Cold War In 1963, the Italian Army reorganized its armored divisions along
NATO standards and added a brigade level to the divisions' organization. As part of the reorganization the
Armored Division "Ariete" formed a services battalion for each of its three brigades. On 1 June 1963, the III Services Battalion "Ariete" was formed in
Maniago and assigned to the III Armored Brigade "Ariete". Initially the battalion consisted of a command, a command platoon, an auto unit, a mobile workshop, a mixed services platoon, and provisions team. On 1 January 1966, the battalion was reorganized and consisted afterwards of a command, a command and services company, an auto unit, a medical company, and a Resupply, Repairs, Recovery Unit. On 30 September 1968, the division's three brigade headquarters were disbanded and the next day, on 1 October 1968, the III Services Battalion "Ariete" was assigned to the division's Services Grouping Command "Ariete". On 12 November 1976, the
President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone granted with decree 846 the battalion its flag. In 1981, the battalion added a reserve medical unit. The same year the battalion was reorganized and consisted afterwards of the following units:
Recent times From December 1992 to March 1994, the battalion provided personnel and materiel for the
Unified Task Force and then the
United Nations Operation in Somalia II in
Somalia. From 6 February to 24 May 2004, the battalion deployed to
Iraq as part of the
Italian contribution to the
Multi-National Force – Iraq. For its conduct and work in Iraq the battalion was awarded a Bronze Cross of Army Merit, which was affixed to the battalion's flag. On 30 June 2015, the Logistic Battalion "Ariete" lost its autonomy and the next day the battalion entered the newly formed Logistic Regiment "Ariete". == Organization ==