5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Euganeo"

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Euganeo"
5° Battaglione Logistico di Manovra "Euganeo"
Battalion coat of arms
Active1 Feb. 1976 — 31 Oct. 1996
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
RoleMilitary logistics
Part of5th Army Corps
Garrison/HQTreviso
Motto(s)"Operoso e audace"
Anniversaries22 May 1916 - Battle of Asiago
Decorations
1x Bronze Cross of Army Merit[1]
Insignia
Unit gorget patches

The 5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Euganeo" (Italian: 5° Battaglione Logistico di Manovra "Euganeo") is an inactive logistics unit of the Italian Army. The battalion was formed in 1976 as Logistic Battalion "Folgore" and assigned to the Mechanized Division "Folgore". After the division was disbanded in 1986 the battalion was reorganized as a corps logistic battalion, renamed 5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Euganeo" and assigned to the 5th Army Corps. The battalion was disbanded in 1996.[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]

History[edit]

The battalion is the spiritual successor of the logistic units of the Royal Italian Army's 184th Paratroopers Division "Nembo", which was formed on 15 November 1942 in Pisa. After the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 the division joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army's Italian Liberation Corps and entered combat against German forces on 31 May 1944. In September 1944 the division's remaining personnel was used to form the Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo" and the support units of the newly activated Combat Group "Folgore", which continued to fight in the Italian campaign.[2]

On 15 October 1945 the combat group was reorganized as Infantry Division "Folgore". On 1 November 1956 the logistic units of the division were assigned to the newly formed Service Units Command "Folgore" in Treviso. The command consisted of a medical section, a provisions section, a mobile vehicle park, a mobile workshop, a auto unit, and the 7th Field Hospital. On 1 December 1961 the mobile vehicle park, mobile workshop, and the light workshops of the division's regiments were merged to form the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Folgore".[2]

On 1 January 1972 the Service Units Command "Folgore" in Udine was reorganized as Services Grouping Command "Folgore" with a command, the Auto Unit "Folgore", the Provisions Company "Folgore", the Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Folgore", and the Medical Battalion "Folgore", which consisted of the 7th Field Hospital and a medical company.[2]

Logistic Battalion "Folgore"[edit]

As part of the 1975 army reform the units of the Infantry Division "Folgore" were reorganized and on 1 February 1976 the division's services grouping command in Treviso was reduced to Logistic Battalion "Folgore", which received all the traditions of the preceding logistic, transport, medical, maintenance, and supply units of the Nembo and Folgore units.[2] 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 472 men (21 officers, 66 non-commissioned officers, and 385 soldiers).[4]

On 12 November 1976 the battalion was granted a flag by decree 846 of the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone.[2][5]

On 1 December 1981 the battalion was reorganized and renamed Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Folgore". It consisted now of the following units:[2]

  • Battalion Command, in Treviso[2]
    • Command and Services Company
    • Supply Company
    • Maintenance Company
    • Medium Transport Company
    • Mixed Transport Company

In 1986 the Italian Army abolished the divisional level and brigades, which until then had been under one of the Army's four divisions, came under direct command of the Army's 3rd Army Corps or 5th Army Corps. On 31 October 1986 the Mechanized Division "Folgore" was disbanded and the next day the Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Folgore" was assigned to the Support Units Command of the 5th Army Corps. On the same date, 1 November 1986, the battalion the was renamed 5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Euganeo", and the traditions of the preceding Nembo and Folgore logistic units were transferred to the Paratroopers Logistic Battalion "Folgore" of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". As per army naming convention for logistic units supporting corps-level commands the 5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Euganeo" was named for a geographic feature in the corps' area of operations; in case of the 5th battalion for the Euganean Hills.[2]

From 1 September 1991 to 3 December 1993 the battalion supported the logistic center and medical point in Durrës in Albania operated by the 8th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Carso" and the logistic center and medical point in Vlorë in Albania operated by the Logistic Battalion "Acqui". For its conduct and work in Albania the battalion was awarded a Bronze Cross of Army Merit, which was affixed to the battalion's flag.[1][2] At the same time the battalion also incorporated the 51st Medical Unit (Reserve).[2]

On 31 October 1996 the 5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Euganeo" and the 14th Transport Battalion "Flavia" in Montorio Veronese were disbanded. The next day the personnel and materiel of the two battalions were used to from the 14th Military Region Logistic Unit "Flavia" in Montorio Veronese, while on 13 November of the same year the flag of the 5th Maneuver Logistic Battalion "Euganeo" was transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Bandiera del 5° Battaglione Logistico di Manovra "Euganeo"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo II. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 361.
  3. ^ "Arma dei Trasporti e Materiali - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  4. ^ 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. 1188.
  5. ^ "Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 12 novembre 1976, n. 846". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 24 November 2023.