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 April 1964, the II Services Battalion "Ariete" was formed in
Cordenons. The battalion became operational in 1965 and was assigned to the II Armored Brigade "Ariete". On 12 November 1976, the
President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone granted with decree 846 the battalion a
flag. For its conduct and work after the
1976 Friuli earthquake the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the battalion's flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms. On 24 June 1981, the battalion added a reserve medical unit. On 1 January of the same year, the battalion was reorganized and consisted afterwards of the following units: •
Logistic Battalion "Mameli", in
Vacile • Command and Services Company • Supply Company • Maintenance Company • Medium Transport Company • Medical Unit (Reserve)
Recent times After the end of the
Cold War the Italian Army began to draw down its forces. Consequently, on 31 March 1991, the Logistic Battalion "Mameli" was disbanded, followed by the
Armored Brigade "Mameli", which was disbanded the following day. On 8 May of the same year, the battalion's flag was transferred to the
Shrine of the Flags in the
Vittoriano in
Rome for safekeeping. == See also ==