Formation On 16 April 1861, the
Royal Italian Army formed the
Brigade "Sicilia" in
Naples. The brigade consisted of the 61st Infantry Regiment and 62nd Infantry Regiment, which were formed on the same day and based in Naples, respectively in
Nola. The 61st Infantry Regiment received three battalions ceded by the 18th Infantry Regiment of the
Brigade "Acqui", and by the 27th Infantry Regiment and
28th Infantry Regiment of the
Brigade "Pavia", while the 62nd Infantry Regiment received three battalions ceded by the 3rd Infantry Regiment and
4th Infantry Regiment of the
Brigade "Piemonte", and by the
52nd Infantry Regiment of the
Brigade "Alpi". In 1861–62, the regiment operated in the area of
Durazzano to suppress the
anti-Sardinian revolt, which had erupted in
Southern Italy after the
Kingdom of Sardinia had annexed the
Kingdom of Two Sicilies. In June 1961, the regiment's 2nd Company and 3rd Company, distinguished themselves in the fighting against rebel forces at Durazzano, for which they were awarded a
Bronze Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 62nd Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Sicilia"). On 1 August 1862, the regiment ceded its 17th Company and 18th Company to help form the
68th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Palermo"), and one of its depot companies to help form the
72nd Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Puglie"). In 1866, the regiment participated in the
Third Italian War of Independence, during which the regiment participated in the invasion of
Trentino. On 21–22 July 1866, the regiment fought in the
Battle Primolano and on 23 July in the
Battle of Vigolo. For its conduct in the two battles the regiment was awarded a
Silver Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the regiment's flag. In September 1870, the regiment participated in the
capture of Rome. In July 1916, the brigade was ordered to move to the
Macedonian front. On 8 August 1916, the first units of the brigade embarked in
Taranto and sailed to
Thessaloniki in
Greece. In fall 1916, the brigade fought in the
Monastir offensive. In May 1917, the brigade fought in the
Battle of the Crna Bend. In September 1918, the brigade participated in the
Vardar offensive and then in the
Liberation of Serbia. After the war the Brigade "Sicilia" remained in Macedonia until July 1919. In 1934, the 8th Territorial Division of Piacenza changed its name to
8th Infantry Division "Po". A name change that also extended to the division's infantry brigade. On 28 January 1936, the division was sent to
Libya as a deterrent force during the
Second Italo-Ethiopian War. On 2 September of the same year the division returned to Italy. On 1 November 1936, the 8th Infantry Division "Po" transferred the 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia" to the
32nd Motorized Division "Trento" and the regiment moved from Parma to
Trento. Upon entering the 32nd Motorized Division "Trento" the regiment was renamed 62nd Motorized Regiment "Sicilia". On 15 May 1937, the 8th Infantry Division "Po" transferred the 61st Infantry Regiment "Sicilia" to the 32nd Motorized Division "Trento". The regiment then moved from Parma to Trento and was renamed 61st Motorized Regiment "Sicilia". The 32nd Motorized Division "Trento" also included the
46th Field Artillery Regiment. On 2 January 1939, the 32nd Motorized Division "Trento" changed its name to 102nd Motorized Division "Trento". On the same date the 61st and 62nd motorized regiments, and the 46th Artillery Regiment changed their names to "Trento". On 22 January 1939, the division received the
7th Bersaglieri Regiment based in
Bolzano.
World War II At the outbreak of
World War II, the 62nd Motorized Regiment "Trento" consisted of a command, a command company, three
fusilier battalions, a support weapons battery equipped with
65/17 infantry support guns, and a mortar company equipped with
81mm Mod. 35 mortars. On 10 June 1940, Italy entered
World War II and
invaded France. The "Trento" division was assigned to the
Army of the Po as reserve. In March 1941, the division was shipped to
Libya for the
Western Desert Campaign. On 12 November 1976, the
President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone assigned with decree 846 the flag and traditions of the 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia" to the 62nd Motorized Infantry Battalion "Sicilia".
Recent times On 1 June 1991, battalion was reorganized as a mechanized unit and renamed 62nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Sicilia". The battalion consisted now of a command, a command and services company, three mechanized companies equipped with
M113 armored personnel carriers, and a mortar company equipped with
M106 mortar carriers with 120mm Mod. 63 mortars. On 26 August 1992, the 62nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Sicilia" and the
62nd Armored Battalion "M.O. Jero" were disbanded and the next day the personnel and materiel of the two battalions was used to form the 62nd Armored Infantry Regiment "Sicilia", which inherited the flag and traditions of the 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia". The new regiment fielded a mix of
Leopard 1A2
main battle tanks and M113 armored personnel carrier. On 1 January 1996, the 62nd Armored Infantry Regiment "Sicilia" was reorganized as a tank unit and renamed 62nd Tank Regiment. In 2001, the regiment lost its role as tank unit and was renamed 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia". == Organization ==