The Division "Acqui" Italian: Divisione "Acqui" is one of three active divisions of the Italian Army. The division is the army's high readiness command for out-of-area operations. The Acqui is based in Capua in the Province of Caserta and assigned to the Operational Land Forces Command. The division carries on the name and traditions of the World War II Royal Italian Army 33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" and the Cold War Italian Army Motorized Brigade "Acqui".
| Division "Acqui" | |
|---|---|
| Divisione "Acqui" | |
 Coat of Arms of the Division "Acqui" | |
| Active | 31 December 2002 - today |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Part of | Operational Land Forces Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Capua |
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History
editIn 2002 the Italian Army decided to raise three division commands, with one of the three always readily deployable for NATO missions. The army decided that each of the three should carry on the traditions of one of the divisions that served with distinction in World War II. Therefore, on 31 December 2002 the 3rd Italian Division in San Giorgio a Cremano was renamed Division Command "Acqui".[1]
Initially the division was assigned only a Command and Tactical Supports Unit with further units to be assigned only in case of war. In 2013 the Italian army decided to abolish the corps-level and assign the army's brigades to the three divisions: Acqui, Tridentina, and Friuli. Therefore, on 5 July 2016 the Acqui took command of five brigades in Southern and Central Italy. However, as of 2019 the plans to disband the corps-level are on hold and the Division "Acqui" had to return operational control of its brigades to the Southern Operational Forces Command.[1]
In 2022 the Acqui was assigned to the Operational Land Forces Command and the division's brigades were assigned to the Southern Operational Forces Command.
Organization
edit
Until 2022 the Division "Acqui" commanded the following units in Southern and Central Italy:[2]
Division "Acqui", in Capua
- Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Acqui", in Capua
Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" in Lazio and Umbria
Mechanized Brigade "Aosta" on Sicily
Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" in Apulia
Mechanized Brigade "Sassari" on Sardinia
Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi" in Campania
Since joining the Operational Land Forces Command in 2022 the division's only subordinate unit is the 57th Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Abruzzi" in Capua.
- Division "Acqui", in Capua
57th Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Abruzzi", in Capua
- Command Company
- Tactical and Logistic Support Battalion
- Deployment Support Company
- Transport Company
References
edit- ^ a b "Divisione "Acqui" - La storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ "Divisione "Acqui"". Italian Army. Retrieved 13 November 2019.