Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th)

The regiment was raised on 16 September 1859 in Voghera as Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Montebello" with a three squadrons transferred from the regiments "Cavalleggeri di Novara", "Cavalleggeri di Aosta", and "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato", which had all three distinguished themselves in the Battle of Montebello four months earlier, making the "Lancieri di Montebello" the only Italian Army cavalry regiment named after a battle.[4][1]

Already in 1860 the regimented changed from a Chevau-léger unit to a Lancer unit. During World War I the regiment served on the Italian Front and disbanded after the war on 20 May 1920. On 15 July 1942 a reconnaissance group was raised, which received the name "Lancieri di Montebello". After Italy changed sides with the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the group, together with the 12th Infantry Division "Sassari", 21st Infantry Division "Granatieri di Sardegna", and 135th Armored Division "Ariete II", defended Rome against Wehrmacht forces. On 16 September the Granatieri, Lancieri di Montebello, remnants of the Sassari and hundreds of civilians fell back to Porta San Paolo for a last stand. By 17:00 the Germans broke the line of the Italian defenders, who had suffered 570 dead. Soon after the units surrendered to the Germans as the flight of the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III from Rome had made further resistance senseless.[1]

For their role in the defence of the Rome the 1st Regiment "Granatieri di Sardegna" and the "Lancieri di Montebello" were each awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valour.[5][6]

On 1 January 1950 the Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Montebello" was raised, which on 1 May 1951 was expanded to 8th Armored Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello". On 4 November 1958 the regiment returned to use its traditional title: Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th). The regiment consisted of three squadrons groups equipped with M47 Patton tanks and M113 armored personnel carriers.[1]

During the 1975 army reform the regiment contracted on 30 September to 8th Armored Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Montebello" equipped with M47 Patton tanks and M113 armored personnel carriers. On 1 July 1979 the squadrons group retired its M47 Patton tanks and became the 8th Mechanized Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Montebello".[1]

On 23 September 1992 the squadrons group was renamed as Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th) without changing size. Around the same time the regiment began to receive wheeled Centauro tank destroyers. With the army reform of 1997 the regiment joined the Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" as the brigade's reconnaissance unit. In March 2004 the regiment raised the Horse Squadrons Group to perform mounted public duties in Rome.[1]

Today the regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" and the army's mounted public duties unit.[4]

As of 2019 the Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th) consists of:

• Regimental Command, in Rome
  • Military Equestrian Center
  • Command and Logistic Support Squadron
  • 1st Reconnaissance Squadrons Group
    • 1st Reconnaissance Squadron
    • 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron
    • 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron
    • Heavy Armor Squadron
  • Horse Squadrons Group
    • 1st Mounted Squadron
    • 2nd Mounted 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.

• Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna"

• Italian Army Website: Reggimento "Lancieri di Montebello" (8°)