenance Company "Folgore" in Livorno merged to form the Paratroopers Logistic Battalion "Folgore" in Pisa. The battalion consisted of a command, a command platoon, a supply and transport company, a maintenance and air-supplies company, a medium workshop, and a vehicle park. At the time the battalion fielded 832 men (43 officers, 104 non-commissioned officers, and 685 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 was reorganized and consisted then of the following units:


 * CoA mil ITA rgt logistico folgore.png Battalion Command, in Pisa
 * Command and Services Company
 * Supply Company
 * Maintenance Company
 * Maintenance and Air-supplies Company
 * Medium Transport Company
 * Medical Unit (Reserve)

From 12 October 1982 to 26 February 1984 the battalion provided personnel and materiel for the Multinational Force in Lebanon peacekeeping force. On 1 August 1986 the Maintenance and Air Supplies Company was transferred to the Military Parachuting School.

In May 1991 personnel of the battalion was deployed to Northern Iraq for Operation Provide Comfort. After arriving in Zakho the personnel formed the Logistic Support Unit "Folgore", which consisted of a command and signals platoon, a maintenance company, a supply company, and a transport company. In total about 200 men served in Zakho before returning to Italy in July 1991.

From 27 December 1992 to 28 October 1993 the battalion participated in the Unified Task Force in Somalia. In Balad the battalion operated a logistics center and a medical post to support the local population. For its conduct and work in Somalia the battalion was awarded a Silver Cross of Army Merit, which was affixed to the battalion's flag.

From 3 July 1996 to 24 March 1997 the battalion deployed as part of the NATO-led Implementation Force to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina to support peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts after the Bosnian War. For its conduct and work in Bosnia and Herzegovina the battalion was awarded a Bronze Cross of Army Merit, which was affixed to the battalion's flag.

On 1 September 2001 the battalion was transferred to the Logistic Projection Brigade. On 27 July 2001 the battalion was reorganized as 6th Maneuver Regiment and consisted of a command, a command and logistic support company, a supply battalion, a maintenance battalion, and a medical unit.

From 2 July 2003 to 7 October 2003 the regiment deployed to Iraq as part of the Italian contribution to the stabilize the country after the invasion of Iraq. For its service in Iraq the regiment was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms.

On 12 September 2013 the Logistic Projection Command was disbanded and the 6th Maneuver Regiment returned to the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". On 1 July 2015 the regiment was renamed Logistic Regiment "Folgore" and reorganized as a brigade supporting logistic regiment.

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


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