Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" (12th)

Four days after the people of Milan had driven the Austrian Imperial Army out of the city during the Five Days of Milan, the Provisional Government of Milan raised two cavalry regiments: Lombard Chevau-légers Regiment (Italian: Reggimento di Cavalleggeri Lombardi) and the Lombard Dragoons Regiment (Italian: Reggimento di Dragoni Lombardi). On 5 September of the same year both regiments were integrated in the Royal Sardinian Army of the Kingdom of Sardinia to fight in the First Italian War of Independence. On 15 March 1849 the two regiments were merged as 7th Regiment of Cavalry and on 3 January 1850 the regiment was renamed Regiment Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo (Italian: Reggimento Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo.[3]

During the Crimean War the regiment's 1st Squadron distinguished itself at the Battle of the Chernaya. During the Second Italian War of Independence the regiment fought at San Martino and during the Third Italian War of Independence at Battle of Custoza (1866). During World War I the regiment earned a Silver Medal of Military Valour during the Battle of Istrago. During World War II the regiment was part of the 1st Fast Division "Eugenio di Savoia" and served in occupied Yugoslavia, where it dissolved around 8 September 1943 after Italy had changed sides with the Armistice of Cassibile.[3]

On 16 September 1964 the Italian Army split the Regiment "Lancieri di Aosta" (6th) in two reconnaissance squadron groups, with the II Squadrons Group in Reggio Emilia receiving the name Squadrons Group "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo". The group moved to Gradisca d'Isonzo in Friuli Venezia Giulia to join the Infantry Division "Folgore" as the division's reconnaissance unit. During the 1975 army reform the Squadrons Group "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" received the number, war flag, and traditions of the Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" (12th) and moved to the city of Gorizia. Equipped with Fiat Campagnola reconnaissance vehicles and M47 Patton tanks the squadrons group continued in the role of the Folgore's divisional reconnaissance unit.[3]

When the Italian Army disbanded the divisional level in 1986 the "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" squadrons group was equipped with VCC-2 armoured personnel carriers and renamed 12th Mechanized Squadrons Group "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo". The squadrons group then joined the Mechanized Brigade "Vittorio Veneto".[3]

After the end of the Cold War the Italian Army began to draw down its forces and the Vittorio Veneto was one of the first brigades to disband. On 31 January 1991 the Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo were disbanded and its war flag transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.[3]

• Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto"