Regiment &quot;Savoia Cavalleria&quot; (3rd)Regiment &quot;Savoia Cavalleria&quot; (3rd) Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) The Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) () is a cavalry regiment of the Italian Army based in Grosseto in Tuscany. Originally a Dragoon unit of the Savoyard state its recruiting area was the Duchy of Savoy. Today the regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". History. The Regiment ""Savoia Cavalleria"" (3rd) originates in the seventeenth century. Savoyard State. The Cavalry Regiment ""Savoia"" was founded by decree of 23 July 1692 by Duke Victor Amadeus II. The Regiment tooks its origins from Regiment ""None"", later named ""Montbrison"". The Regiment, in turn, was formed from four pre -existing Cavalry Companies of the "Gens d'Armes" Brigade: ""Sua Altezza Reale""; ""Savoja""; ""Piemonte""; ""Monferrato"". Later that year, the Regiment was renamed Cavalry Regiment "Savoia" with 9 Companies. The Regiment took part in the Nine Years' War: in the summer of 1693 the Regiment was employed in operations relating to the siege of Pinerolo occupied by French forces. It fought in particular in Marseille. On November 22, 1699, budgetary requirements imposed the dissolution of Savoia Cavalleria, who ceded its troops to the Regiment ""Piemonte Reale"" and to the Dragoons of His Royal Highness. The Regiment was reestablished on 14 April 1701  with 4 Squadrons of two Companies each. Each Company had 50 horses with 400 horses in total. The Regiment fought in the War of the Spanish Succession, where the Regiment distinguished itself in Chiari on 1 September 1701 and in Luzzara on 15 August 1702, in the War of the Polish Succession and in the War of the Austrian Succession. In the War of the Austrian Succession, during the battle of Guastalla on 19 September 1734, the men of the Regiment charged by the cry of ""Savoia!"", which then became the battle cry of all the Italian units until 1946 . In September 1774, the Regiment took part in the formation of the Cavalry Regiment ""Aosta"". The Regiment was engaged from 1792 to 1796 in the War of the First Coalition. On 9 December 1798, released from the oath of loyalty to King of Sardinia Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia, the Regiment passed into the service of the Piedmontese Republic. Sent to Casalmaggiore, the Regiment was designated as the 6th Cavalry Regiment. Dissolved in 1799, its squadrons were sorted between the 2nd and 4th Piedmontese Dragoon Regiments. On 1 December 1814, the Regiment was reconstituted and re-established as the Regiment  Savoia Cavalleria"". On 23 June 1819 the Regiment passed to the Light Cavalry, assuming the name of Regiment ""Cavalleggeri di Savoia"". On 3 January 1832 the Regiment formed the Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria", fighting in the First Italian War of Independence. On 3 January 1850 the Regiment became a Line Cavalry unit and, once reorganized, contributed to the formation of the Regiment ""Cavalleggeri di Monferrato"". Kingdom of Italy. The Regiment changed its name several times between 1859 and 1897, participating in the Second Italian War of Independence, Third Italian War of Independence, the capture of Rome, the fight against banditry in  southern Italy and Eritrea. From 19 October 1859 to 23 February 1860 the Regiment was a Line Cavalry unit. From 24 January 1861, all cavalry regiments, with the exception of the Guides Regiment, had a Regiment staff, six Squadrons (company-level units), and a Depot (in turn consisting of a Depot Staff and of a Squadron). In 1871 differences between cavalry specialities were abolished and Regiments were renamed "Cavalry Regiments", while in 1876 the Regiments retook the old formw with the ordinal number within brackets; in 1898 the cavalry units retook their old names in the complete form. In 1903 , on the occasion of the ninth centenary of the origin of the House of Savoy, King Vittorio Emanuele III granted the regiment a special badge consisting of special drapes to be applied to the trumpets during the ceremonies with the troop in arms and the full uniform. Due the new organization of the Cavalry, from 1 October 1909 the Regiment lost one of its six Squadrons. During the First World War, the regiment formed the 1497th Machine gun Company on Foot. Following the reduction of the Cavalry regiments, in 1919, the 2nd Squadron Group of the Regiment ""Savoia"" took the  name of ""Lancieri di Vercelli"" having absorbed the Regiment with the same name and, in 1920, incorporated a squadron of the Regiment ""Lancieri Vittorio Emanuele II"" and inherited the traditions of the dissolved Regiment ""Lancieri di Vercelli"" by changing the name to Regiment ""Savoia Cavalleria"" without the ordinal number. In 1923 the regiment adopted the red tie as a distinctive feature instead of the red border on the collar of the jacket. Starting from 1 March 1939, each cavalry regiment was composed of the Regimental Command, of the Command Squadron, of two Squadron Groups, each of them with two Squadrons . Each Squadron consisted of three Platoons of three Squads each. The 5th Squadron was the Machine Gun Squadron, with four Platoons of three Squads each. Second World War. At the beginning of the Second World War, the Regiment was placed under the 3rd Celere Division ""Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta"" together the Regiment ""Lancieri di Novara"" (5th) and, sent to Russia, was the protagonist of the historic Charge at Izbushensky. Following the events determined by the Armistice of Cassibile, on 8 September 1943, the regiment was dissolved where it was being reorganized. The Regiment also generated several support units through the  Regimental Depot: In 1940, the regiment took part in the Italian invasion of France, framed within the 3rd Celere Division ""Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta"". In April 1941, the regiment took part in operations in the Invasion of Yugoslavia, being employed for the occupation of Croatia. After Yugoslavia, the Regiment rested in Lonigo. The Regiment left Italy for the Eastern Front still placed under the 3rd Celere Division, within the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia on 22 July 1941 under Colonel Weis Pocetti. On 10 August 1941 the Regiment reached Soroca and after a short rest it reached the river Dnieper  in early September and was deployed in the Petschana area. In late September the Regiment attacked Dnipropetrovsk. On 1 October the Regiment passed the river Dnieper. On 17 October 1941, in the Ulaklij and Jaly region, during the battle of the Donbas, the Regiment collided with the enemy rearguards, forcing them to retreat, inflicting heavy losses and capturing prisoners. On 20 October 1941, the Regiment was employed in the actions for the conquest of Donetsk and fought at Nippo and Kriwotoirez; between 24 October and 8 November 1941, the Regiment won several battles against Soviet rearguards on the front between  Skotowatoje and Panteleimonivka and Horlivka. Panteleimonivka was held by a platoon for a whole night. In the winter of 1942 the regiment was sent to the rear, due to the serious deterioration and severe death of the horses. On 18 July 1942, the Regiment was grouped in the "Horse Group Barbò". The unit took part in the fighting for the conquest of Krasnyi Luch, distinguishing itself in Borkovo Antrasit. On July 22, the Regiment reached the town of Iessanlowka. On 21 August a Squadron Group, together with the 63rd CC.NN. Assault Legion ""Tagliamento"", counterattacking Tachebotarewskij, managed to stabilize the situation  created by a force attack conducted by the Soviet Army on the right wing of the 2nd Infantry Division ""Sforzesca"". On 22 August, the Regiment conducted an active and mobile exploration, controlling the spaces between Jagodnij and Tachebotarewskij, fighting at Sirnwskij. On 23 August, the Regiment was tasked to pursue the enemy, threatening to wind him up from the east, carrying out the Charge of the Savoia Cavalleria at Izbushensky on 24 August. At the end of August 1942, the Regiment, together with the Regiment ""Lancieri di Novara"" (5th), fought in Jagodnij, to counter the Soviet attack carried out, without  any result, by some infantry regiments. In September 1942 the Regiment retreated to Duboskoj and to Papoff. From 19 January to 23 March 1943, the Regiment began retreating from the Nikitovka area and, despite bad weather conditions and ambushes by Soviet partisans, managed to reach Gomel with minimal losses after 1,068 kilometres. The "Savoia Cavalleria" entered the town in parade order. The 5th machine gunners squadron (under the command of Captain Corinaldi), remained on the Don with the Alpini of the Division "Tridentina", and the 1st ad hoc squadron (under the command of Captain Boero), sent to defend the Alpine  Army Corps in Rossosh, were completely destroyed. The Regiment departed Gomel on 26 January and returned to Osoppo on 2 April 1943 where it remained confined for additional fifteen days. On 8 September 1943, the Regiment was in Castel San Pietro Terme. After the Armistice of Cassibile, the Regiment was in danger of being dissolved and, therefore, of losing honours and standard. The commander at the regimental depot, stationed in Somma Lombardo, Colonel Pietro de Vito Piscicelli, Count of Collesano, was left without orders and took a unique initiative. Colonel de Vito Piscicelli made agreements with the Swiss authorities and , at 7:30 pm on 12 September 1943, he reached the Swiss border above Ligornetto in Canton of Ticino at the head of a column consisting of 15 Officers, 642 subofficers and recruits, 316 horses and 9 mules, with weapons, ammunition and food in tow. Colonel de Vito Piscicelli had the regimental depot interned in Switzerland. The Swiss authorities, after having confiscated the weapons and horses (only the officers were allowed to keep their own horse and in some cases their own weapon), granted asylum to everyone. The unit was therefore sent to the Canton of Bern in special quarters. Officers  and troops remained on Swiss territory until the end of the war. At the end of the Second World War the regiment was disestablished. 1946 - 1975. On 15 October 1946, the Divisional Exploring Group ""3° Cavalieri"" was established, receiving colours, frieze and number of the dissolved Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria". The "3° Cavalieri" was placed under the Infantry Division ""Legnano"". In early 1949, the Divisional Exploring Groups were transformed into Armoured Cavalry Regiments. Each Armoured Cavalry Regiment consisted of the Command Squadron, two Squadron Groups (battalion-level units) and a Support weapons Squadron. On 15 April 1950 it was  transformed into the 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment ""Gorizia Cavalleria"", with the depot and the I Squadron Group in Milan and the II Squadron Group in Voghera. In 1949 the Regiment detached a Squadron (named ""Gorizia"" after the parent Regiment) to the security corps of the Trust Territory of Somaliland under Italian administration. The Squadron consisted of: The deployment of the Squadron drawn from the Regiment lasted until 1951. On 4 November 1958, like the other Cavalry units, it resumed the traditional denomination of Regiment ""Savoia Cavalleria"" (3rd). On 4 November 1961, the use of the red tie was restored, abolishing  the red border on gorget patches. In 1964, the Regiment ""Savoia Cavalleria"" (3rd) was transferred in Merano, directly under the IV Army Corps. Following the Italian Army 1975 reform, which saw the abolition of the regimental level, the unit was reorganized into 3rd Armoured Squadron Group ""Savoia Cavalleria"" formed in Merano with personnel and traditions from the dissolved regiment. 1992 - 2013. As part of the reorganization of the Italian Army, the squadron group on 23 May 1992 was reconstituted in the Regiment ""Savoia Cavalleria"" (3rd) and from 1995 it moved to Grosseto where it replaced the pre-existing Regiment ""Lancieri  di Firenze"" (9th). 2013 - present. The Regiment ""Savoia Cavalleria"" (3rd) left the Airmobile Brigade ""Friuli"" was placed under the Paratroopers Brigade ""Folgore"" on 20 September 2013. At the same time, the Regiment was redesigned "Paratrooper Cavalry". Starting from the end of 2013, the recruits of the Regiment had previously obtained the military parachuting license. The Initial operating capability (IOC) exercise with a squadron made up entirely of paratrooper cavalrymen (the 3rd Reconnaissance Squadron ""De Leone"") and the completion of the three "basic courses for air troops" were achieved in 2014. The transit of the Regiment under the Paratroopers Brigade ""Folgore  was due to the evolution of the international situation and the consolidation of the "joint" structure of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". Therefore, the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore"lacked a fully "joint" structure, such as to give it full spectrum use capacity. Simultaneously with the release of the assets of 9th Paratroopers Assault Regiment "Col Moschin" and special operations forces, the Brigade received three specific capabilities that were lacking: ground fire support, logistics and medium-range exploration. For the reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition - RSTA capability the choice fell on the Regiment “"Savoia Cavalleria"” (3rd), through the acquisition by the latter of the  airborne capabilities. Operations. The regiment took part in numerous peace operations: Mission. The operational mission of the Regiment is to carry out all the typical activities of a line cavalry regiment, but in favour of the Paratroopers Brigade and, in particular, in the context of airborne operations. The domain of action of the paratroop cavalry continues to be that of tactical exploration and security activities, which are conducted in order to facilitate the maneuvering of friendly forces. The paratrooper cavalry as part of the airborne task force is destined to be the main component of the parachute brigade's exploration  capability, while continuing to maintain a significant strike capacity. The paratrooper cavalry is intended to be inserted - with units up to the company level - before the exploratory components of the paratrooper infantry regiments, not limiting to collecting information, but also fighting to disrupt the opponent's scouting activity and to take time by allowing friendly units to flow in and regroup. After that, the paratrooper cavalry - suitably supplemented by the assets of the paratrooper combat engineers - proceeds in the continuation of the effort in depth. Current structure. As of 2019 the Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) consists of: 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. Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) The Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) () is a cavalry regiment of the Italian Army based