Enemy tanks raided south ARIETE Division. ARIETE surrounded. Found about 5 kilometres north-west Bir el Abd. ARIETE tanks fight.

Last radio communiqué from Ariete at El Alamein, 15:30 on 4 November 1942

The 132nd Armoured Brigade 'Ariete' is a large unit of the Italian Army dependent on the 'Vittorio Veneto' Division in Florence. Based with its units mainly in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, it has its headquarters in Pordenone.

Established as a Division on 1 February 1939, it was deployed in North Africa during the Second World War, being destroyed here in 1942 by Allied forces. It was then reconstituted under the name of Ariete II in Italy but formed from mechanised cavalry regiments including the Lancieri di Montebello Regiment, which distinguished itself in the defence of Rome between the 8th and the 8th of August.11 September 1943 and, once again disbanded due to wartime events, was reconstituted in 1948 in Rome as a brigade.

Ariete' and 'Ariete II' armoured divisions

The origin of the department dates back to 15 July 1937 when the 2nd Armoured Brigade was formed in Milan, initially consisting only of the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment, later replaced in November 1938 by the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment. It was later joined by the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment. The 1 February 1939 the Brigade was raised to divisional level, taking the name 'Ariete' (132nd ) Armoured Division and incorporating three regiments: the 8th Bersaglieri, the 32nd Tank Infantry and the 132nd Armoured Artillery, as well as other divisional units.

In World War II, she was posted to North Africa where she fought from March 1941. The 1 September 1941 formed the 132nd Tank Regiment in the war zone, fully equipped with M 13/40 tanks. From then on, it was this regiment (three times destroyed and twice reconstituted) that was to be the key pawn of the Ariete until November 1942, division was almost destroyed in the third battle of El Alamein, when, the 3-4 November, After repelling a British attack with heavy losses, it counter-attacked to allow the infantry divisions to disengage and then began a defensive retrograde march until it was completely annihilated. The 132nd Tank Regiment faced this battle with three tank battalions: the IX, the X (coming from the 133rd Regiment and assigned to the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment the 21 April 1942 to replace the VII Tank Battalion destroyed in combat); and the XIII (assigned to the 132nd in July 1942 to replace the VIII Tank Battalion also destroyed in combat). The division was finally disbanded on 8 December. However, the 8th Regiment continued to fight until the Mareth in Tunisia (earning a second Gold Medal for Military Valour here), while the now disbanded tank divisions, otherwise reorganised into the 132nd Tank Regiment, also continued to fight until the spring of 1943 in Tunisia.

It was reconstituted on 1 April 1943. at home under the name 135th Armoured Division 'Ariete II' incorporating the 'Montebello', 'Lucca' and 'Vittorio Emanuele II' cavalry regiments, the 135th and 235th Artillery Regiments, the CXXXIV Self-propelled Counter Tanks Battalion and the CXXXIV Mixed Engineer Battalion;

Although the planned theoretical strength was 9,500 men, 247 tanks/semobiles and 84 artillery pieces, as of 8 September, the actual strength was 8,500 men, 176 armoured and armoured vehicles, about 70 guns and 92 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. Ammunition and fuel shortages were considerable. On 9 September 1943, following the events that followed the proclamation of the armistice, some divisions of the Division (Montebello and Lucca Regiments) found themselves engaged in the defence of Rome together with the Grenadier Division of Sardinia, but after an initial success they had to surrender to the Germans. It was disbanded on 12 September following.

Reconstitution

The 1 June 1948 saw the rebirth in Rome of the 'Ariete' Armoured Brigade, the new name of the 'Ariete' Armoured Regiment that arose on 23 May 1948, who moved to Pordenone in the course of the year,

The unit the 1 October 1952 was reconfigured into Armoured Division 'Ariete'.

From 1 October 1975 Ariete' underwent a restructuring process that involved all units of the Italian Army. The regiments were disbanded and the Armoured Division 'Ariete' was ordered into 32nd Armoured Brigade 'Mameli' (Tauriano di Spilimbergo), 132nd Armoured Brigade 'Manin' (Aviano) and 8th Mechanised Brigade 'Garibaldi' (Pordenone), to which division supports were added.

132nd Armoured Brigade 'Ariete'

The 1 October 1986 O. Secchiaroli", the 10th Tank Battalion "M.O. Bruno", the 13th Tank Battalion "M.O. Pascucci" (coming from the mechanised Brigade "Brescia"), the 27th Bersaglieri Battalion "Jamiano", the 20th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Piave", the Logistics Battalion "Ariete", the Counter-Tank Company "Ariete" and the Engineer Engineer Guards Company "Ariete".

The following years saw the Brigade frequently change its personnel: the 10 December 1989 The 13th Tank Battalion 'M.O. Pascucci' was transferred to the 'Mantova' mechanised brigade; in January 1991, the 10th Tank Battalion 'M.O. Bruno' and the 20th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group 'Piave' were disbanded in January 1991 and on 31 March 1991 respectively. 31 January), while from the 8th Mechanised Brigade 'Garibaldi' came the 19th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group 'Rialto' (1 February 1991) and from the dissolved 32nd Armoured Brigade 'Mameli' the 3rd Tank Battalion 'M.O. Galas", the 5th Tank Battalion "M.O. Chiamenti" (which would be disbanded on 25 August 1992) and the 23rd Bersaglieri Battalion "Castel di Borgo", which would be transferred to Trapani on 31 March 1992, passing to the Mechanized Brigade "Aosta".

From 1992, the 'Ariete' reverted to regimental-level units that, unlike in the past, were structured around a single battalion. The new configuration of the brigade included the 'Ariete' Command and Tactical Support Department, 32nd and 132nd Tank Regiments, 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, 132nd Armoured Artillery Regiment 'Ariete' and Logistics Battalion 'Ariete'. In addition, the 1 April 1992 The 2nd Infantry Battalion 'Pordenone' also joined the brigade from the 5th Army Corps Headquarters, with the function of training recruits, later renamed the 'Pordenone'.8 May 1993 26th Bersaglieri Battalion 'Castelfidardo', heir to the historical traditions of the 4th Bersaglieri Regiment. In the following years, the brigade framed other units, but only for short periods. In detail, from 1 August to 29 November 1995 had under its command the 63rd Tank Regiment from the mechanised Brigade 'Mantova', from theOctober 1996 the 82nd Infantry Regiment 'Torino' transferred from the mechanised Brigade 'Gorizia' and passed into the 2001 to the 'Pinerolo' armoured brigade and finally, since 1997, the 33rd Tank Regiment former mechanized Brigade 'Friuli' disbanded in 2001. In the same year, the Projection Force Command transferred the 10th Engineer Guards Regiment to the Brigade, while in the 2002 were joined by the 4th Tank Regiment and the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment (the latter was later transferred to the 2009 Mechanised Brigade 'Sassari') from the disbanded Mechanised Brigade 'Centauro'. The 15 April 2003 the 4th Tank Regiment surrendered its last Leopard 1 tank to the 2nd Motorised Supply Centre in Lenta, thus bringing the end of the German tank's operational life at the Brigade.

The 6 May 2000 The 132nd Armoured Brigade 'Ariete' was awarded honorary citizenship of Pordenone in recognition of the historical link between this city and the soldiers who serve or have served in this great unit.

Similar recognition was bestowed on the 32nd Tank Regiment that the 4 October 2003 was awarded the honorary citizenship of the municipality of Spilimbergo in whose territory the unit is based. and the logistics battalion 'Ariete' that the 3 July 2004 was awarded the honorary citizenship of the city of Maniago in whose territory the unit is based. This recognition was the population's thanks to the commitment of these military units in the missions abroad in which these units have been engaged.

On several occasions, the Brigade has provided personnel and vehicles from its own units to the Italian contingent in Iraq, deployed in the Ancient Babylon mission. In June 2004, a section of six Ariete tanks from the 1st Tank Company 'Lions of Bardia' of the 3rd Tank Battalion 'M.O. Galas' of the 32nd Tank Regiment was the first ever deployment of these vehicles in the area of operations, and it served to provide a valid and continuous contribution to the security and protection of the Italian contingent, which, being able to count on the operational capacity of the tanks even in a traditionally difficult environment such as an urban one, significantly increased its ability to react to the threat posed by hostile insurgents to the stabilisation and humanitarian assistance process that Italy carried out there.

With the reform of the 2013 the Brigade lost the 4th Tank Regiment, transferred to Persano to replace the dissolved 131st Tank Regiment of the 'Garibaldi' Bersaglieri Brigade, and acquired the 8th Transport Regiment from the suppressed Projection Logistics Command, which in the future would be renamed Logistics Regiment 'Ariete', taking over the responsibilities of the logistics battalion 'Ariete', which was to be suppressed, and added the 5th 'Lancieri di Novara' Regiment. Furthermore, due to the dissolution of the 1st Operational Defence Force Command on 1 October 2013, the Brigade came under the 'Friuli' Division (renamed 'Vittorio Veneto' in the 2019) attached to the Interregional Defence Force Command North. The brigade is also part of NATO's 'Rapid Reaction Army Corps'.

The 132nd Armoured Brigade 'Ariete' has been engaged since the 1990s and in the early 21st century in national operations such as Operation Sicilian Vespers, Operation Testuggine and in peacekeeping missions abroad in Somalia (UNITAF), the Balkans (IFOR/SFOR and KFOR), Operation Ancient Babylon in Iraq and Operation Leontes (UNIFIL) in Lebanon.

Departments

1986/1991

• 8th Tank Battalion M.O. Secchiaroli in Aviano (PN)
• 10th Tank Battalion M.O. Bruno di Aviano (PN)
• 13th Tank Battalion 'M.O. Pascucci' in Cordenons (PN) (from 10 December 1989 in cadre position at the Mechanized Brigade Mantova)
• 26th Bersaglieri Battalion 'Castelfidardo' in Maniago (PN)
• 27th Bersaglieri Battalion Jamiano di Aviano (PN)
• 20th Piave Self-propelled Field Artillery Group of Maniago (PN)
• Logistics Battalion Ariete in Maniago (PN)
• Command and Transmission Department in Aviano (PN)
• Autonomous Brigade Engineer Company Ariete of Maniago (PN)

1991/1992

• 3rd Tank Battalion M.O. Galas Tauriano di Spilimbergo (PN)
• 5th Tank Battalion M.O. Chiamenti Tauriano di Spilimbergo (PN) (disbanded on 25 August 1992)
• 8th Tank Battalion M.O. Secchiaroli in Aviano (PN)
• 23rd Bersaglieri Battalion Castel di Borgo di Tauriano di Spilimbergo (PN) (from 31 March 1992 transferred to the Brigata Meccanizzata Aosta)
• 27th Bersaglieri Battalion Jamiano di Aviano (PN)
• 2nd Infantry Battalion Pordenone (since 1 April 1992)
• 19th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Rialto di Maniago (PN)
• Logistics Battalion Ariete in Maniago (PN)
• Tactical Command and Support Department Ariete Pordenone (PN)

1992/1997

• 32nd Tank Regiment in Tauriano di Spilimbergo (PN)
• 63rd Tank Regiment in Cordenons (PN) (1 August to 29 November 1995)
• 132nd Tank Regiment Aviano (PN)
• 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, Orcenico Superiore (PN)
• 2nd Infantry Battalion Pordenone (disbanded 7 May 1993)
• 26th Bersaglieri Battalion 'Castelfidardo' in Pordenone (from 8 May 1993)
• 82nd Infantry Regiment 'Torino' in Cormons (GO) (since October 1996 from the Mechanised Brigade 'Gorizia')
• 19th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group Rialto di Maniago (PN) (disbanded on 8 October 1993)
• 132nd Armoured Artillery Regiment 'Ariete' Ariete in Maniago (PN) (since 9 October 1993)
• Logistics Battalion Ariete in Maniago (PN)
• Tactical Command and Support Department Ariete Pordenone (PN)

1997/2001

• 32nd Tank Regiment in Tauriano di Spilimbergo (PN)
• 33rd Tank Regiment in Ozzano dell'Emilia (BO)
• 132nd Tank Regiment Cordenons (PN)
• 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, Orcenico Superiore (PN)
• 82nd Infantry Regiment 'Torino' in Cormons (GO)
• 132nd Armoured Artillery Regiment Ariete in Maniago (PN)
• Logistics Battalion Ariete in Maniago (PN)
• Tactical Command and Support Department Ariete Pordenone (PN)

2001/2009

• 4th Tank Regiment in Bellinzago Novarese (NO) (since 2002 from the Centauro Mechanised Brigade)
• 32nd Tank Regiment in Tauriano di Spilimbergo (PN)
• 132nd Tank Regiment Cordenons (PN)
• 3rd Regiment Bersaglieri Milan (since 2002 from the Brigata Meccanizzata Centauro)
• 11th Regiment Bersaglieri in Orcenico Superiore (PN)
• 132nd Land Artillery Regiment (Self-propelled) Ariete in Maniago (PN)
• 10th Engineer Guastatori Regiment, Cremona
• Logistics Battalion Ariete in Maniago (PN)
• Tactical Command and Support Department Ariete Pordenone (PN)

2009/2013

• 4th Bellinzago Novarese Tank Regiment
• 32nd Tauriano Tank Regiment of Spilimbergo
• 132nd Cordenons Tank Regiment
• 11th Bersaglieri Regiment Orcenico Superiore
• 132nd Land Artillery Regiment (self-propelled) 'Ariete' in Maniago
• 10th Engineer Engineer Regiment Cremona
• Logistics Battalion 'Ariete' in Maniago
• Tactical Command and Support Department Ariete Pordenone (PN)
• 8th Transport Regiment Remanzacco (UD)

2013 to date

• 32nd Tauriano Tank Regiment of Spilimbergo
• 132nd Cordenons Tank Regiment
• 11th Bersaglieri Regiment Orcenico Superiore
• 132nd Land Artillery Regiment 'Ariete' (self-propelled) Maniago
• 5th Regiment 'Lancieri di Novara' in Codroipo (UD)
• 10th Engineer Engineer Regiment Cremona
• Logistics Regiment 'Ariete' in Maniago
• Tactical Command and Support Department Ariete Pordenone (PN)

Heraldic description of the coat of arms

The coat of arms of the 'Ariete' is: 'Trimmed in blue and red, the torn ram's head crossing in gold'.

Honours

In total, the combat flags and banners of the Great Unit's units are decorated with 5 gold medals for military valour, 6 silver medals for military valour, 5 bronze medals for military valour, 2 war crosses for military valour and 3 bronze medals for army valour.

On 6 May 2000, the 'Ariete' Brigade was also awarded honorary citizenship of Pordenone.

Commanders

Division Ariete

1939 - 1940 Gen. D. Carlo VECCHIARELLI
1940 - 1941 Gen. D. Ettore BALDASSARRE
1941 - 1942 Gen. D. Mario BALLOTTA
1942 - 1942 Gen. D. Giuseppe DE STEFANIS
1942 - 1942 Gen. D. Adolfo INFANTE
1942 - 1942 Gen. D. Alfredo ARENA
1939 - 1940 Gen. D. Carlo VECCHIARELLI
1940 - 1941 Gen. D. Ettore BALDASSARRE
1941 - 1942 Gen. D. Mario BALLOTTA
1942 - 1942 Gen. D. Giuseppe DE STEFANIS
1942 - 1942 Gen. D. Adolfo INFANTE
1942 - 1942 Gen. D. Alfredo ARENA
1943 - 1948 Gen. D. Raffaele CADORNA

Brigade Ariete

1948 - 1950 Gen. Giorgio LIUZZI
1950 - 1951 Gen. Tommaso LEQUIO
1951 - 1952 Gen. Giuseppe BERTI
1952 - 1952 Gen. Luigi DE MICHELI

Division Ariete

1952 - 1953 Gen. Attilio BRUNO
1953 - 1955 Gen. Clement MENZIO
1955 - 1956 Gen. Guido BOSCHETTI
1956 - 1958 Gen. Ugo BIZZARRI
1958 - 1959 Gen. Ugo CENTOFANTI ARENA
1959 - 1959 Gen. Paolo GASPARI
1960 - 1961 Gen. Gianfilippo CANGINI
1961 - 1963 Gen. Goffredo FIORE
1963 - 1965 Gen. Cirino RUBINO
1965 - 1966 Gen. Vittorio LA ROSA
1966 - 1967 Gen. Camillo CACCIO
1967 - 1968 Gen. Andrea CUCINO
1968 - 1969 Gen. Giovanni GEMME
1969 - 1970 Gen. Vincenzo LEONELLI
1970 - 1972 Gen. Ugo Giangiorno BARBASETTI OF PRUN
1972 - 1973 Gen. Marcello FLORIANI
1973 - 1974 Gen. Luciano FORTUNATO
1974 - 1975 Gen. Emilio LO CICERO
1975 - 1976 Gen. Nicola CHIARI
1976 - 1977 Gen. Giuseppe PIOVANO
1977 - 1979 Gen. Riccardo BISOGNIERO
1979 - 1980 Gen. Enrico REPOLE
1980 - 1981 Gen. Gianfranco FAROTTI
1981 - 1982 Gen. Giuseppe D'AMBROSIO
1982 - 1984 Gen. Francesco DE VITA
1984 - 1985 Gen. Pietro GIANNATTASIO

Brigade Ariete

1985 -1986 Gen. Benedetto SPINELLI
1986 - 1988 Gen. Mario VENTRUTO
1988 - 1990 Gen. Antonio TOMASICCHIO
1990 - 1991 Gen. Gianalfonso D'AVOSSA
1991 - 1993 Gen. B. Francesco OTTI
1993 - 1994 Gen. Cosimo D'ARRIGO
1994 - 1995 Gen. Gaetano ROMEO
1995 - 1997 Gen. B. Salvatore CARRARA
1997 - 1999 Gen. B. Giuseppe VALOTTO
1999 - 2000 Gen. Joseph E. GAY
2000 - 2001 Gen. Massimo DE MAGGIO
2001 - 2002 Gen. Mauro MOSCATELLI
2002 - 2003 Gen. Walter LAVALLE
2003 - 2004 Gen. Gian Marco CHIARINI
2004 - 2006 Gen. Roberto RANUCCI
2006 - 2008 Gen. Paolo RUGGIERO
2008 - 2009 Gen. Carmelo DE CICCO
2009 - 2011 Gen. Salvatore CAMPOREALE
2011 - 2013 Gen. Gaetano ZAUNER
2013 - 2015 Gen. Fabio POLLI
2015 - 2016 Gen. Antonello VESPAZIANI
2016 - 2018 Gen. Angelo Michele RISTUCCIA
2018 - 2020 Gen. Enrico Barduani
2020 - 2022 Gen. Roberto Banci
2022 - 2024 Gen. Marco Longo
2024 - in office Gen. Domenico Leotta