7th Signal Regiment (Italy)

The 7th Signal Regiment (Italian: 7° Reggimento Trasmissioni) is a deployable signals regiment of the Italian Army based in Sacile in Friuli Venezia Giulia. In 1918 during World War I the regiment was formed as 7th Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers) with 59 companies transferred from the 3rd Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers). In 1920 the regiment was disbanded and its companies formed into battalions, which were assigned the army's army corps commands.[3][4]

7th Signal Regiment
7° Reggimento Trasmissioni
Regimental coat of arms
Active1 July 1918 — 31 March 1920
1 Oct. 1975 — today[1]
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
Part ofSignal Command
Garrison/HQSacile
Motto(s)"E per confini il cielo"
Anniversaries20 June 1918 - Second Battle of the Piave River
Decorations
1x Gold Cross of Army Merit[2]
Insignia
Signallers gorget patches

The unit was reformed in 1948 as a battalion and given the number V, which had been used by two battalions active during World War II. During the Cold War the battalion was assigned to the V Army Corps. In 1975 the battalion was named for the Rolle Pass and assigned the flag and traditions of the 7th Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers). In 1991 the battalion was redesignated as regiment. In 2002 the regiment reformed the Battalion "Predil" as its second signal battalion. The regiment is assigned to the army's Signal Command and affiliated with the Division "Vittorio Veneto".[1][4] The regimental anniversary falls, as for all signal units, on June 20, the height of the Second Battle of the Piave River in 1918.[5]

History edit

World War I edit

Towards the end of World War I the 7th Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers) was formed on 1 July 1918 in Piacenza. The 3rd Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers) transferred its branch depots in Piacenza, Verona, and Mantua to the new regiment. The 3rd also transferred 59 telegraphers companies it had formed for service on the Italian front. The 7th trained replacement personnel for the companies it had received and formed one more telegraphers company before the war's end.[1][4]

After the war the regiment was disbanded on 31 March 1920 and its companies used to form a telegraphers battalion for each army corps on 1 April 1920.[4]

Cold War edit

On 1 May 1948 a Connections Battalion was formed in Padua as support unit of the V Territorial Military Command. In March 1950 the battalion was numbered V Connections Battalion and became the spiritual successor of the V Telegraphers Battalion and V Marconists Battalion, which had been formed by the 2nd Engineer Regiment during World War II. On 1 October 1952 the Connections Speciality became an autonomous speciality of the Engineer Arm, with its own school and gorget patches. On 16 May 1953 the speciality adopted the name Signal Speciality and consequently the V Connections Battalion was renamed V Signal Battalion on the same date. In January 1954 the battalion was renamed V Army Corps Signal Battalion and consisted of a command, an operations company, a line construction company, and a signal center. In 1961 the battalion formed a second line construction company. In 1965 the battalion moved from Padua to Codroipo.[1][4]

During the 1975 army reform the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were granted for the first time their own flags. During the reform signal battalions were renamed for mountain passes.[6] On 1 October 1975 the V Army Corps Signal Battalion was renamed 5th Signal Battalion "Rolle" and assigned the flag and traditions of the 7th Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers).[1][4][7]

The 5th Signal Battalion "Rolle" consisted of a command, a command and services platoon, four signal companies, and a repairs and recovery platoon and fielded 1,099 men (36 officers, 198 non-commissioned officers, and 859 soldiers).[8] In 1976 the battalion moved from Codroipo to Sacile. On 1 June 1989 the battalion was reorganized and consisted now of a command, a command and services company, a radio relay company, and two signal center companies. In 1991 the battalion added a second radio relay company.[4]

Recent times edit

On 4 October 1991 the 5th Signal Battalion "Rolle" was renamed Signal Regiment "Rolle", which was renamed 7th Signal Regiment on 1 December 1992. On the same date the flag and traditions of the 7th Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers) were transferred from the battalion to the 7th Signal Regiment.[4]

In 2000 the regiment joined the army's C4 IEW Command. On 8 January 2002 the regiment received the reformed Battalion "Predil" and became a projection signal regiment capable to deploy and operate outside Italy.[1]

Organization edit

As of 2023 the 7th Signal Regiment consists of:[3][9]

  •   Regimental Command, in Sacile[9]
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    •   Battalion "Rolle"[3][9]
      • 1st Signal Company
      • 2nd Signal Company
      • 3rd Signal Company
    •   Battalion "Predil"[3][9]
      • 4th Signal Company
      • 5th Signal Company
      • 6th Signal Company

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "7° Reggimento Trasmissioni - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Bandiera di Guerra del 7° Reggimento Trasmissioni". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "7° Reggimento Trasmissioni". Italian Army. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo II. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 318.
  5. ^ "Comando Trasmissioni". Italian Army. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Reparti Telematici e Guerra Elettronica". Esercito Italiano. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 12 novembre 1976, n. 846". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  8. ^ Stefani, Filippo (1989). La storia della dottrina e degli ordinamenti dell'Esercito Italiano - Vol. III - Tomo 2°. Rome: Ufficio Storico - Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito. p. 1186.
  9. ^ a b c d "7° Reggimento Trasmissioni". Italian Defense Ministry. Retrieved 23 December 2023.