Italian Army Heraldry

[Marcus Karlsson]

1st Mountain Artillery Regiment "Taurinense". With the old Crest for Mountain Artillery Units.


Modern Arms of the same Regiment.


3rd Anti Aircraft Artillery Regiment.


Horse Artillery Regiment "Voloire". The first quarter shows the Old arms of the Regiment. The sinister grand quarter shows the Ukrainian Trident symbolising service on the Eastern Front during World War II and the Silfio under a Star denoting service in North Africa during World War II. The third quarter shows the Arms of Milan longtime (and still) garrison of the Regiment.


1st Atomic, Biological and Chemical Defence Battalion "Etruria". The Wavy field denotes Fog generating of the predecessor units. The Dragon is a symbol of Chemical defence Units. On the bend the Ukrainian Trident denoting service on the Eastern Front of the predecessor Units the 4th and 5th Fog-generator and Flamethrower Companies.

[Marcus Karlsson]

The 1st Cavalry's title "Nizza Cavalleria" may seem strange. Nizza (or Nice as the French and English speakers know it) was in fact only part of Italy in 1942-43. However Guiseppi Garibaldi was born there and considered that the referendum that resulted in Nice becoming French in 1860 was rigged. Nice had previously been part of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, which between 1814 and 1861 gradually developed into the Kingdom of Italy through a series of annexations. The title of the regiment may well have more to do with its historical connection with Garibaldi than with the city.

It appears that the Regimental title "Nizza Cavalleria" stems from 1832. So the Garibaldi connection seems a bit far fetched as he hadn't come of fame then.

[Chris Green]

It appears that the Regimental title "Nizza Cavalleria" stems from 1832. So the Garibaldi connection seems a bit far fetched as he hadn't come of fame then.

I couldn't immediately find a site with the regiment's origins. It seems it was a Piedmont-Sardinian Regiment that subsequently became Italian, which is quite logical given that Vittorio Emanuele was first King of Piedmont-Sardinia and then King of Italy. The Garibaldi connection would have been a strong argument for the Regiment's title not being changed despite Nice becoming French.

[Marcus Karlsson]

It appears that the Regimental title "Nizza Cavalleria" stems from 1832. So the Garibaldi connection seems a bit far fetched as he hadn't come of fame then.

I couldn't immediately find a site with the regiment's origins. It seems it was a Piedmont-Sardinian Regiment that subsequently became Italian, which is quite logical given that Vittorio Emanuele was first King of Piedmont-Sardinia and then King of Italy. The Garibaldi connection would have been a strong argument for the Regiment's title not being changed despite Nice becoming French.

The Official Italian Army site tells us the indeed the Regiment was originaly a Piemont-Sardinian Regiment named a Piemont Dragoons gaining the Nizza name in 1832. And yes you can be rigth that the Garibaldi Connection has sometthing to do with the name not beeing changed later.

[Marcus Karlsson]

The Army Site also provide us with the official Italian Blason of the Arms:

"Scudo: partito. Nel primo d'oro all'aquila spiegata di nero; nel secondo partito: a) di rosso alla torre d'argento, b) d'argento alla torre di rosso; alla punta incappata d'argento, all'aquila di rosso, col volo abbassato, poggiata su un monte di tre cime di verde uscente da un mare d'azzurro fluttuoso d'argento.

Ornamenti esteriori: sullo scudo corona turrita d'oro, accompagnata sotto da quattro nastri d'azzurro annodati nella corona, scendenti e svolazzanti in sbarra e in banda al lato dello scudo, rappresentativi della ricompense al Valore. Sotto lo scudo su lista bifida d'oro, svolazzante, con la concavità rivolta verso l'alto, il motto "Nicaea fidelis"."

[Marcus Karlsson]

9th Assault Parachute Regiment "Col Moschin".
The Roman Sword or Gladio is a Symbol of Italian Assault Units originating form the Arditi of World War One. The Mountain symbolises Monte Grappa wich included the Col (Pass) Moschin. It was during World War I captured by the predecessor unit the IX Reparto d'Assalto (IX Assault Section). The Silfio symbolises the fighting of the X Reggimento "Arditi" (X Regiment "The bold", sucessor of the IX Unit) in north Africa during World War II. The Fess in the fourth quarter denotes the 1st Bn of the X Regiment fighting alongside the Allies in Italy at the closing stages of World War II. Italy having changed sides in 1943, or at least some. Troops loyal to Mussolini continued to fight alongside the Germans and various Italian Guerilla groups, in which was a Italian Civil War within the greater scope of World War II.


183rd Parachute Regiment "Nembo".


186th Parachute Regiment "Folgore". First quarter - arms of Pisa, second and third quarters the Lightning alluding to the meaning of the Italian word Folgore = Lightning. In the fourth quarter the arms of Livorno. The chief are Or for the award of the Gold Medal for military Bravery to the Regiment for action int eh Battle of El Alamein. The Canton shows a Silfio for action in North Africa during World War II.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Arms of the 33rd Eletronic Warfare Regiment.


1st Signals Regiment. The enschuteon displays a old Roman Signals Tower denoting the Signals function of the Regiment. The Capitolinian She-Wolf symbolises the raising in Rome of the predecessor unit the 1st Radiotelegrafist Regiment. The mountains in the secons quarter denotes World War I service in Veneto. The third quarter denotes service in North Africa during World War II. The fourth quarter shows the Arms of Milan, present garrison of the Regiment.


Old Arms of the 13th Signals Battalion "Mauria" with the Crest pre 1980ies of the Signals Troops. The Argent field is left for future War service. The other field shows the Arms of Portogruaro where the Battalion was formed from the XIII Signals Battalion in 1975.


1st Engineer Regiment. Dexter field Piemonte symbolising formation of predecessor units in Alessandria in this Province. Sinister field symbolising participation in World War I on the Alpine Front.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Arms of the 6th Logistics Regiment. This unit was formerly the Logistics Battalion "Folgore" of the Parachute Brigade "Folgore" hence the stylised wings and lightning (Folgore in Italian).


24th Logistics Regiment of the Alpini Brigade "Julia".


10th Transport Battalion "Appia". The Rings and Arrow is from the Arms of the Automobile (Transport) Corps. Transport Units are named for Roman Roads here one of the most famous the Via Appia.


14th Transport Battalion "Flavia"

[Marcus Karlsson]

Arms of the Staff- and Logistics Unit "Pozzuolo del Friuli" of the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzulo del Friuli". The Brigade has long since lost its horses and are today mounted on Centauro and Puma wheeled Armoured Vehicles.


Arms of the Staff- and Logistics Unit "Taurinense" of the Alpini Brigade "Taurinense". The Bull beeing canting. The sinister field is left blank for future use.


Arms of the Lagunari Regiment "Serenissima". Lagunari are a special infantry branch tasked with defending the Venice lagoon area. This is illustrade byr the Arms with the fortress flying the banner of Venice. Serenissima was the designation used by the once powerful independent Republic of Venice.

[Marcus Karlsson]

Old Arms of the Sanitary (Medical) Corps.


Modern Arms of the Sanitary Corps.


Old Arms of the Veterinary Corps.


Modern Arms of the Veterinary Corps.