The 'Savoia Cavalry' Regiment (3rd) is one of the oldest and most glorious units of theItalian Army Cavalry Corps.
Since 2013, the regiment has been part of the 'Folgore' parachute brigade, of which it is the scouting unit. It is stationed in Grosseto.
He took part in numerous military campaigns over the centuries, serving the Duchy of Savoy, the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Kingdom of Italy and the current Italian Republic.
Within the 1st Squadron Group there is the 1st Parachute Explorers Squadron, Special Operations Coronation (COS) units with insertion capability HALO/HAHO in which the Joint Force Command for Special Forces Operations (COFS), in the event of even partial lack of special operations forces, can make use in mission planning of special forces as a scout unit.
History
By decree of 23 July 1692, in Duchy of Savoy, two different regiments were formed from the dissolved Gens d'Armes Brigade of Piedmont, one of which was first named Mombrison and then None, after the commanders.
In the same year it took the name 'Savoia Cavalry', from the region where the knights were recruited, out of nine companies. In the two-year period 1692 - 1693 fought against the French in Piedmont and the Dauphiné. It was disbanded in 1699, but quickly reconstituted in the 1701.
The regiment took part in all the wars of independence of the Risorgimento. During the First War of Independence (1848-1849) took part in the Battle of Pastrengo (30 April 1848), protecting the right flank of the Sardinian deployment, and the subsequent Battle of Goito (30 May 1848), where he contributed, in particular with the Aosta Cavalry, to repel the Austrian attempt to outflank the Sardinian forces. He participated, after the resumption of hostilities, in the ill-fated battle of Novara (23 March 1849) that effectively ended the war.
In 1859 It participated in the Second War of Independence mainly with reserve duties and protection of the flanks of the army. On 19 October 1859 it received the name 'Corazzieri di Savoia'. It changed its name again to: Regiment "Savoy Cavalry" on 6 June 1860.
During the World War I (1915-1918), the regiment initially only employed its own machine-gun sections (the 1497th machine-gun company) on the Isonzo front. In August 1916 it received orders, together with the entire 3rd Cavalry Division, to target the Aidussina basin as part of the operations for the conquest of Gorizia. In the period October - November 1917, after the tragic days of Caporetto, It protected the retreat of infantry units and contributed greatly to delaying the advance of the German and Austro-Hungarian troops.
One year later, the 30 October 1918, the regiment, in the final stages of the battle of Vittorio Veneto, he launched himself in pursuit of the routed enemy troops: he passed the Piave, Livenza and Tagliamento rivers, pushing towards San Martino di Campagna and Sedrano and capturing entire Austro-Hungarian divisions engaged in hard rearguard fighting.
The 3 November 1918 a patrol of the Savoy Cavalry, led by Lieutenant Carlo Baragiola, entered Udine, while the following day, the day of the armistice that ended the Great War for Italy, a section of the regiment arrived at Caporetto.
Becomes Regiment "Savoy Cavalry (3rd) on 20 April 1920. From 1920 'Savoy Cavalry was made custodian of the traditions of the disbanded 'Lancieri di Vercelli' Regiment. In 1933 adopts the characteristic red tie in place of the red piping on the black lapel of the jacket.
During the World War II, the regiment fought with great courage and skill.
On the Russian front, the Savoy Cavalry distinguished itself in the famous Charge of Izbušensky, which took place on 24 August 1942.
The regiment was heavily decimated during the retreat of Italian units from the Soviet Union, and only a small nucleus managed to return to Italy. Among the quadrupeds in force at Savoia Cavalry during the Russian campaign was also Albino, the horse that became famous in the post-war period and that still today is preserved embalmed in the regimental memorabilia room.
After the war, the 'Savoia Cavalry' was involved in various peacekeeping missions and international operations.
The 'Savoia Cavalry' plays a key role within the 'Folgore' Brigade, providing cavalry support and playing an important role in combat operations. The brigade as a whole is trained to be highly mobile and rapidly deployable, crucial characteristics for a paratrooper unit.
Current organisation
With the reorganisation of the 'projection forces', in 2013 he was placed in the Folgore' Parachute Brigade, of which it is the scout unit, with airborne capability.
Since then, as evidence of the organic transformation of the unit (which now retains a residual armoured capacity), the amaranth beret typical of airborne units has been ordered for the regiment's personnel, replacing the black beret historically assigned to armoured units.
As a result of this measure, however, the regiment retains armoured capacity.
Throughout its history, the regiment was granted, in addition to the gold medal for the office of Isbuscensky, two other military valour awards, a bronze medal for the liberation of Udine at the end of the First World War in November 1918 e another bronze medal for operations during the Russian campaign from August 1941 to May 1942.
The regimental holiday falls on 24 August, anniversary of the office of Jsbuschenskij (1942).
Current structure:
- Regimental Command
- Command Squadron
- Squadron Group consisting of:
- 1st Explorer Squadron 'Abba' LRSU (Long Reconnaissance Surveillance Unit)
- 2nd Expeditionary Squadron 'Mark'
- 3rd Expeditionary Squadron 'De Leone'
- 4th Heavy Blindos 'Manusardi' Squadron
Designations
- 17th Century - 23.07.1692: Gens d'Armes Brigade from Piedmont
- 23.07.1692 - 00.00.1692: 'Mombrison' Cavalry Regiment
- 00.00.1692 - 00.00.1692: 'None' Cavalry Regiment
- 00.00.1692 - 00.00.1699: 'Savoy Cavalry' Regiment
- 00.00.1701 - 09.12.1798: 'Savoy Cavalry' Regiment
- 09.12.1798 - 00.01.1799: 6th Cavalry Regiment
- 01.01.1815 - 03.01.1832: 'Cavalry of Savoy' Regiment
- 03.01.1832 - 19.10.1859: 'Savoy Cavalry' Regiment
- 19.10.1859 - 06.06.1860: 'Corazzieri di Savoia' Regiment
- 06.06.1860 - 10.09.1871: Savoy Cavalry" Regiment
- 10.09.1871 - 05.11.1876: 3rd Cavalry Regiment (Savoy)
- 05.11.1876 - 20.04.1920: Cavalry Regiment 'Savoy' (3rd)
- 20.04.1920 - 00.06.1946: 'Savoy Cavalry' Regiment (3rd)
- 10.09.1946 - 00.00.1948: Exploring Group 3rd Knights
- 00.00.1948 - 15.04.1950: 3rd Armoured Cavalry Group 'Gorizia Cavalry'.
- 15.04.1950 - 04.11.1958: 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment 'Gorizia Cavalry
- 04.11.1958 - 11.10.1975: 'Savoia Cavalry' Regiment (3rd)
- 11.10.1975 - 23.05.1992: 3rd Armoured Squadron Group 'Savoia Cavalry
- 23.05.1992 - to date: 'Savoia Cavalry' Regiment (3rd)
Honours to the Standard
Bronze Medal for Military Valour
In the Battle of the Redemption (October-November 1918), while the bulk of the army was fighting on the Tagliamento, units of the regiment daringly entered Udine, still occupied by enemy forces, bringing the first announcement of liberation.
Udine - Natisone Valley, 1-4 November 1918
Bronze Medal for Military Valour
During a long cycle of warfare operations, even in the harshest and most uncertain situations due to the insidiousness of the environment and logistical and climatic adversities, with the pride of its ancient name it waved its old banner victoriously, imposing its aggressiveness and courage on the enemy everywhere. After chasing strong adversary rearguards for two hundred and fifty kilometres, he gave new proof of his skill and impetuosity in the occupation of an important mining town strongly defended by his adversaries.
Russian front: Nipro, Stalino, Kriwojtorez, Pantelejmonowka, Orlowka - August 1941 - May 1942
Gold Medal for Military Valour
Hardened to every daring and sacrifice, during offensive operations for the conquest of important industrial and mining regions, he performed heavy, complex and delicate missions with undiminished dedication and unaltered courage, flanking large units engaged in the pursuit of significant and aggressive enemy rearguards. When the battle against the enemy suddenly flared up and, with the power of the number of his vehicles, the enemy was eagerly bursting onto the southern bank of the Don, he swooped down with lightning dexterity on the enemy columns, whose stubbornness he repeatedly subdued, foiling their traps and contributing, with rare skill and masculine recklessness, to the effective development of the arrest manoeuvre. Suddenly confronted by two adversary battalions during the risky and profound exploration, he contained the impact with the valour of his dismounted units and, venturing into the flank of the aggressors with his archers, he crushed their belligerent resistance, restoring to the fight, with the impetus of the victorious charges, the fascination of the chivalrous era and illustrating his name on a par with the splendour of the Risorgimento and its age-old traditions.
Russian Front: Krasnj-Lutsch mining basin, July 1942; Simowskij, altitude 200.1, altitude 236.7, altitude 209.9 of Val Krisaja, Jbuschensij Ridge, Bachmutin, altitude 226.7 of Jagodnij, 21-30 August 1942
Army Bronze Cross of Merit
Cavalry regiment deployed in Lebanon as a tactical manoeuvre group called 'ITALBATT 2', distinguished itself during almost eight months in theatre for its commendable abnegation, extraordinary spirit of sacrifice, superhuman commitment and courage. Responsible for the control and security of one of the most sensitive stretches of the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, he operated with admirable tenacity and unquestionable professionalism, always ensuring a capillary and effective presence, even in a context of rapidly deteriorating political and institutional profiles. Men and women of the 'Savoia', aware of the important task to be performed, of the dangers and difficulties of the mission, conducted every activity assigned to them with the utmost determination. Eager to live up to their reputations, they displayed conscious courage, high military virtues and contributed decisively to the success of the operations, enhancing Italy's presidium in the international context.
Al Mansouri/Zibquin - Lebanon, 2 October 2007 - 24 May 2008
