Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th)

The Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th) ( - "Lancers of Novara") is a cavalry unit of the Italian Army based in Codroipo in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment is the reconnaissance unit of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete". In December 1828, the Royal Sardinian Army formed a Dragoons regiment, which was named for the region of Piedmont. In 1832, the regiment was renamed Regiment "Novara Cavalleria". In 1845, the regiment's troops were armed with lances. In 1848-49, the regiment fought in the First Italian War of Independence, during which it distinguished itself in the Battle of Santa Lucia, for which the regiment was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor. During the Second Italian War of Independence the regiment distinguished itself in the Battle of Montebello, for which it was awarded its second Bronze Medal of Military Valor. On 6 June 1860, the regiment joined the new Lancers speciality and was renamed Regiment "Lancieri di Novara". In the 1860-1861, during the Sardinian campaign in central and southern Italy the regiment distinguished itself in the Battle of Castelfidardo, while the regiment's 1st Squadron distinguished itself in the Battle of Macerone Pass. For these feats of arms the regiment was awarded its third and fourth Bronze Medal of Military Valor. In 1866, the regiment fought in the Third Italian War of Independence and in 1870 participated in the capture of Rome.

During World War I the regiment formed together with the Regiment "Genova Cavalleria" (4th) the II Cavalry Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division "Friuli". In 1916, the two regiments fought dismounted in the trenches of the Italian Front. In October 1917, after the Italian defeat in the Battle of Caporetto, the II Cavalry Brigade stalled, together with the Brigade "Bergamo", the Austro-Hungarian advance in the Battle of Pozzuolo del Friuli, which allowed the Italian 3rd Army to retreat intact over the Tagliamento river. For their conduct at Pozzuolo del Friuli both regiments of the II Cavalry Brigade were awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor.

During World War II the regiment was assigned together with the Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" to the 3rd Cavalry Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta", which in spring 1941 fought in the invasion of Yugoslavia. In summer 1941, the 3rd Cavalry Division "Principe Amedeo Duca d'Aosta" was assigned to the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia, which was sent to Ukraine to fight in the German invasion of the Soviet Union. In October and November 1941, the regiment fought in the Battle of Stalino (today Donetsk) and the battle for control of Horlivka. In July 1942, the regiment fought in the Battle of Krasnyi Luch. In late August 1942, the regiment defend the right flank of the 2nd Infantry Division "Sforzesca", during which the regiment's 2nd Squadron conducted a cavalry charge to disperse attacking Red Army infantry. For its conduct in July and August 1942, the regiment was awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor. In December 1942, the regiment was almost annihilated during the Soviet Operation Little Saturn and subsequently the regiment's surviving troops were repatriated. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, the remnants of the regiment were disbanded by invading German forces.

In December 1946, the Italian Army formed the 5th Lancers Reconnaissance Group, which received the regiment's traditions and white gorget patches. In 1949, the group was expanded to 5th Armored Cavalry Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" and equipped with M26 Pershing tanks. In 1957, the regiment was assigned to the newly formed Cavalry Brigade. In 1964, the regiment was reduced to Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Novara" and reorganized as a reconnaissance unit. In 1975, the squadrons group was reorganized and renamed 5th Tank Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Novara". The squadrons group was equipped with Leopard 1A2 main battle tanks and assigned the traditions and standard of the Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th). In 1992, the squadrons group lost its autonomy and entered the reformed Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th). In January 2013, the regiment was assigned to the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" as the brigade's reconnaissance unit.

The regiment's anniversary falls on 27 August 1942, to commemorate the regiment's conduct during the battles at Yagodnyi to the South of the Don river between 21 and 30 August 1942, for which the regiment was awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor. As the regiment is a lancer unit, its enlisted personnel is addressed as "Lancer" ().

History Formation On 24 December 1828, the Regiment "Dragoni di Piemonte" (Regiment Dragoons of Piedmont) was formed in Vigevano with personnel drawn from four existing Royal Sardinian Army cavalry regiments: Regiment "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria", Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Piemonte", Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Savoia", and Regiment "Dragoni del Génévois". The new regiment received untamed horses directly from the army's herds and fielded 900 dragoons and 784 horses in eight squadrons, which were grouped in four divisions. The regiment's troops were armed with a flintlock musket, two flintlock pistols, and a sabre.

On 29 August 1831, all five Royal Sardinian Army cavalry regiments were reduced from eight to six squadrons and a depot squadron, which was to be formed in wartime and train new recruits. On 3 November of the same year, the personnel of the disbanded squadrons was used to reform the Regiment "Aosta Cavalleria". On 3 January 1832, the six Royal Sardinian Army cavalry regiments were renamed uniformly as "Cavalleria". On the same date the Regiment "Dragoni di Piemonte" was renamed Regiment "Novara Cavalleria" for the city of Novara. The troops of five regiments, including the Regiment "Novara Cavalleria", were equipped with a flintlock musket, two flintlock pistols, and a sabre, while the troops of the Regiment "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria" continued to be equipped with a flintlock musket, two flintlock pistols, and a straight cavalry sword. With the name change the identifying color of the Regiment "Novara Cavalleria" was defined as orange, but in 1839 it was changed to white, which is still used as the color of the regiment's gorget patches today.

On 7 March 1835, the six cavalry regiments were grouped into two brigades: the I Brigade consisted of the regiments "Nizza Cavalleria", "Savoia Cavalleria" and "Novara Cavalleria", while the II Brigade consisted of the regiments "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria", "Genova Cavalleria" and "Aosta Cavalleria". On 15 March 1836, the 6th Squadron of all six cavalry regiments was reorganized as a depot squadron. During the same year the troops of one squadron of each regiment, with the exception of the Regiment “Piemonte Reale Cavalleria”, replaced their flintlock musket with a lance. On 4 October of the same year, the number of brigades was increased from two to three and the regiments were reassigned: the I Brigade consisted now of the regiments "Nizza Cavalleria" and "Genova Cavalleria", the II Brigade of the regiments "Piemonte Reale Cavalleria" and "Novara Cavalleria", and the III Brigade of the regiments "Savoia Cavalleria" and "Aosta Cavalleria".

In 1841, all six regiments were uniformly organized and equipped: the troops of the regiments' first four squadrons were equipped with a flintlock musket, two flintlock pistols, and a sabre, while the troops of the regiments' fifth squadron were equipped with a lance, two flintlock pistols, and a sabre. On 1 January 1842, the six regiments disbanded their depot squadrons. In 1843, each regiments equipped a second squadron with lances. On 17 March 1845, all six regiments replaced their flintlock muskets and flintlock pistols with a percussion pistolone — a pistol with a shoulder stock and were issued lances. Afterwards all of the regiment's troops were equipped with a lance, a pistolone and a sabre.

Italian Wars of Independence First Italian War of Independence In 1848 revolutionary riots broke out in many parts of Europe, including numerous places in Italy. In March 1848, the revolts also spread into the Austrian Empire, where Milan (Five Days of Milan) and Venice (Republic of San Marco) rebelled against the House of Habsburg. The battles were particularly heated in Milan, where the commander of the army of Lombardy–Venetia, Marshal Josef Radetzky, was forced to abandon the city. As a result of this, other revolts broke out in Lombardy–Venetia. With Vienna itself in revolt, the Austrian Empire was tottering. On 23 March, one day after the end of the Five Days of Milan, King Charles Albert of Sardinia declared war on Austria. Thus began the First Italian War of Independence.Scardigli, Marco (2011). Le grandi battaglie del Risorgimento. Milan: Rizzoli. . pp. 101–102Avery, Robert. The First Italian War of Independence (1848–49) – A Military History The Victorian Web.

On the same day King Charles Albert declared war the Royal Sardinian Army's six cavalry regiments reformed their depot squadrons. At the start of the campaign the cavalry's I Brigade was attached to the I Army Corps, while the II Brigade was attached to the II Army Corps, while the III Brigade was attached to the army reserve division. On 25 March 1848, King Charles Albert ordered to issue all cavalry regiments a 60 cm wide square standard in the colors of the Italian flag with the arms of Savoy displayed in the center of the white pale. On 9 April 1848, the Regiment "Novara Cavalleria" clashed with Austrian forces at Monzambano, followed by combat at Mantua and Villafranca, and the Skirmish of Pastrengo on 30 April 1848. On 6 May, the regiment distinguished itself in the Battle of Santa Lucia. On 23 and 24 July, the Regiment "Novara Cavalleria" fought at Sommacampagna and the next day in the Battle of Custoza. On 27 July, the regiment fought in the Battle of Volta Mantovana, after which King Charles Albert ordered a retreat towards Milan. On 9 August, the Austrian General Heinrich von Heß and the Sardinian General Carlo Canera di Salasco signed the Armistice of Salasco, which stated that Charles Albert's troops would withdraw from the whole of the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, and the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza and Duchy of Modena and Reggio. Thus ended the war's First Campaign.

On 1 March 1849, the Sardinian Chamber of Deputies voted for the resumption of the war, with 94 votes in favour and 24 against. King Charles Albert decided that hostilities would resume on 20 March and, as stipulated in the 1848 armistice, the Austrians were informed about the continuation of the war eight days before the hostilities resumed. Charles Albert then massed his army near Novara. At noon on 20 March, the whole Austrian Army crossed the Ticino river at Pavia and marched North towards Mortara and Vigevano. On 23 March 1849, Field Marshal Radetzky decisively defeated the Sardinians in the Battle of Novara. In the evening of 23 March, King Charles Albert abdicated in favour of his son Victor Emmanuel. On 24 March, the new king met with Radetzky at Vignale and agreed to an armistice, which ended the short Second Campaign of the First Italian War of Independence.

For its conduct in the Battle of Santa Lucia the Regiment "Novara Cavalleria" was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the regiment's standard.