The 3rd Engineer Regiment (Italian: 3° Reggimento Genio Guastatori) is a military engineering regiment of the Italian Army based in Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment is the engineer unit of the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli". In 1926, the Royal Italian Army formed the 3rd Engineer Regiment in Lodi. During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and World War II the regiment's depot formed engineer battalions and smaller units, which deployed with divisions and corps to the fronts of the war. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the regiment was disbanded by invading German forces.[5][6][7]
| 3rd Engineer Regiment | |
|---|---|
| 3° Reggimento Genio Guastatori | |
 Regimental coat of arms | |
| Active | 1 Nov. 1926 — 8 Sept. 1943 1 April 1954 — today |
| Country |  Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Role | Combat engineers |
| Part of | Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" |
| Garrison/HQ | Udine |
| Motto(s) | "Arresto e distruggo" |
| Anniversaries | 24 June 1918 - Second Battle of the Piave River |
| Decorations |      1× Silver Medal of Military Valor 2× Bronze Medals of Military Valor 1× Silver Medal of Army Valor 1× Bronze Medal of Army Valor 1× Gold Cross of Army Merit[1][2][3][4] |
| Insignia | |
| Sappers gorget patches |  |
In 1954, the unit was reformed as 3rd Engineer Grouping and assigned to the V Army Corps. In 1955, the grouping was renamed 3rd Pioneers Fortification Regiment. In 1975, the regiment was disbanded and the regiment's XXXI Sappers Fortification Battalion became an autonomous unit, which was renamed 3rd Sappers Battalion "Verbano". After the regiment was disbanded, the flag and traditions of the 3rd Engineer Regiment were transferred to the 3rd Sappers Battalion "Verbano". The battalion was based in Udine and assigned to the 5th Army Corps's Engineer Command. In 1991, the battalion lost its autonomy and entered the reformed 3rd Engineer Regiment. In 2000, the 3rd Engineer Regiment was assigned to the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli".[5][7] The regiment's anniversary falls, as for all engineer units, on 24 June 1918, the last day of the Second Battle of the Piave River.[6]
History
editOn 1 November 1883, the Royal Italian Army formed the 3rd Engineer Regiment, which, on 1 November 1895, was renamed 3rd Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers). After the end of World War I the Royal Italian Army reorganized its forces and on 31 March 1920, the 3rd Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers) was disbanded. In 1975, the traditions of the 3rd Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers) were assigned to the 10th Signal Battalion "Lanciano", which in 1993 entered the 3rd Signal Regiment. Since then the traditions of the 3rd Engineer Regiment (Telegraphers) are perpetuated by the 3rd Signal Regiment.[7]
Interwar years
editOn 1 October 1922, the Royal Italian Army formed the 2nd Army Corps Engineer Grouping in Lodi. The grouping received a Sappers Battalion and a Telegraphers Battalion, which had been formed on 1 April 1920 for the III Army Corps. On the same date, 1 October 1922, the III Army Corps was renumbered as II Army Corps. The grouping also received a miners company from the disbanded Miners Engineer Regiment. After its formation the grouping consisted of a command, a sappers-miners battalion, a telegraphers battalion, which included three dovecotes located in Aosta, Brescia, and Milan, a photo-electricians company, and a depot. One of the companies the new regiment received had parti[7]
In 1923, the grouping moved from Lodi to Pavia. In 1926, the IIArmy Corps was renumbered as III Army Corps and consequently, on 1 November 1926, the grouping was renamed 3rd Engineer Regiment. During the same year the dovecote in Aosta was disbanded. The regiment's 1st Company had already been active during the Sardinian campaign in central and southern Italy, during which the company distinguished itself on 14 September 1860 in the capture of Perugia and was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor. Upon the arrival of the 3rd Engineer Regiment's flag, the company's Bronze Medal of Military Valor was affixed to the regiment's flag.[1][5][7] On 1 February 1931, the regiment formed a Miners-Cableway Battalion, which was transferred on 28 October 1932 to the newly formed 1st Miners Regiment in Novi Ligure. On the same date, the regiment received the II Radio-Telegraphers Battalion of the disbanded 2nd Radio-Telegraphers Regiment.[7][8]
On 1 October 1934, the regiment merged with the Engineer Arm's Complementary Officer Cadets School and was renamed 3rd Engineer School Regiment. On the same day, the regiment transferred the radio-telegraphers battalion to the 4th Engineer Regiment. Afterwards the regiment consisted of a command, a cadets battalion, a mixed engineer battalion (with sappers, engineer, cableway, and photo-electricians companies), a teleradio battalion, the two dovecotes, and a depot.[7]
In 1935, the regiment mobilized a water company, four water platoons, an engineer company for CC.NN. division, and a firefighters platoon for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. In January 1937, the telegraphers and radio-telegraphers battalions were renamed connections battalions. On 15 September 1937, the regiment was split and the 3rd Engineer Regiment and the Complementary Officer Cadets School of the Engineer Arm were both reformed as separate units. At the time, the 3rd Engineer Regiment consisted of a command, a sappers-engineer battalion, a connections battalion, a mixed engineer battalion for motorized division, two dovecotes, and a depot.[7]
World War II
editDuring World War II the regiment's depot in Pavia mobilized the following units:[7]
- Command of the 2nd Special Army Engineer Grouping
- II Army Mixed Engineer Battalion
- III Cableway Battalion
- IV Engineer Battalion
- VII Mixed Connections Battalion
- X Engineer Battalion
- XXXIII Mixed Engineer Battalion (for the 133rd Armored Division "Littorio")
- LII Mixed Engineer Battalion (for the 101st Motorized Division "Trieste")
- CXXXIV Mixed Engineer Battalion (for the 134th Armored Division "Emanuele Filiberto Testa di Ferro"; in June 1943 renamed CXXXV Mixed Engineer Battalion and assigned to the 135th Armored Cavalry Division "Ariete")
- 7th, 8th, 31st, and 37th mobile dovecotes
- and many smaller units
The 2nd Special Army Engineer Grouping fought in the Western Desert campaign and the following Tunisian campaign. In 1942, the grouping consisted of the IV and XV telegraphers battalions, VII and XI Marconisti battalions, and the dovecote center in Tripoli. On 13 May 1943, the grouping surrendered with the remaining Axis forces in Tunisia and was declared lost due to wartime events. The X Engineer Battalion fought in the Greco-Italian War, while the II Army Mixed Engineer Battalion and LII Mixed Engineer Battalion fought in the Western Desert campaign. The IV Engineer Battalion and VII Mixed Connections Battalion fought on the Eastern Front. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the CXXXV Mixed Engineer Battalion participated in the defense of Rome against invading German forces. In the evening of 10 September 1943, the Italian units defending Rome surrendered to the Germans. The regiment and its depot in Pavia were disbanded by German forces disbanded after the announcement of the Armistice.[7][5]
Cold War
editAt the beginning of the Cold War the Italian Army formed five pioneers fortification battalions, which were tasked with laying mine fields in front of the fortifications of the Alpine Wall fortifications that had been reactivated:[9]
- I Pioneers Fortification Battalion, in Casarsa della Delizia - V Army Corps Engineer Command, formed on 1 September 1950, moved to Orcenico Superiore in 1951[10]
- II Pioneers Fortification Battalion, in Conegliano - V Army Corps Engineer Command, formed on 1 May 1951[10]
- III Pioneers Fortification Battalion, in Latisana - V Army Corps Engineer Command, formed on 1 May 1951[10]
- IV Pioneers Fortification Battalion, in Bolzano - IV Army Corps Engineer Command, formed on 1 September 1953[10]
- V Pioneers Fortification Battalion, in Sterzing - IV Army Corps Engineer Command, formed on 20 January 1954[9]
On 1 April 1954 the 3rd Engineer Grouping was formed in Conegliano and assigned to the V Army Corps. The grouping took command of the I, II, and III Pioneers Fortification battalions. On 1 July 1954 also the V Pioneers Fortification Battalion moved to Orcenico Superiore and joined the grouping. In 1955 the grouping was renamed 3rd Pioneers Fortification Regiment and moved from Conegliano to Orcenico Superiore. At the time the regiment also fielded a mechanics-electricians company and a water company. On 31 March 1964 the V Pioneers Fortification Battalion and the two companies were disbanded. On 1 October 1972 the I Pioneers Fortification Battalion was disbanded.[10] On the same date the I and II battalions were renamed XXX respectively XXXI Sappers Fortification Battalion to commemorate the XXX Sappers Battalion and XXXI Sappers Battalion, which had distinguished themselves in World War II on the Eastern Front respectively during the Western Desert Campaign. Consequently, the regiment changed its name to 3rd Sappers Fortification Regiment.[7][5]
During the 1975 army reform the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were granted for the first time their own flags. During the reform engineer battalions were named for a lake, if they supported an corps-level command, or a river, if they supported a division or brigade. On 30 September 1975 the XXX Sappers Fortification Battalion was disbanded.[10] On 31 December 1975 the regiment itself was disbanded and the next day the XXXI Sappers Fortification Battalion was renamed 3rd Sappers Battalion "Verbano" and assigned the flag and traditions of the 3rd Engineer Regiment.[10][11] The battalion consisted of a command, a command and park company, and three sappers companies, which were numbered 30th, 31st, and 32nd. The battalion was assigned to the 3rd Army Corps' Engineer Command and fielded 830 men (35 officers, 97 non-commissioned officers, and 698 soldiers).[7][5][12]
For its conduct and work after the 1976 Friuli earthquake the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the battalion's flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms.[1][2][7] Due to the damage the battalion's base in Orcenico Superiore had suffered in the earthquake the battalion moved on 26 July 1976 to Udine.[7]
In 1988, the Command and Park Company split into the Command and Services Company and the Special Equipment Company. Afterwards the battalion consisted of the following units[7]
Recent times
editOn 31 August 1991, the 3rd Sappers Battalion "Verbano" lost its autonomy and the next day the battalion entered the reformed 3rd Sappers Regiment. On the same day, the flag and traditions of the 3rd Engineer Regiment were transferred from the battalion to the 3rd Sappers Regiment.[7][5]
On 1 December 2000, the 3rd Engineer Regiment joined the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli".[7][5]
Organization
edit
As of 2024 the 3rd Engineer Regiment is organized as follows:[13]
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "3° Reggimento Genio Guastatori - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ a b "3° Battaglione Genio Guastatori "Verbano"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "3° Reggimento Genio Guastatori". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "3° Reggimento Genio Guastatori "Verbano"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "3° Reggimento Genio Guastatori - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ a b "3° Reggimento Genio Guastatori". Italian Army. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo II. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 267.
- ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo II. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 313.
- ^ a b "Genio d'Arresto". Fanteria D'Arresto. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g F. dell'Uomo, R. Di Rosa (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Secondo - Tomo II. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. pp. 361–364.
- ^ "Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 12 novembre 1976, n. 846". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ Stefani, Filippo (1989). La storia della dottrina e degli ordinamenti dell'Esercito Italiano - Vol. III - Tomo 2°. Rome: Ufficio Storico - Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito. pp. 1184–1185.
- ^ a b "3° Reggimento Genio Guastatori". Ministero della Difesa. Retrieved 22 October 2024.