3rd Bersaglieri Regiment
3° Reggimento bersaglieri
Regimental coat of arms
Active	16 April 1861 - today
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Part of	Mechanized Brigade "Sassari"
Garrison/HQ	Teulada
Motto(s)	"Maiora viribus audere"
Anniversaries	18 June 1836
Decorations	2x Military Order of Italy 3x Gold Medals of Military Valor [1] [2] [3] 3x Silver Medals of Military Valor 3x Bronze Medals of Military Valor 1x Silver Medal of Army Valor [4] 1x Bronze Medal of Civil Merit 1x Silver Cross of Army Merit [5] [6] [7]
Insignia
Bersaglieri gorget patches

The 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment ( Italian: 3° Reggimento Bersaglieri) is an active unit of the Italian Army based in Teulada in Sardinia. The regiment is part of the army's infantry corps' Bersaglieri speciality and operationally assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Sassari". The regiment is the highest decorated unit of the Italian Army with three Gold Medals of Military Valor. ^[8] The regiment was formed in 1861 by the Royal Italian Army with preexisting battalions. During World War I the regiment served on the Italian front. ^{[9] [10]}

During World War II the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta", with which it served in the Italian campaign in Ukraine and Russia. In winter 1942-43 the regiment suffered heavy casualties during the Soviet Little Saturn and Voronezh–Kharkov offensives. For its valor and sacrifice in the Soviet Union the regiment was awarded two Gold Medals of Military Valor. ^{[2] [3] [6] [9] [10]} In 1946 the regiment was reformed and in 1951 it was assigned to the Armored Brigade "Centauro". In 1975 the regiment was disbanded and its flag and traditions assigned to the 18th Bersaglieri Battalion "Poggio Scanno". The regiment was reformed in 1992. In 2009 the regiment moved to Sardinia, where it was assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Sassari". The regiment's anniversary falls, as for all Bersaglieri units, on 18 June 1836, the day the Bersaglieri speciality was founded. ^{[8] [9] [10]}

History

On 16 April 1861 the 3rd Army Corps Bersaglieri Command was formed in Modena. The command had purely administrative functions and consisted of the preexisting III, V, XVIII, XX, XXIII, and XXV battalions, and a depot battalion. On 31 December 1861 the command was renamed 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment, but continued to exert only administrative functions. On 18 December 1864 the Bersaglieri regiments were reduced from six to five and consequently the 4th Bersaglieri Regiment was disbanded and its XII Battalion transferred to the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment. In 1865 the regiment formed the XXXVIII Battalion and now consisted of eight battalions. In 1866, in preparation for the Third Italian War of Independence, the regiment formed the XLVIII Battalion, which was disbanded in December 1870. ^{[9] [10]}

On 1 January 1871 the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was reorganized as an operational regiment with the XVIII Battalion, XX Battalion, XXV Battalion, and XXXVIII Battalion, while the III Battalion, V Battalion, XII Battalion, and XXIII Battalion were transferred to the newly formed 8th Bersaglieri Regiment. The four remaining battalions were renumbered as I, II, III, and IV battalion. On 16 September 1883 the IV Battalion was disbanded. On 18 June 1886, all Bersaglieri battalions resumed their original numbering and afterwards the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment consisted of the XVIII Battalion, XX Battalion, and XXV Battalion. ^{[9] [10]}

On 15 April 1860 the Royal Sardinian Army formed the XVIII Battalion with volunteers drawn from militia units of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which had fought in the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859. In 1860 the XX and XXV battalions were formed. The three battalions participated in the Sardinian campaign in central and southern Italy, during which the XXV Battalion distinguished itself in the Siege of Ancona. For its conduct at Ancona the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms, when the battalion joined the regiment. In 1862 the XXV Battalion participated in the Battle of Aspromonte against Giuseppe Garibaldi's Redshirts, which were marching to occupy Rome. For stopping Garibaldi's volunteers the XXV Battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms, when the battalion joined the regiment. ^{[6] [9] [10]}

In 1866 the battalions participated in the Third Italian War of Independence, during which the XXV Battalion distinguished itself in the Battle of Borgo and the Battle of Levico. For its conduct at Borgo and Levico the battalion was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms. In September 1870 the XX Battalion participated in the capture of Rome. In 1895-96 the regiment provided 11 officers and 256 troops to help form the I, III, IV, and V provisional battalions, which were deployed to Eritrea for the First Italo-Ethiopian War. On 1 October 1910 the regiment's depot in Livorno formed the III Cyclists Battalion. In 1911, the regiment provided 26 officers and 1,279 troops to augment units fighting in the Italo-Turkish War. ^{[6] [9] [10]}

World War I

During the first part of the Italian participation in World War I, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was involved into the White War. On 23 May 1915, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was mobilised and deployed as part of the covering forces of the IX Army Corps guarding San Pellegrino Pass, Travignolo Valley, Avisio river, Cordevole Valley, and Fiorentina Valley. ^[11]

In late June, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment deployed in Cencenighe Agordino and on 8 July attacked Col di Lana together the 59th Infantry Regiment. After being forced to retreat, on 11 July the Italian attacks were renewed and managed some positions. On 17 July, Italian forces conquered the enemy first line. The Regiment was placed to defend rocky ridges of the Fanes Group. ^[11]

In early August 1915, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was placed under the "Torino" Brigade, while remaining in the same area until autumn. Between 18 October and early November, the 17th Division attacked the Austro-Hungaric lines performing some advances but suffering significant losses. In this operation alone, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment suffered the loss of 29 officers and 536 troops. ^[11]

On 1 December 1915, the Regiment reunited from different deployments in Selva di Cadore. On 15 December, the Regimental Command and the XXV Bersaglieri Battalion moved to Caprile, the XVIII Bersaglieri Battalion was sent to the first line in Livinallongo, while the XX Bersaglieri Battalion remained in Selva di Cadore. ^[12]

Between April and May 1916, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment attacked and occupied the Col di Lana, while from August to December 1916 was deployed to defend the Marmolada. ^[11]

Until early July 1917 the Regiment occupied the usual positions. On 12 July the Regiment took over the defence of the San Pellegrino Pass sector, until August. On 21 September 1917, the Regiment was in the Costabella-Cirelle area. On 4 November, following the Battle of Caporetto, the Regiment began the retreat to the bottom of the San Pellegrino Valley. On 10 November, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment camped near the Zurloi house for accessory defensive work. ^[11]

On 16 November, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was placed under the Brigade "Basilicata" to defend the front in the Pederobba area. Once the enemy attack began in the area between the Piave and Montenera, there were continuous changes of front and heroic actions by the Italian defence units. Having stopped the enemy, on 22 November the 3rd Regiment deployed from Castella and San Sebastiano to the Pederobba station. The resistance on the Piave and Montenera caused the loss of 37 officers and 907 men. ^[11]

In early December the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment reached Bassano del Grappa. The fourth year of the war found the 3rd Regiment deployed on the Piave, intent on strengthening its positions. ^[11]

On 23 March it moved to Marostica, from where on 14 June it moved to Val Ceccone in anticipation of the enemy offensive. On 15 June 1918, the Austrians attacked and occupied our positions at Col d'Eclele and in Val Bella. The Regiment launched an unsuccessful assault on the Costalunga redoubt. Between 17 and 19 June 1918 the troops attempted the operation again, this time occupying the entire position and forcing the enemy to flee. 26 officers and 509 enlisted men died in the operation. ^[11]

On 4 July 1918 the Regiment was transferred to Val di Bella, where it strengthened the defences. On 27 July 1918 the Regiment moved to Carbonara to form the VII Bersaglieri Brigade, together with the 2nd Bersaglieri Regiment. ^[11]

1919 - 1939

In 1924, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was transformed in a Cyclist Bersaglieri Regiment and the cadre Battalion was disbanded. Two years later, on 11 March 1926, the Regiment was reorganised: ^[13]

• Regimental Command;
• Depot;
• XVIII Bersaglieri Battalion;
• XX Bersaglieri Battalion.

In 1935, the XXV Bersaglieri Battalion was added. ^[9]

The 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment participated in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War with the XXV Machine Guns Battalion and the LXXXIII Reserve Battalion. ^[13]

World War II

In 1939, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was framed within the Celere Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta" (3rd).

The 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment consisted of: ^[13]

• Regimental Command;
• Regimental Command Company;
• XVIII Cyclist Battalion;
• XX Cyclist Battalion;
• XXV Cyclist Battalion;
• 83rd Reserves Battalion;
• 3rd Motorised-Armoured Company;
• 173rd Motorised-Armoured Company;
• 2nd Anti-tank Guns Company;
• 172nd Anti-tank Guns Company.

In July 1941, the Regiment occupied Spalato in the Balkans Campaign. On 24 July 1941, the Regiment departed from Bartolino, heading for the Soviet Union. ^[13]

The first armed encounter occurred on 5 September 1941 near the Dniepr. On 28 September, the Regiment entered the Battle of Petrikowka on the Don banks. In October 1941, the Regiment headed toward the Donetsk basin and conquering the bridgehead of Uspenovka. On 20 October, the Regiment entered Stalino, ahead of the 4th Mountain Division. ^[13]

Ten days later, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment seized Rykove, capturing war materials and prisoners of war. Between 11 and 12 November, the XX and the XVIII Bersaglieri Battalions rescued the 80th Infantry Regiment. In late November, the Regiment occupied defensive lines centred on the strongpoint of Petropavlovka, within the wider deplpyment of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia. On 25 December 1941, pressed by superior forces, it was forced to temporarily retreat. Few days later, the Regiment managed to reconquered the surrendered positions after a series of fierce counter-attacks. ^[13]

In May 1942, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment, within the whole Celere Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta" (3rd), performed a deep advance in the enemy territory. On 19 July 1942, the Regiment occupied Millerovo. On 29 July 1942, the Regiment reached the Don right bank in Serafimovich. ^[14] The following day, with a surprise night attack, the XX Battalion occupied Serafimovich, the XVIII Battalion occupied Belayevski, and the XXV Battalion entered Bobrovski.

On 23 August, after a brief respite, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was deployed in Jagodnji where, with the actual strength reduced to the 25% of the organic numbers, defended the Italian positions against Soviet counter-attacks. ^[14] On 2 November, the Regiment was withdrawn in order to allow it to being replenished. On 17 November, the Regiment returned on the Don right bank, in Meskov. On 19 December, after a fierce battle and after losing hundreds of troops, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was forced to retreat. ^[13]

After the Italian capitulation, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was dissolved. ^[9]

1946 - 1975

The 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was reestablished on 1 July 1946, including also the "Goito" Battalion. In 1967 the Regiment was moved in Milan where it was reorganised as mechanised infantry. In 1967 the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment consisted of: ^[14]

• Command Company;
• X Bersaglieri Battalion (mechanised infantry with M113 armoured personnel carriers);
• XVIII Bersaglieri Battalion (mechanised infantry with M113 armoured personnel carriers);
• IV Tank Battalion (with M47 Patton tanks)
• Anti-tank Company (with M40 recoilless rifles).

On 20 October 1975 the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was disestablished according to the 1975 Italian Army reforms. The Regimental Command was transformed into the 3rd Mechanised Brigade "Goito". The XVIII Battalion inherited regimental traditions and honours under the designation of 18th Bersaglieri Battalion "Poggio Scanno", within the 3rd Mechanised Brigade "Goito" and together the 10th Bersaglieri Battalion “Bezzecca”. ^[14]

1991 - present

The Regiment was experimentally reestablished as 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment "Goito". On 1 August 1992, the Regiment was renamed simply 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment. ^[14]

In 2002, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment was placed under the 132nd Armoured Brigade "Ariete" and, on 30 November 2009, the Regiment replaced the 1st Armoured Regiment in Teluada.

Organization

As of 2024 the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment consists of:

The regiment is equipped with VTLM Lince vehicles and Freccia wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. The Maneuver Support Company is equipped with 120mm mortars and Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles.

See also

• Bersaglieri

External links

• Italian Army Website: 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment

References