Mechanized Brigade "Sassari"
The Sassari Mechanized Brigade is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based on the island of Sardinia. Its core are three infantry regiments which distinguished themselves in combat during World War I. Carrying the name of the Sardinian city of Sassari the brigade's coat of arms is modeled after the city's coat of arms. The brigade is part of the Division "Acqui".
3rd Bersaglieri Regiment lieutenant with her radioman during an exercise in Sardinia
Sassari soldiers on patrol with Freccia IFVs in Afghanistan
Sassari troops at Herat Airport in Afghanistan
Sassari soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan
The Italian Army is the land force branch of the Italian Armed Forces. The army's history dates back to the Italian unification in the 1850s and 1860s. The army fought in colonial engagements in China, Libya, Northern Italy against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, Abyssinia before World War II and in World War II in Albania, Balkans, North Africa, the Soviet Union, and Italy itself. During the Cold War, the army prepared itself to defend against a Warsaw Pact invasion from the east. Since the end of the Cold War, the army has seen extensive peacekeeping service and combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank and among its aircraft the Mangusta attack helicopter, recently deployed in UN missions. The headquarters of the Army General Staff are located in Rome opposite the Quirinal Palace, where the president of Italy resides. The army is an all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel.
Dardo IFVs on an exercise in Capo Teulada
Alpini of the 7th Alpini Regiment during the Falzarego 2011 exercise
The 1st Field Artillery Regiment (Mountain) on exercise
Italian 8th Alpini Regiment snipers in winter ghillie suits in 2019