Italian Army gorget patches

Italian Army gorget patches (Italian: Mostreggiature or Italian: Mostrine) are worn by all army personnel on the collars of the shirts and jackets of their service uniforms and formal uniforms. The gorget patches identify the arm (Infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineer, signals, transport and material), corps (Health, commissariat, engineers), or speciality within an arm or corps a soldier belongs to. Generals wear golden stars instead of a gorget patches, while army recruits wear silver stars until they are assigned to a unit after basic training. Originally made from colored cloth, respectively embroidered cloth for Granatieri, Carabinieri and general staff members, gorget patches have been made since 1973 from enamelled metal.[1]

All patches below are worn on the right side.
Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini greets NCOs, who wear paratroopers, Alpini, and TRAMAT gorget patches

Multi-arm units

Multi-arm units (Italian: Unità Pluriarma) combine personnel from different arms and corps of the army and are therefore grouped separately from other gorget patches.

  • Note 1: originally the 28th Infantry Regiment "Pavia", retains the regiment's patch with a superimposed yellow chess knight
  • Note 2: originally infantry regiments, but now considered multi-arm units as they train troops for all arms and corps of the army
  • Note 3: originally part of the artillery, therefore the patch retains the artillery's black and yellow
  • Note 4: has the rank of a speciality of the army (i.e. ranks below the arms and corps of the army, but is set apart from them)
  • Note 5: originally part of the artillery respectively the signal arm, therefore the patch combines the artillery's yellow and the signal arms' electric blue
  • Note 6: includes army archives, army penitentiary units, etc.

Infantry

Line infantry

WWII: 5th Artillery rgt patch combining artillery & 91st/92nd "Basilicata" patches
WWII: Engineer btn "Friuli" patch combining engineer & 87th/88th "Friuli" patches

Line infantry regiments wear rectangular gorget patches with a unique color combination for each regiment. Line infantry regiments were always raised in pairs, forming together a brigade and from 1936 a division. Originally the gorget patches of units from other arms and corps assigned to the division were overlaid on the gorget patch of the two regiments of a brigade or division. However, as after World War II infantry regiments with different gorget patches made up the army's divisions this practice was abandoned. Today the only exception is the Mechanized Brigade "Sassari", which still fields its two original regiments. Infantry personnel not assigned to a regiment wear a scarlet patch with two points. The 66th Infantry Regiment "Trieste" and 87th Infantry Regiment "Friuli" modified their gorget patches once they became part of the Airmobile Brigade "Friuli".[2]

Infantry specialities

Infantry specialities are units that differ from the line infantry in their recruiting, equipment, headdress, tasks and training:[3][1]

  • Granatieri: originally grenadiers attached to every line regiment of the Royal Sardinian Army they became a royal guard regiment. Today the minimum height to join the speciality is 190 cm and members of the regiment wear a bearskin cap. Granatieri wear a double-sized, rectangular scarlet gorget patch with a stylized silver Austrian knot. The gorget patches of units from other arms and corps assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" are overlaid on the Grantieri's patch.[1]
  • Bersaglieri: originally skirmishers, scouts and sharpshooters of the Royal Sardinian Army. Members were chosen for their shooting skills and stamina. During the Cold War they were employed as mechanized infantry. Bersaglieri wear a red fez with their service uniform and wide-brimmed black hat with a bushel of wood grouse feathers to their ordinary and ceremonial uniforms. Bersaglieri wear a crimson gorget patch with two points.[1]
  • Alpini: originally mountain infantry recruited locally in the Alpine valleys. Alpini wear a brown felt cap with their service uniform and the Cappello Alpino with to their ordinary and ceremonial uniforms. Alpini wear a green gorget patch with two points. Unlike the Granatieri and Bersaglieri the Alpini have branched out and artillery, engineer, signals, transport and material, medical, etc. units have acquired the Alpini's headgear and traditions, which led to gorget patches that combine the Alpini's gorget patch with other arms and corps' gorget patches.[1]
  • Paracadutisti: the first paratrooper units were raised shortly before World War II and were an all-volunteer formation. Today the paratroopers retain above average requirements for recruits. Paracadutisti wear a red beret and azure rectangular gorget patches with a golden wing with seven feathers, a white parachute, and a silver Gladius with scarlet crossguard. Like the Alpini the Paracadutisti have branched out and units from other arms and corps assigned to the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" and the Army Special Forces Command wear now a combination of their gorget patch and the Paracadutisti's patch.[1]
  • Lagunari: are the army's youngest speciality, and were raised to defend the Venetian lagoon (Italian: Laguna di Venezia). Originally they were recruited from Venice and the communities surrounding the Venetian lagoon. They wear a green beret and scarlet rectangular gorget patches with a tapered top, below which the winged golden Lion of Saint Mark with a white aureola, holding a sword in his right paw and resting his left paw on a closed bible. Behind the lion are two crossed rifles and an anchor and above him a golden crown.[1]

Until 1 June 1999 the Carristi (Tankers) were a speciality of the infantry, which on that date was transferred to the cavalry.

Special forces

The army's three special forces regiment's combine the infantry speciality gorget patch with two points and the paratroopers symbol, with the color of the speciality they descend from. Green for the Alpini, Azure for the Paracadutisti, and black for the Arditi, a World War I infantry speciality disestablished in 1920.

Disbanded line infantry regiments

The gorget patches of disbanded regiments are an integral part of each regiment's traditions and insignia. In case one of the regiments listed below is reformed, then the corresponding gorget patch will be issued to regiment's personnel. Italian infantry regiments were always raised in pairs, which formed together one brigade. The regiments were initially only numbered and identified as "[regiment's number] Regiment of the Brigade "[brigade's name]"". Only during World War I did the brigade's name pass to the regiments. Before World War II the army formed binary divisions with sister regiments, which in some cases received the name of the division they were assigned to. If such a renaming occurred during World War II the division's name follows the regiment's name in brackets: i.e. the 65th and 66th Regiments "Valtellina" entered the 101st Motorized Division "Trieste" and were renamed "Trieste". Therefore, in the list below these two regiments are listed as: "65th, [66th] Regiment "Valtellina" ("Trieste")".[4][5][6][7]

The regiments 1 to 18 were formed before 1848 as units of the Royal Sardinian Army. The regiments 19 to 94 were formed between the First Italian War of Independence and 1884. The regiments 95 to 282, with the exception of the 182nd, were raised during World War I. The 182nd Infantry Regiment "Garibaldi" is the only Italian infantry regiment raised after World War II and the only regiment of the army to not have received gorget patches. The regiment's 233 to 282 were raised in 1917 and received gorget patches divided horizontally twice. The 291st and 292nd Infantry Regiment "Zara" were raised during World War II. The regiments of the 300 series were raised during World War II to augment some of the binary divisions. Regiments, whose flags are currently assigned to active units, are in square brackets.[4][5][6][7]

  • 1st, 2nd Regiment "San Giusto" ("Re")
    1st, 2nd Regiment "San Giusto" ("Re")
  • 3rd, 4th, 303rd Regiment "Piemonte"
    3rd, 4th, 303rd Regiment "Piemonte"
  • [5th], [6th] Regiment "Aosta"
    [5th], [6th] Regiment "Aosta"
  • 7th, 8th Regiment "Cuneo"
    7th, 8th Regiment "Cuneo"
  • [9th], 10th, 309th Rgt. "Bari" ("Regina")
    [9th], 10th, 309th Rgt. "Bari" ("Regina")
  • 11th, 12th, 311th Regiment "Casale"
    11th, 12th, 311th Regiment "Casale"
  • [13th], 14th, 313th Regiment "Pinerolo"
    [13th], 14th, 313th Regiment "Pinerolo"
  • 15th, 16th Regiment "Savona"
    15th, 16th Regiment "Savona"
  • [17th], 18th, 317th Regiment "Acqui"
    [17th], 18th, 317th Regiment "Acqui"
  • 19th, 20th Regiment "Brescia"
    19th, 20th Regiment "Brescia"
  • 21st, 22nd, 321st Regiment "Cremona"
    21st, 22nd, 321st Regiment "Cremona"
  • 23rd, 24th Regiment "Como" ("Isonzo")
    23rd, 24th Regiment "Como" ("Isonzo")
  • 25th, 26th Regiment "Bergamo"
    25th, 26th Regiment "Bergamo"
  • 27th, 28th Regiment "Pavia"
    27th, 28th Regiment "Pavia"
  • 29th, 30th Regiment "Pisa" ("Assietta")
    29th, 30th Regiment "Pisa" ("Assietta")
  • 31st, 32nd Regiment "Siena"
    31st, 32nd Regiment "Siena"
  • 33rd, 34th Regiment "Livorno"
    33rd, 34th Regiment "Livorno"
  • 35th, 36th, 336th Regiment "Pistoia"
    35th, 36th, 336th Regiment "Pistoia"
  • 37th, 38th Regiment "Ravenna"
    37th, 38th Regiment "Ravenna"
  • 39th, 40th Regiment "Bologna"
    39th, 40th Regiment "Bologna"
  • 41st, 42nd, 341st Regiment "Modena"
    41st, 42nd, 341st Regiment "Modena"
  • 43rd, 44th, 343rd Regiment "Forlì"
    43rd, 44th, 343rd Regiment "Forlì"
  • [45th], 46th Regiment "Reggio" ("Sabauda")
    [45th], 46th Regiment "Reggio" ("Sabauda")
  • 47th, 48th Regiment "Ferrara"
    47th, 48th Regiment "Ferrara"
  • 49th, 50th, 350th Regiment "Parma"
    49th, 50th, 350th Regiment "Parma"
  • 51st, 52nd Regiment "Alpi"
    51st, 52nd Regiment "Alpi"
  • 53rd, 54th Regiment "Umbria" ("Sforzesca")
    53rd, 54th Regiment "Umbria" ("Sforzesca")
  • 55th, 56th Regiment "Marche"
    55th, 56th Regiment "Marche"
  • [57th], 58th Regiment "Abruzzi" ("Piave")
    [57th], 58th Regiment "Abruzzi" ("Piave")
  • 59th, 60th, 359th Regiment "Calabria"
    59th, 60th, 359th Regiment "Calabria"
  • 61st, [62nd] Regiment "Sicilia" ("Trento")
    61st, [62nd] Regiment "Sicilia" ("Trento")
  • 63rd, 64th, 363rd Regiment "Cagliari"
    63rd, 64th, 363rd Regiment "Cagliari"
  • 65th, [66th] Rgt. "Valtellina" ("Trieste")
    65th, [66th] Rgt. "Valtellina" ("Trieste")
  • 67th, 68th Regiment "Palermo" ("Legnano")
    67th, 68th Regiment "Palermo" ("Legnano")
  • 69th, 70th Regiment "Ancona" ("Sirte")
    69th, 70th Regiment "Ancona" ("Sirte")
  • 71st, 72nd Regiment "Puglie"
    71st, 72nd Regiment "Puglie"
  • 73rd, 74th Regiment "Lombardia"
    73rd, 74th Regiment "Lombardia"
  • 75th, 76th Regiment "Napoli"
    75th, 76th Regiment "Napoli"
  • 77th, [78th] Regiment "Lupi di Toscana"
    77th, [78th] Regiment "Lupi di Toscana"
  • 79th, [80th] Regiment "Roma" ("Pasubio")
    79th, [80th] Regiment "Roma" ("Pasubio")
  • 81st, [82nd] Regiment "Torino"
    81st, [82nd] Regiment "Torino"
  • 83rd, 84th, 383rd Regiment "Venezia"
    83rd, 84th, 383rd Regiment "Venezia"
  • [85th], 86th Regiment "Verona" ("Sabratha")
    [85th], 86th Regiment "Verona" ("Sabratha")
  • [87th], 88th, 387th Regiment "Friuli"
    [87th], 88th, 387th Regiment "Friuli"
  • 89th, 90th Regiment "Salerno" ("Cosseria")
    89th, 90th Regiment "Salerno" ("Cosseria")
  • 91st, 92nd Regiment "Basilicata" ("Superga")
    91st, 92nd Regiment "Basilicata" ("Superga")
  • 93rd, 94th Regiment "Messina"
    93rd, 94th Regiment "Messina"
  • 95th, 96th Regiment "Udine"
    95th, 96th Regiment "Udine"
  • 98th, 97th Regiment "Genova"
    98th, 97th Regiment "Genova"
  • 99th, 100th Regiment "Treviso"
    99th, 100th Regiment "Treviso"
  • 111th, 112th Regiment "Piacenza"
    111th, 112th Regiment "Piacenza"
  • 113th, 114th Regiment "Mantova"
    113th, 114th Regiment "Mantova"
  • 115th, 116th Rgt. "Treviso" ("Marmarica")
    115th, 116th Rgt. "Treviso" ("Marmarica")
  • 117th, 118th Regiment "Padova"
    117th, 118th Regiment "Padova"
  • 119th, 120th Regiment "Emilia"
    119th, 120th Regiment "Emilia"
  • 121st, 122nd Regiment "Macerata"
    121st, 122nd Regiment "Macerata"
  • 123rd, 124th Regiment "Chieti"
    123rd, 124th Regiment "Chieti"
  • 125th, 126th Regiment "La Spezia"
    125th, 126th Regiment "La Spezia"
  • 127th, 128th Regiment "Firenze"
    127th, 128th Regiment "Firenze"
  • 129th, 130th Regiment "Perugia"
    129th, 130th Regiment "Perugia"
  • 131st, 132nd Regiment "Lazio"
    131st, 132nd Regiment "Lazio"
  • 133rd, 134th Regiment "Benevento"
    133rd, 134th Regiment "Benevento"
  • 135th, 136th Regiment "Campania"
    135th, 136th Regiment "Campania"
  • 137th, 138th Regiment "Barletta"
    137th, 138th Regiment "Barletta"
  • 139th, 140th, 340th Regiment "Bari"
    139th, 140th, 340th Regiment "Bari"
  • 141st, 142nd Regiment "Catanzaro"
    141st, 142nd Regiment "Catanzaro"
  • 143rd, 144th Regiment "Taranto"
    143rd, 144th Regiment "Taranto"
  • 145th, 146th Regiment "Catania"
    145th, 146th Regiment "Catania"
  • 147th, 148th Regiment "Caltanissetta"
    147th, 148th Regiment "Caltanissetta"
  • 149th, 150th Regiment "Trapani"
    149th, 150th Regiment "Trapani"
  • [151st], [152nd] Regiment "Sassari"
    [151st], [152nd] Regiment "Sassari"
  • 153rd, 154th Regiment "Novara"
    153rd, 154th Regiment "Novara"
  • 155th, 156th Regiment "Alessandria"
    155th, 156th Regiment "Alessandria"
  • 157th, 158th, 165th Rgt. "Liguria" ("Cirene")
    157th, 158th, 165th Rgt. "Liguria" ("Cirene")
  • 159th, 160th Regiment "Milano"
    159th, 160th Regiment "Milano"
  • 161st, 162nd Regiment "Ivrea"
    161st, 162nd Regiment "Ivrea"
  • 163rd, 164th Regiment "Lucca"
    163rd, 164th Regiment "Lucca"
  • 201st, 202nd Regiment "Sesia"
    201st, 202nd Regiment "Sesia"
  • 203rd, 204th Regiment "Tanaro"
    203rd, 204th Regiment "Tanaro"
  • 205th, 206th Regiment "Lambro"
    205th, 206th Regiment "Lambro"
  • 207th, 208th Regiment "Taro"
    207th, 208th Regiment "Taro"
  • 209th, 210th Regiment "Bisagno"
    209th, 210th Regiment "Bisagno"
  • 211th, 212th Regiment "Pescara"
    211th, 212th Regiment "Pescara"
  • 213th, 214th Regiment "Arno"
    213th, 214th Regiment "Arno"
  • 215th, 216th Regiment "Tevere"
    215th, 216th Regiment "Tevere"
  • 217th, 218th Regiment "Volturno"
    217th, 218th Regiment "Volturno"
  • 219th, 220th Regiment "Sele"
    219th, 220th Regiment "Sele"
  • 221st, 222nd Regiment "Ionio"
    221st, 222nd Regiment "Ionio"
  • 223rd, 224th Regiment "Etna"
    223rd, 224th Regiment "Etna"
  • 225th, 226th Regiment "Arezzo"
    225th, 226th Regiment "Arezzo"
  • 227th, 228th Regiment "Rovigo"
    227th, 228th Regiment "Rovigo"
  • 229th, 230th Regiment "Campobasso"
    229th, 230th Regiment "Campobasso"
  • 231st, 232nd, 331st Rgt. "Avellino" ("Brennero")
    231st, 232nd, 331st Rgt. "Avellino" ("Brennero")
  • 233rd, 234th Regiment "Lario"
    233rd, 234th Regiment "Lario"
  • [235th], 236th, 336th Regiment "Piceno"
    [235th], 236th, 336th Regiment "Piceno"
  • 237th, 238th Regiment "Grosseto"
    237th, 238th Regiment "Grosseto"
  • 239th, 240th Regiment "Pesaro"
    239th, 240th Regiment "Pesaro"
  • 241st, 242nd Regiment "Teramo"
    241st, 242nd Regiment "Teramo"
  • 243rd, 244th Regiment "Cosenza"
    243rd, 244th Regiment "Cosenza"
  • 245th, 246th Regiment "Siracusa"
    245th, 246th Regiment "Siracusa"
  • 247th, 248th Regiment "Girgenti"
    247th, 248th Regiment "Girgenti"
  • 249th, 250th Regiment "Pallanza"
    249th, 250th Regiment "Pallanza"
  • 251st, 252nd Rgt. "Massa Carrara"
    251st, 252nd Rgt. "Massa Carrara"
  • 253rd, 254th Rgt. "Porto Maurizio"
    253rd, 254th Rgt. "Porto Maurizio"
  • 255th, 256th Regiment "Veneto"
    255th, 256th Regiment "Veneto"
  • 257th, 258th Regiment "Tortona"
    257th, 258th Regiment "Tortona"
  • 259th, 260th Regiment "Murge"
    259th, 260th Regiment "Murge"
  • 261st, 262nd Regiment "Elba"
    261st, 262nd Regiment "Elba"
  • 263rd, 264th Regiment "Gaeta"
    263rd, 264th Regiment "Gaeta"
  • 265th, 266th Regiment "Lecce"
    265th, 266th Regiment "Lecce"
  • 267th, 268th Regiment "Caserta"
    267th, 268th Regiment "Caserta"
  • 269th, 270th Regiment "Aquila"
    269th, 270th Regiment "Aquila"
  • 271st, 272nd, 273rd Regiment "Potenza"
    271st, 272nd, 273rd Regiment "Potenza"
  • 274th, 275th, 276th Regiment "Belluno"
    274th, 275th, 276th Regiment "Belluno"
  • 277th, 278th, 279th Regiment "Vicenza"
    277th, 278th, 279th Regiment "Vicenza"
  • 280th, 281st, 282nd Regiment "Foggia"
    280th, 281st, 282nd Regiment "Foggia"
  • 291st, 292nd Regiment "Zara"
    291st, 292nd Regiment "Zara"

Cavalry

The Cavalry (Italian: Arma di Cavalleria) is divided since 1 June 1999 in two specialities: line cavalry and tankers (= personnel of tank regiments). On 1 June 1999 the three traditional cavalry specialities Dragoni (Dragoons), Lancieri (Lancers) and Cavalleggeri (Chevau-léger) were united in the new speciality "Line cavalry". On the same date the tankers speciality was transferred from the infantry to the cavalry.[8][9]

Line cavalry personnel wear regiment-affiliated colored gorget patches with three points. Personnel of the cavalry that is not assigned to a regiment wear an orange gorget patch with three points. Tankers, whose speciality was founded as part of the infantry, continue to wear a two-pointed gorget patch, which has traditionally been the patch for infantry specialties. The tankers' gorget patch is red with two points in a light blue field.[8][9]

  • Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st)
    Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" (1st)
  • Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd)
    Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd)
  • Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd)
    Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd)
  • Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th)
    Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Aosta" (6th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Aosta" (6th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" (19th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" (19th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Treviso" (28th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Treviso" (28th)
  • Unassigned cavalry personnel
    Unassigned cavalry personnel
  • Tank units
    Tank units

Disbanded cavalry regiments

The gorget patches of disbanded regiments are an integral part of each regiment's traditions and insignia. In case one of the regiments listed below is reformed, then the corresponding gorget patch will be issued to regiment's personnel.[8][10]

  • Regiment "Lancieri di Milano" (7th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Milano" (7th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Firenze" (9th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele" (10th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Vittorio Emanuele" (10th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Foggia" (11th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Foggia" (11th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" (12th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" (12th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato" (13th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Monferrato" (13th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Alessandria" (14th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Alessandria" (14th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lucca" (16th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lucca" (16th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Caserta" (17th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Caserta" (17th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Piacenza" (18th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Piacenza" (18th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Roma" (20th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Roma" (20th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Padova" (21st)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Padova" (21st)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Catania" (22nd)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Catania" (22nd)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Umberto I" (23rd)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Umberto I" (23rd)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Vicenza" (24th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Vicenza" (24th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Mantova" (25th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Mantova" (25th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Vercelli" (26th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Vercelli" (26th)
  • Regiment "Lancieri di Aquila" (27th)
    Regiment "Lancieri di Aquila" (27th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Udine" (29th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Udine" (29th)
  • Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Palermo" (30th)
    Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Palermo" (30th)
  • "Cavalleggeri di Sardegna"
    "Cavalleggeri di Sardegna"

Artillery

Artillery (Italian: Arma di Artiglieria) personnel wear black gorget patches with one point and a yellow edge. Currently five variations and one speciality (Anti-aircraft artillery) are officially sanctioned.[11][12][13]

Note: As of 2020 no units wear these insignias.

Engineer

Engineer (Italian: Arma del Genio) personnel wear black gorget patches with one point and a crimson edge. Currently one speciality (Sappers) and four variations thereof are officially sanctioned. The Sappers Speciality's gorget patch symbol is a black grenade from which a five-tongued red flame emerges, with a metallic gladius over flame and grenade. The other three specialities of the engineer—pioneers, bridge engineers, and railway engineers—wear the standard engineer gorget patch.[14][15][16]

  • Engineers
    Engineers
  • Sappers
    Sappers
  • Alpine sappers
    Alpine sappers
  • Airborne sappers
    Airborne sappers
  • "Granatieri di Sardegna" sappersNote
    "Granatieri di Sardegna" sappersNote
  • "Sassari" sappers
    "Sassari" sappers

Note: As of 2020 no unit wears this insignia.

Signals

Signal (Italian: Arma delle Trasmissioni) personnel wear electric blue gorget patches with two points and an amaranth edge. Currently four variations are officially sanctioned.[17][18][19]

  • Signallers
    Signallers
  • Alpine troops signallers
    Alpine troops signallers
  • Airborne troops signallers
    Airborne troops signallers
  • "Granatieri" brigade signallers
    "Granatieri" brigade signallers
  • "Sassari" brigade signallers
    "Sassari" brigade signallers

Transport and Material

Transport and Material (Italian: Arma dei Trasporti e Materiali - TRAMAT) personnel wear black gorget patches with two points on azure background. Currently four variations are officially sanctioned.[20][21]

  • TRAMAT personnel
    TRAMAT personnel
  • Alpine troops TRAMAT
    Alpine troops TRAMAT
  • Airborne troops TRAMAT
    Airborne troops TRAMAT
  • "Granatieri" brigade TRAMATNote
    "Granatieri" brigade TRAMATNote
  • "Sassari" brigade TRAMAT
    "Sassari" brigade TRAMAT

Note: As of 2020 no unit wears this insignia.

Army Commissariat Corps

The Army Commissariat Corps (Italian: Corpo di Commissariato dell'Esercito) was formed on 1 January 1998 by the merger of the Army Commissariat Corps and the Army Administration Corps. Before the merger Commissariat Corps personnel wore violet gorget patches with one point, while Administration Corps personnel wore black gorget patches with one point and a sky blue edge. The personnel of the Commissariat Corps tasked with the role of food supplies wore sky blue gorget patches with one point. These three gorget patches were combined with the gorget patches of specialities of other arms and corps, resulting in dozens of variations. After the merger personnel wore black gorget patches with one point and a double-colored edge in violet and sky blue. This gorget patch was also combined with other gorget patches resulting in dozens of new variations. In 2003 the Commissariat Corps introduced a rectangular blue gorget patch with a golden laurel wreath, which is not combined with any other patch.[22][23][24]

  • Commissariat Corps personnel
    Commissariat Corps personnel

Examples of the disestablished Army Commissariat Corps and the Army Administration Corps gorget patches and their variations:

  • Commissariat personnel
    Commissariat personnel
  • Armored troops commissariat personnel
    Armored troops commissariat personnel
  • Supply role personnel
    Supply role personnel
  • Alpine troops supply role personnel
    Alpine troops supply role personnel
  • Administrative personnel
    Administrative personnel
  • Infantry Division "Aosta" administrative personnel
    Infantry Division "Aosta" administrative personnel

Army Health Corps

The Army Health Corps (Italian: Corpo Sanitario dell'Esercito) is the result of the merger of the Army Medical Corps and Army Veterinary Corps on 1 January 1998. The corps' personnel wears two different types of gorget patches: amaranth with one point for medical personnel, and sky blue with one point for veterinary personnel. The medical corps also distinguishes between medical officers and personnel. For each type of patch five variations are officially sanctioned. In 2009 the medical officers gorget patch was differentiated to include pharmacists, dentists, and psychologists.[25][26]

  • Medical officer
    Medical officer
  • Alpine troops medical officer
    Alpine troops medical officer
  • Airborne troops medical officer
    Airborne troops medical officer
  • "Granatieri" brigade medical officer
    "Granatieri" brigade medical officer
  • "Sassari" brigade medical officer
    "Sassari" brigade medical officer
  • Army aviation medical officer
    Army aviation medical officer
  • Medical personnel
    Medical personnel
  • Alpine troops medical personnel
    Alpine troops medical personnel
  • Airborne troops medical personnel
    Airborne troops medical personnel
  • "Granatieri" brigade medical personnel
    "Granatieri" brigade medical personnel
  • "Sassari" brigade medical personnel
    "Sassari" brigade medical personnel
  • Army aviation medical personnel
    Army aviation medical personnel
  • Veterinarian
    Veterinarian
  • Alpine troops veterinarian
    Alpine troops veterinarian
  • Airborne troops veterinarian
    Airborne troops veterinarian
  • "Granatieri" brigade veterinarian
    "Granatieri" brigade veterinarian
  • "Sassari" brigade veterinarian
    "Sassari" brigade veterinarian
  • Army aviation veterinarian
    Army aviation veterinarian
  • Pharmacist
    Pharmacist
  • Dentist
    Dentist
  • Psychologist
    Psychologist

Army Corps of Engineers

The Army Corps of Engineers (Italian: Corpo degli Ingegneri dell'Esercito) was formed on 9 October 1980 by unifying the army's technical services. The Army Corps of Engineers conducts technological research, tests and evaluates the army's acquisitions, and maintains and updates the army's geographic data. All members of the Army Corps of Engineers are officers and wear rectangular black gorget patches with a colored border and a profile of the head of Minerva facing inward.[27][28]

  • Armaments engineer
    Armaments engineer
  • Geographer
    Geographer
  • Infrastructure engineer
    Infrastructure engineer

The army's technical services wore rectangular black gorget patches with a colored border.[23]

  • Artillery technical service
    Artillery technical service
  • Geographic technical service
    Geographic technical service
  • Chemical-physical technical service
    Chemical-physical technical service
  • Engineering technical service
    Engineering technical service
  • Motorization technical service
    Motorization technical service
  • Signal technical service
    Signal technical service

Special Voluntary Auxiliary Corps

The Italian Army Special Voluntary Auxiliary Corps of the Association of the Italian Knights of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (Italian: Corpo speciale volontario ausiliario dell'Esercito Italiano dell'Associazione dei cavalieri italiani del Sovrano militare Ordine di Malta - Corpo Militare EI-SMOM) is a volunteer corps providing medical support to the Italian Army. Members of the corps wear Italian Army uniforms with a Maltese cross instead of the Italian flag and one of four approved gorget patches:[1]

  • a rectangular red patch with a white border for troops and NCOs of the Order
  • a rectangular red patch with a white border and a violet point for commissariat officers
  • a rectangular red patch with a white border and an amaranth point for medical or pharmacist officers
  • a rectangular red patch with a white border and a black point with a bright yellow edge for officer commanders of hospital units
  • Troops and NCOs
    Troops and NCOs
  • Commissariat officers
    Commissariat officers
  • Medical and pharmacist officers
    Medical and pharmacist officers
  • Officer commanders of hospital units
    Officer commanders of hospital units

World War II

Royal Italian Army

During World War II the units of the Royal Italian Army wore gorget patches of different size and form, but with the same colors. The gorget patches had a size of 60 x 32 mm and were made from colored cloth. Below follow a few examples of these historic gorget patches, while all of them can be found on Wiki Commons at: Royal Italian Army gorget patches.[29]

Divisions carried the colors of their two infantry regiments, which was then combined with the artillery, engineer, supply and medical gorget patches. Below follow the gorget patches of the 13th Infantry Division "Re" and 17th Infantry Division "Pavia".

  • 13th Infantry Division "Re" infantry
    13th Infantry Division "Re" infantry
  • 13th Infantry Division "Re" artillery
    13th Infantry Division "Re" artillery
  • 13th Infantry Division "Re" engineers
    13th Infantry Division "Re" engineers
  • 13th Infantry Division "Re" medics
    13th Infantry Division "Re" medics
  • 13th Infantry Division "Re" supply personnel
    13th Infantry Division "Re" supply personnel
  • 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" infantry
    17th Infantry Division "Pavia" infantry
  • 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" artillery
    17th Infantry Division "Pavia" artillery
  • 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" engineers
    17th Infantry Division "Pavia" engineers
  • 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" medics
    17th Infantry Division "Pavia" medics
  • 17th Infantry Division "Pavia" supply personnel
    17th Infantry Division "Pavia" supply personnel

Grenadier, Alpini, armored/motorized, and paratrooper divisions had their own set of gorget patches.

  • Grenadiers
    Grenadiers
  • Grenadier artillery
    Grenadier artillery
  • Grenadier engineers
    Grenadier engineers
  • Grenadier medics
    Grenadier medics
  • Grenadier supply personnel
    Grenadier supply personnel
  • Alpini
  • Alpine artillery
    Alpine artillery
  • Alpine engineers
    Alpine engineers
  • Alpine medics
    Alpine medics
  • Alpine supply personnel
    Alpine supply personnel
  • Tank infantry
    Tank infantry
  • Armored artillery
    Armored artillery
  • Armored engineers
    Armored engineers
  • Armored medics
    Armored medics
  • Armored supply personnel
    Armored supply personnel
  • Paratroopers
    Paratroopers
  • Paratroopers artillery
    Paratroopers artillery
  • Paratrooper engineers
    Paratrooper engineers
  • Paratrooper medics
    Paratrooper medics
  • Paratroopers supply personnel
    Paratroopers supply personnel

Bersaglieri, and the troops assigned to divisional mortar, machine gun, and anti-tank battalions carried the same gorget patches across all divisions. The infantry regiments assigned to motorized divisions combined their traditional regimental gorget patch with the azure color of the armored and motorized forces. Below the patch of the 61st and 62nd Infantry Regiments "Sicilia" of the 102nd Motorized Division "Trento" is given as an example for motorized regiments.

  • Bersaglieri
  • 61st, 62nd Rgt. "Sicilia"
    61st, 62nd Rgt. "Sicilia"
  • Mortar battalions
    Mortar battalions
  • Machine Gun battalions
    Machine Gun battalions
  • Anti-tank battalions
    Anti-tank battalions
  • Unassigned infantry
    Unassigned infantry

Each Cavalry regiment had its distinct gorget patch. Associated with the cavalry were the tank groups of the three cavalry divisions, which had been raised by the Regiment "Cavalleggeri Guide" and therefore combined the form of the tank infantry gorget patch with the color scheme of the "Cavalleggeri Guide".

  • "Nizza Cavalleria"
    "Nizza Cavalleria"
  • "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria"
    "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria"
  • "Savoia Cavalleria"
    "Savoia Cavalleria"
  • "Genova Cavalleria"
    "Genova Cavalleria"
  • "Lancieri di Aosta"
    "Lancieri di Aosta"
  • "Lancieri di Milano"
    "Lancieri di Milano"
  • "Lancieri di Montebello"
    "Lancieri di Montebello"
  • "Lancieri di Firenze"
    "Lancieri di Firenze"
  • "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo"
    "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo"
  • "Cavalleggeri di Lodi"
    "Cavalleggeri di Lodi"
  • "Cavalleggeri Guide"
    "Cavalleggeri Guide"
  • Fast tank groups
    Fast tank groups

For units that were not assigned to divisions - i.e. Corps Artillery - basic gorget patches without any associated regimental colors were used.

  • Artillery
    Artillery
  • Engineers
    Engineers
  • Medics
    Medics
  • Supply troops
    Supply troops
  • Quartermaster troops
    Quartermaster troops
  • Transport troops
    Transport troops

Coastal units

Coastal divisions were reserve units and new gorget patches were created for them: for the division patches with a triangle, and for the brigades a square with three white lines.

  • 202nd Coastal Division
    202nd Coastal Division
  • 202nd Coastal Division Artillery
    202nd Coastal Division Artillery
  • 202nd Coastal Division Engineers
    202nd Coastal Division Engineers
  • 204th Coastal Division
    204th Coastal Division
  • 204th Coastal Division Artillery
    204th Coastal Division Artillery
  • 204th Coastal Division Engineers
    204th Coastal Division Engineers
  • 225th Coastal Division
    225th Coastal Division
  • 225th Coastal Division Artillery
    225th Coastal Division Artillery
  • 225th Coastal Division Engineers
    225th Coastal Division Engineers
  • Coastal Infantry
    Coastal Infantry
  • Coastal Artillery
    Coastal Artillery
  • Coastal Engineers
    Coastal Engineers

CC.NN.

During World War II the paramilitary wing of the Italian National Fascist Party, the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (MVSN), also known as "Blackshirts" (Italian: Camicie Nere, abbreviated as CC.NN.) raised four divisions, which were attached to the Royal Italian Army for the invasion of Egypt. Additionally the MVSN activated its paramilitary legions and battalions, which were attached to the army's divisions. The MVSN units had their own distinct gorget patches.

  • CC.NN troops
    CC.NN troops
  • CC.NN "M" battalions
    CC.NN "M" battalions
  • CC.NN Artillery
    CC.NN Artillery
  • CC.NN Engineers
    CC.NN Engineers
  • CC.NN Supply personnel
    CC.NN Supply personnel
  • CC.NN Medical personnel
    CC.NN Medical personnel

Bibliography

  • Viotti, Andrea (2009), Uniformi e distintivi dell'Esercito Italiano fra le due guerre 1918-1935 - Tomo Primo, Rome: Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico, retrieved 12 October 2021
  • Viotti, Andrea (2009), Uniformi e distintivi dell'Esercito Italiano fra le due guerre 1918-1935 - Tomo Secondo, Rome: Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico, retrieved 12 October 2021
  • Coccia, Sergio (2005), Le uniformi metropolitane del Regio Esercito dalla riforma Baistrocchi all'inizio della Seconda Guerra Mondiale 1933-1940 - Parte II, Rome: Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico, retrieved 12 October 2021

External links

  • Italian Army Website: Gorget patches
  • National Former Officers Union of Italy Website: Army Uniform Regulations

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Regolamento sulle uniformi dell'Esercito" (PDF). Italian Army General Staff - III Department. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Arma di Fanteria e Specialità". Italian Army. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Arma di Fanteria - Le Specialità". Italian Army. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Militaria Storico - Arma di Fanteria". Italian Army. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Militaria Storico - Reggimenti di Fanteria dal 1° al 96°". Italian Army. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Militaria Storico - Reggimenti di Fanteria dal 97° al 208°". Italian Army. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Militaria Storico - Reggimenti di Fanteria dal 209° al 292°". Italian Army. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  8. ^ a b c "Arma di Cavalleria e Specialità". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Arma di Cavalleria". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  10. ^ "Militaria Storico - Arma della Cavalleria". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Arma di Artiglieria e Specialità". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Arma di Artiglieria". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Militaria Storico - Arma di Artiglieria". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Arma del Genio e Specialità". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Arma del Genio". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Militaria Storico - Arma del Genio". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  17. ^ "Arma delle Trasmissioni e Specialità". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  18. ^ "Arma delle Trasmissioni". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  19. ^ "Militaria Storico - Arma delle Trasmissioni". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  20. ^ "Arma dei Trasporti e Materiali". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  21. ^ "Arma dei Trasporti e Materiali". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  22. ^ "Mostreggiature - Corpo di Commissariato". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Militaria Storico - Corpi e Servizi". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  24. ^ "Corpo di Commissariato dell'Esercito". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  25. ^ "Corpo Sanitario dell'Esercito". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Corpo Sanitario dell'Esercito". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  27. ^ "Corpo degli Ingegneri dell'Esercito". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  28. ^ "Corpo degli Ingegneri dell'Esercito". Italian Army. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  29. ^ "Circolare N. 548 - Divisa degli Ufficiali, Sottufficiali e militari di truppa. - Uniforme di guerra e adeguamento dell'uniforme di pace a quella di guerra". Roma: Ministero della Guerra - Dispensa 38a - 29 luglio 1940 - Anno XVIII. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
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