Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th)

The Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th) (Italian: Reggimento "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15°) - "Chevau-légers of Lodi") is a cavalry regiment of the Italian Army based in Lecce in Apulia. Today the regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo".[3]

Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th)
Reggimento "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15°)
Regimental coat of arms
Active16 September 1859 - 20 May 1920
15 February 1942 - 13 May 1943
1 January 1952 - 31 October 1995
10 January 2020 - today[1][2]
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
Part ofMechanized Brigade "Pinerolo"
Garrison/HQLecce
Motto(s)"Lodi s'immola"[1]
Anniversaries26 October 1911 - Battle of Bu Meliana[1]
Decorations
3x Silver Medals of Military Valour
1x Bronze Medal of Civil Valour[1]
Insignia
"Cavalleggeri di Lodi" gorget patches

History

The regiment was raised on 16 September 1859. It earned its first of three Silver Medals of Military Valour at the Battle of Bu Meliana during the Italo-Turkish War, and the second two years later, when the regiment charged Libyan rebels at Monterus Nero. During World War I the regiment initially served on the Italian Front before being sent to Macedonian front in 1916. In July 1918 the regiment was sent to the Western Front in France and fought at Reims, Chemin des Dames, Sissonne, and on the Meuse. After the war the regiment was disbanded on 20 May 1920.[4]

On 15 February 1942 a reconnaissance group was raised in Pinerolo, which received the name "Cavalleggeri di Lodi". On 20 November 1942 the group arrived in Tunisia to fight in the Tunisian campaign, where it distinguished itself at Gabès during the Battle of Wadi Akarit and Enfidha during Operation Strike, earning its third Silver Medal of Military Valour. The group surrendered with the rest of Army Group Africa on 13 May 1943.[4]

On 1 January 1952 the company-sized "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" Armored Cavalry Squadron was raised in Verona and equipped with M8 Greyhounds to serve as the reconnaissance unit of the Armored Division "Centauro". In 1956 the Cavalleggeri di Lodi were expanded to squadrons group and moved to Lenta in Piedmont. During the 1975 army reform the Squadrons Group "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" received the number, war flag, and traditions of the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th). Equipped with Fiat Campagnola reconnaissance vehicles and M47 Patton tanks the squadrons group continued in the role of the Cenatauro's divisional reconnaissance unit.[4]

When the Italian Army disbanded the divisional level in 1986 the "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" squadrons group was equipped with Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks and renamed 15th Tank Squadrons Group "Cavalleggeri di Lodi". The squadrons group then joined the Mechanized Brigade "Brescia".[4]

After the end of the Cold War the Italian Army began to draw down its forces and the Brescia was one of the first brigades to disband. On 27 July 1991 the brigade was deactivated along with most of its subordinate units and the Cavalleggeri di Lodi joined the 3rd Army Corps. On 6 September of the same year the squadrons group was renamed as Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th) without changing size. Around the same time the regiment began to replace its tracked Leopard 1A2 tanks with wheeled Centauro tank destroyers. On 31 October 1995 the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th) was disbanded and its war flag was transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.[4]

2020 reform

On 10 January 2020 the 31st Tank Regiment of the Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" was reformed as a reconnaissance unit and given the name, flag and traditions of the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th).[5]

Current structure

As of 2020 the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th) consists of:

  • Regimental Command, in Lecce
    • Command and Logistic Support Squadron
    • 1st Reconnaissance Squadrons Group
      • 1st Reconnaissance Squadron
      • 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron
      • 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron
      • Heavy Armor Squadron

The Command and Logistic Support Squadron fields the following platoons: C3 Platoon, Transport and Materiel Platoon, Medical Platoon, and Commissariat Platoon. The three reconnaissance squadrons are equipped with VTLM Lince vehicles and Centauro tank destroyers, the latter of which are scheduled to be replaced by Freccia reconnaissance vehicles. The Heavy Armor Squadron is equipped with Centauro tank destroyers, which are being replaced by Centauro II tank destroyers. With the introduction of the Freccia reconnaissance vehicles the reconnaissance squadrons will be reduced from three to two.

See also

References
  1. "Le Feste dei Reparti - Ottobre". Italian Army. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  2. Fortunato, Luciano (1997). Cavalleria. Rome: Italian Army - Rivista Militare. p. 38. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  3. "Reggimento "Lancieri di Aosta" (6°)". Italian Army. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  4. "Reggimento "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15°)". Museo Storico dell'Arma di Cavalleria. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  5. "A Lecce arriva il Reggimento "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15°)". Italian Army. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
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