The following is a hierarchical outline for the Italian Army at the end of the Cold War. It is intended to convey the connections and relationships between units and formations.
This article is based on the 1984 publication of the Italian Army's order of battle by the Institute for Disarmament, Development and Peace (Istituto di ricerche per il disarmo, lo sviluppo e la pace (IRDISP) in Rome (a think tank of the Radical Party). The published order of battle, down to company level, can be found at the Radical's Radio's website (Link). The structure was then adapted with information from the Italian Army's website and its units' histories listed there. Additionally the following website was used, which lists every Order of Battle for Italy's armies from 1553 to 1997, Link. Specifically the Order of Battle after the 1986 reform was used, which was then corrected and expanded with the Italian Army's website information.
Graphic of the Italian Army in 1989
Army General Staff
The Army General Staff in Rome oversaw all Italian Army units. However, in the event of war the three Corps' in Northern Italy would have come under command of NATO's Allied Land Forces Southern Europe (LANDSOUTH) Command in Verona.
3rd Army Corps
3rd Army Corps, in Milan: 3rd Army Corps Command Unit, in Milan Artillery Command, in Vercelli Horse Artillery Regiment, in Milan Command Battery, in Milan 1st Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Gioacchino Bellezza", (M109 155mm self-propelled howitzers), in Milan 2nd Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Sergio Bresciani", (M109 155mm self-propelled howitzers), in Cremona 3rd Heavy Field Artillery Group (Reserve), (M59 155/45 towed howitzers), in Cremona 3rd Battery, 30th Artillery Specialists Group "Brianza", in Milan 131st Heavy Field Artillery Group "Vercelli", in Vercelli, (FH70 155mm towed howitzers) 205th Heavy Field Artillery Group "Lomellina", in Vercelli, (FH70 155mm towed howitzers) 11th Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group "Falco" (Reserve), in Vercelli 12th Artillery Specialists Group "Biella", in Vercelli 30th Artillery Specialist Group "Brianza" (Reserve), in Milan Engineer Command, in Novara 3rd Pioneer Battalion "Lario", in Pavia 131st Pioneer Battalion "Ticino", in Bellinzago Novarese Signal Command, in Milan 3rd Signal Battalion "Spluga", in Milan 231st Signal Battalion "Sempione", in Novara Light Aviation Command, at Bresso Air Base 23rd Recon Helicopters Squadrons Group "Eridano", at Bresso Air Base 423rd Recon Helicopter Squadron (AB-206) 461st Recon Helicopter Squadron (AB-206) 462nd Recon Helicopter Squadron (AB-206) 53rd Multirole Helicopters Squadrons Group "Cassiopea", at Bresso Air Base 531st Multirole Helicopter Squadron (AB-205) 532nd Multirole Helicopter Squadron (AB-205) 33rd Logistic Maneuver Battalion "Ambrosiano", in Novara
Armored Brigade "Centauro" Armored Brigade "Centauro", in Novara Command and Signal Unit "Centauro", in Novara 1st Tank Battalion "M.O. Cracco", in Bellinzago Novarese, (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 101st Tank Battalion "M.O. Zappalà", in Bellinzago Novarese, (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 28th Bersaglieri Battalion "Oslavia", in Bellinzago Novarese, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 9th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Brennero", in Vercelli, (M109 155mm self-propelled howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Centauro", in Bellinzago Novarese Anti-tank Company "Centauro", in Bellinzago Novarese Engineer Company "Centauro", in Novara
Mechanized Brigade "Goito" Mechanized Brigade "Goito" in Milan Command and Signal Unit "Goito", in Milan 4th Tank Battalion "M.O. Passalacqua", in Solbiate Olona, (Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks) 6th Bersaglieri Battalion "Palestro", in Turin, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 10th Bersaglieri Battalion "Bezzecca", in Solbiate Olona, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 18th Bersaglieri Battalion "Poggio Scanno", in Milan, (VCC-2 armored personnel carriers) 3rd Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Pastrengo", in Vercelli, (M109 155mm self-propelled howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Goito", in Monza Anti-tank Company "Goito", in Turin Engineer Company "Goito", in Novara