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7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio"
Italian Army tank unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The 7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio" (Italian: 7° Battaglione Carri "M.O. Di Dio") is an active tank battalion of the Italian Army, which is based in Pordenone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and operationally assigned to the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete".[2] The unit's lineage traces back to the World War II VII Tank Battalion M13/40, which was formed on 30 January 1941 by the depot of the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment. The battalion was sent to Libya, where it fought, initially with the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment and then the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment, in the Western Desert campaign. The battalion was disbanded on 8 January 1942, due to the losses it had suffered in the British Operation Crusader. In 1959 the battalion was reformed and assigned to the 132nd Tank Regiment. In 1963 it was transferred to the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment. In 1975 the battalion was renamed 7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio" and assigned to the 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi". In 1991, the battalion was disbanded. On 1 October 2022, the flag and traditions of the battalion were assigned to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Ariete" of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete".[3][4]
7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio" | |
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7° Battaglione Carri "M.O. Di Dio" | |
![]() Battalion coat of arms | |
Active | 30 Jan. 1941 — 8 Jan. 1942 1 Feb. 1959 — 31 May 1991 1 Oct. 2022 — today |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Italian Army |
Part of | 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" |
Garrison/HQ | Pordenone |
Motto(s) | "Semper audax" |
Anniversaries | 1 October 1927 |
Decorations | ![]() ![]() 1x Gold Medal of Military Valor 1x Bronze Medal of Army Valor[1] |
Insignia | |
Tank units gorget patches |
Originally the unit, like all Italian tank units, was part of the army's infantry arm, but on 1 June 1999 the tankers specialty was transferred from the infantry arm to the cavalry arm. The battalion's anniversary falls, as for all tank units, which have not yet distinguished themselves on the battlefield and earned a medal of valor, on 1 October 1927, the day the tankers speciality was founded.[3]