The Logistic Battalion "Legnano" (Italian: Battaglione Logistico "Legnano") is an inactive logistics unit of the Italian Army, which was assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Legnano".[2] 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.[3]
| Logistic Battalion "Legnano" | |
|---|---|
| Battaglione Logistico "Legnano" | |
 Battalion coat of arms | |
| Active | 30 Oct. 1975 - 15 Oct. 1996 |
| Country |  Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Military logistics |
| Part of | Mechanized Brigade "Legnano" |
| Garrison/HQ | Presezzo |
| Motto(s) | "Alacriter agere" |
| Anniversaries | 22 May 1916 - Battle of Asiago |
| Decorations |  1x Silver Cross of Army Merit[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Unit gorget patches |  |
History edit
The battalion is the spiritual successor of the logistic units of the Royal Italian Army's 58th Infantry Division "Legnano", which participated in the Italian invasion of France and Greco-Italian War of World War II, and of the logistic units of the Italian Co-belligerent Army's Combat Group "Legnano", which fought against the Germans during the Italian campaign and participated in the liberation of Bologna.[2]
On 15 October 1945 the combat group was reorganized as Infantry Division "Legnano". On 1 November 1956 the logistic units of the division were assigned to the newly formed Service Units Command "Legnano" in Bergamo. The command consisted of a medical section, a provisions section, a mobile vehicle park, a mobile workshop, an auto unit, and the 5th Field Hospital. On 1 October 1958 the mobile vehicle park, mobile workshop, and the light workshops of the division's regiments were merged to form the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Legnano".[2]
On 1 June 1972 the Service Units Command "Legnano" in Presezzo was reorganized as Services Grouping Command "Legnano" with a command, the Auto Unit "Legnano", the Provisions Company "Legnano", the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Legnano", and the reserve Medical Battalion "Legnano", which consisted of the 5th Field Hospital and a medical company.[2]
As part of the 1975 army reform the units of the Infantry Division "Legnano" were reorganized and on 21 October 1975 the Mechanized Brigade "Brescia" was formed in the city of Brescia and left the division, which on 30 October 1975 was reduced to Mechanized Brigade "Legnano". On the same date the division's services grouping command in Presezzo was reduced to Logistic Battalion "Legnano", which received all the traditions of the preceding logistic, transport, medical, maintenance, and supply units of the Legnano units. 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 651 men (37 officers, 82 non-commissioned officers, and 532 soldiers).[4]
On 12 November 1976 the battalion was granted a flag by decree 846 of the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone.[5]
On 1 October 1981 the battalion was reorganized and consisted then of the following units:[2]
From August 1982 to February 1984 the battalion provided personnel and materiel for the Multinational Force in Lebanon peacekeeping force. In 1991 the battalion moved from Presezzo to Solbiate Olona. From 22 August 1993 to 4 March 1994 the battalion participated in the United Nations Operation in Somalia II in Somalia. 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.[2][1]
On 15 October 1996 the Logistic Battalion "Legnano" was disbanded and on 18 October of the same year the battalion's flag was transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.[2]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Bandiera del Battaglione Logistico "Legnano"". President of Italy. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ 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. 389.
- ^ "Arma dei Trasporti e Materiali - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ 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. 1190.
- ^ "Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 12 novembre 1976, n. 846". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 24 November 2023.