Posted 31 October 2006 - 07:10 PM by Davide Pastore
If I understood it all correctly (the sources are a bit unclear) in 1936 there were twenty-four tank battalions: five with Fiat 3000 A or B (from June 1938: M.21 or M.30; from June 1940: L.5/21 or L.5/30 [see note #1]) and nineteen with L.3/33 or L.3/35 (and later L.3/38 ). The "heavy" ( :lol: !!) tanks were called "carri di rottura" (Breakthrough tanks), the lights "carri d'assalto" o "carri veloci". The battalions were named after a gold medal recipient. Seventeen were grouped into four tank rgts:
Fiat 3000, part of 1°-4° tank regiment:
- I R (3° rgt) => 1937: I/31°
- II R (4° rgt) => 1937: II/31°
- III R (2° rgt) => 1937: I/32°
- IV R (1° rgt) => 1937: II/32°
- V R (4° rgt)
L.3, part of 1°-4° tank regiment:
- I L (1° rgt) "Ribet"
- II L (1° rgt) "Berardi"
- III L (1° rgt) "Paselli"
- IV L (2° rgt) "Monti"
- V L (2° rgt) "Suarez", later "Venezian"
- VI L (3° rgt) "Lollini"
- VII L (3° rgt) "Vezzani"
- VIII L (4° rgt) "Bettoia"
- IX L (4° rgt) "Guagagni"
- X L (4° rgt) "Menziger"
- XI L (2° rgt) "Gregorutti"
- XII L (4° rgt) "Cangialosi"
L.3, non-regimented (many formed for the war against Ethiopia and/or for service in Libya):
- XX L "Randaccio"
- XXI L "Trombi"
- XXII L "Coralli"
- XXIII L "Stennio"
- XXIV L (name unknown)
- XXXI L "Cerboni"
- XXXII L "Battisti"
Note: The existence of two different series ("twenties" and "thirties") is intriguing, but its significance escapes me.
In 1937 two (I and II) armoured brigades were created (later to be expanded into 131ª Centauro and 132ª Ariete divisions). Their armoured units were 31° rgt (created ex novo) and 32° rgt (old 2° renamed), each with two R btns (by this time "medium", see above) plus one L btn (XXXI for 31°, an unknown one for 32°).
In 1939 the third armoured division (133ª Littorio) was created, with its 33° rgt receiving the old VI, XXII, XXIII and XXXII L btns. By this time Centauro's and Ariete's rgts had received a fourth (unknown) L btn. The three unknown btn listed above (fourth of 31°, third and fourth of 32°) were apparently (IMHO) the old III, VII and X L btns (maybe not in this order).
Addendum: according to Cappellano & Pignato, Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell'Esercito Italiano, page 363, III/32° was formed with the old XXI. However XXI was still present as an independent unit in 1940, so maybe this is a typo for XXIV. If so, one of the above three (III, VII, X) disappeared at some time.
All the divisional btns had been renumbered, while the others were not. The logic of this escapes me.
The final situation before the war was:
1° rgt, HQ Vercelli (North-Western Italy - later 1° Army reserve):
- I L "Ribet"
- II L "Berardi"
- IV L "Monti"
- CCCXXIII btn (ex V R) (name unknown) => 1940: transformed into III btn M (M.13/40) and apparently transferred to 32° rgt
3° rgt, HQ Bologna (North-Eastern Italy - later 4° Army reserve):
- V L "Venezian"
- XI L "Gregorutti"
4° rgt, HQ Roma (Southern Italy):
- VIII L "Bettoia" (Roma)
- XII L "Cangialosi" (Sicilia)
- XIII L (name unknown) (Sardegna, formed after war start)
31° rgt, HQ Siena (Centauro):
- I/31° (ex I R) => 1938: CCCXI btn "Raggi" (I/31° was re-raised with L.3 tanks)
- II/31° (ex II R) => 1938: CCCXII btn "Suarez" (II/31° was re-raised with L.3 tanks)
- III/31° (ex XXXI L "Cerboni")
- IV/31° (maybe ex III L "Paselli" ?)
Note: either the new I or II might have been the old XXIV L (trace lost).
32° rgt, HQ Verona (Ariete):
- I/32° (ex III R) => 1938: CCCXXI btn "Matter" (I/32° was re-raised as I M btn with M.11/39 tanks)
- II/32° (ex IV R) => 1938: CCCXXII btn "Prestinari" (II/32° was re-raised as II M btn with M.11/39 tanks)
- III/32° (maybe ex VII L "Vezzani" ?)
- IV/32° (maybe ex X L "Menziger" ?)
33° rgt, HQ Parma (Littorio):
- I/33° (ex VI L "Lollini")
- II/33° (ex XXII L "Coralli")
- III/33° (ex XXIII L "Stennio")
- IV/33° (ex XXXII L "Battisti")
Libya (outside any regiment):
- IX L "Guagagni"
- XX L "Randaccio"
- XXI L "Trombi"
Additionally in Libya: four "mobilization" btns (to be formed in war, tanks already in place):
- LX L (name unknown)
- LXI L ( " " )
- LXII L ( " " )
- LXIII L ( " " )
Note: Apparently these four btns paralled the 60ª-63ª infantry divisions stationed there since peacetime.
Each L.3 btn had 46 tanks [error, see next post]. Of the twenty-five L.3 btns listed above (plus some independent companies) just a handful were left in 1943 (XII, XIII, II/4°, II/31°, III/31°, II/33°). Many were destroyed in action (including all the ones in Libya) but many others simply "disappeared". Some of these might have been re-named and converted into one of the new M btns, but the only one I know for sure is XXI.
Each Fiat 3000 btn should have 37 tanks [error, see next post] but the vehicles were so aged that by 1939 each btn had just 2 coys x 7 tanks, and in 1940 the five btns so equipped were eventually reduced to five companies of 10 tanks each (the surplus personnel might have ended into the "re-raised" btns listed above). In 1940 1ª coy (ex CCCXI btn) was stationed in Albania, 3ª coy (ex CCCXII btn) in Aegean islands, the others three in metropolitan Italy on border guard duty. They were disbanded in late 1940, but in late 1942 1ª and 2ª were re-raised and employed in the defence of Sicilia (an act of real desperation).
Note that the above lists do not include the cavalry units.
[note #1] The A or 21 type had two MGs, the B or 30 type had a 37/40 gun.
Addendum: by 1939 there was no B or 30 left, since all the available guns had been taken to be installed on the first M.11/39 tanks
If I understood it all correctly (the sources are a bit unclear) in 1936 there were twenty-four tank battalions: five with Fiat 3000 A or B (from June 1938: M.21 or M.30; from June 1940: L.5/21 or L.5/30 [see note #1]) and nineteen with L.3/33 or L.3/35 (and later L.3/38 ). The "heavy" ( :lol: !!) tanks were called "carri di rottura" (Breakthrough tanks), the lights "carri d'assalto" o "carri veloci". The battalions were named after a gold medal recipient. Seventeen were grouped into four tank rgts:
Fiat 3000, part of 1°-4° tank regiment:
- I R (3° rgt) => 1937: I/31°
- II R (4° rgt) => 1937: II/31°
- III R (2° rgt) => 1937: I/32°
- IV R (1° rgt) => 1937: II/32°
- V R (4° rgt)
L.3, part of 1°-4° tank regiment:
- I L (1° rgt) "Ribet"
- II L (1° rgt) "Berardi"
- III L (1° rgt) "Paselli"
- IV L (2° rgt) "Monti"
- V L (2° rgt) "Suarez", later "Venezian"
- VI L (3° rgt) "Lollini"
- VII L (3° rgt) "Vezzani"
- VIII L (4° rgt) "Bettoia"
- IX L (4° rgt) "Guagagni"
- X L (4° rgt) "Menziger"
- XI L (2° rgt) "Gregorutti"
- XII L (4° rgt) "Cangialosi"
L.3, non-regimented (many formed for the war against Ethiopia and/or for service in Libya):
- XX L "Randaccio"
- XXI L "Trombi"
- XXII L "Coralli"
- XXIII L "Stennio"
- XXIV L (name unknown)
- XXXI L "Cerboni"
- XXXII L "Battisti"
Note: The existence of two different series ("twenties" and "thirties") is intriguing, but its significance escapes me.
In 1937 two (I and II) armoured brigades were created (later to be expanded into 131ª Centauro and 132ª Ariete divisions). Their armoured units were 31° rgt (created ex novo) and 32° rgt (old 2° renamed), each with two R btns (by this time "medium", see above) plus one L btn (XXXI for 31°, an unknown one for 32°).
In 1939 the third armoured division (133ª Littorio) was created, with its 33° rgt receiving the old VI, XXII, XXIII and XXXII L btns. By this time Centauro's and Ariete's rgts had received a fourth (unknown) L btn. The three unknown btn listed above (fourth of 31°, third and fourth of 32°) were apparently (IMHO) the old III, VII and X L btns (maybe not in this order).
Addendum: according to Cappellano & Pignato, Gli Autoveicoli da Combattimento dell'Esercito Italiano, page 363, III/32° was formed with the old XXI. However XXI was still present as an independent unit in 1940, so maybe this is a typo for XXIV. If so, one of the above three (III, VII, X) disappeared at some time.
All the divisional btns had been renumbered, while the others were not. The logic of this escapes me.
The final situation before the war was:
1° rgt, HQ Vercelli (North-Western Italy - later 1° Army reserve):
- I L "Ribet"
- II L "Berardi"
- IV L "Monti"
- CCCXXIII btn (ex V R) (name unknown) => 1940: transformed into III btn M (M.13/40) and apparently transferred to 32° rgt
3° rgt, HQ Bologna (North-Eastern Italy - later 4° Army reserve):
- V L "Venezian"
- XI L "Gregorutti"
4° rgt, HQ Roma (Southern Italy):
- VIII L "Bettoia" (Roma)
- XII L "Cangialosi" (Sicilia)
- XIII L (name unknown) (Sardegna, formed after war start)
31° rgt, HQ Siena (Centauro):
- I/31° (ex I R) => 1938: CCCXI btn "Raggi" (I/31° was re-raised with L.3 tanks)
- II/31° (ex II R) => 1938: CCCXII btn "Suarez" (II/31° was re-raised with L.3 tanks)
- III/31° (ex XXXI L "Cerboni")
- IV/31° (maybe ex III L "Paselli" ?)
Note: either the new I or II might have been the old XXIV L (trace lost).
32° rgt, HQ Verona (Ariete):
- I/32° (ex III R) => 1938: CCCXXI btn "Matter" (I/32° was re-raised as I M btn with M.11/39 tanks)
- II/32° (ex IV R) => 1938: CCCXXII btn "Prestinari" (II/32° was re-raised as II M btn with M.11/39 tanks)
- III/32° (maybe ex VII L "Vezzani" ?)
- IV/32° (maybe ex X L "Menziger" ?)
33° rgt, HQ Parma (Littorio):
- I/33° (ex VI L "Lollini")
- II/33° (ex XXII L "Coralli")
- III/33° (ex XXIII L "Stennio")
- IV/33° (ex XXXII L "Battisti")
Libya (outside any regiment):
- IX L "Guagagni"
- XX L "Randaccio"
- XXI L "Trombi"
Additionally in Libya: four "mobilization" btns (to be formed in war, tanks already in place):
- LX L (name unknown)
- LXI L ( " " )
- LXII L ( " " )
- LXIII L ( " " )
Note: Apparently these four btns paralled the 60ª-63ª infantry divisions stationed there since peacetime.
Each L.3 btn had 46 tanks [error, see next post]. Of the twenty-five L.3 btns listed above (plus some independent companies) just a handful were left in 1943 (XII, XIII, II/4°, II/31°, III/31°, II/33°). Many were destroyed in action (including all the ones in Libya) but many others simply "disappeared". Some of these might have been re-named and converted into one of the new M btns, but the only one I know for sure is XXI.
Each Fiat 3000 btn should have 37 tanks [error, see next post] but the vehicles were so aged that by 1939 each btn had just 2 coys x 7 tanks, and in 1940 the five btns so equipped were eventually reduced to five companies of 10 tanks each (the surplus personnel might have ended into the "re-raised" btns listed above). In 1940 1ª coy (ex CCCXI btn) was stationed in Albania, 3ª coy (ex CCCXII btn) in Aegean islands, the others three in metropolitan Italy on border guard duty. They were disbanded in late 1940, but in late 1942 1ª and 2ª were re-raised and employed in the defence of Sicilia (an act of real desperation).
Note that the above lists do not include the cavalry units.
[note #1] The A or 21 type had two MGs, the B or 30 type had a 37/40 gun.
Addendum: by 1939 there was no B or 30 left, since all the available guns had been taken to be installed on the first M.11/39 tanks