Aosta Mechanized Brigade

Brigata Meccanizzata "Aosta"
Coat of Arms Aosta Mechanized Brigade
Active	25 October 1831 - today Aosta Mechanized Brigade
Country	Italy
Allegiance	Italian Army
Branch	Army
Type	Brigade
Role	Infantry
Part of	Acqui Division Command
Garrison/HQ	Messina
Colors	red
Engagements	World War I World War II Bosnia SFOR Kosovo KFOR Afghanistan ISAF Iraq Multinational force in Iraq
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier Roberto Perretti

The Aosta Mechanized Brigade is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based on the island of Sicily. The Brigade is one of the oldest of the Italian Army and the name connects the brigade to its original area of recruitment the Aosta Valley.

After the ascension to the throne of Charles Albert of Sardinia on 27 April 1831 a major reform of the military of the Kingdom of Piedmont was undertaken. Thus on 25 October 1831 the Aosta Brigade was raised with two infantry regiments. These two regiments were the "His Royal Highness Fusilier Regiment" (Reggimento Fucilieri di Sua Altezza Reale) founded on 20 February 1690 and a newly raised Infantry Regiment. From 1 November 1815 to 25 October 1831 the "HRH Fusilier Regiment" was known as "Brigade of Aosta" (Brigata di Aosta), however in size and function this brigade was an infantry regiment with just two battalions. Between 1774 and 1799 the "HRH Fusilier Regiment" was known as the "Regiment of Aosta" (Reggimento di Aosta). Initially each regiment consisted of three battalions: the 1st and 2nd battalions fielded each three companies of fusiliers and one company of grenadiers, while the third battalions consisted of four companies of skirmishers. A fourth battalion was added to each regiment and the companies personnel strength was increased. By 1839 each regiment fielded four battalions, which in turn fielded 4 companies of 250 men each. In 1839 the regiments of the Aosta were numbered and renamed as 5th Infantry Regiment Aosta Brigade and 6th Infantry Regiment Aosta Brigade.

The brigade participated in the First Italian War of Independence fighting in the battles of Santa Lucia, Goito, Pastrengo and Novara, where the 5th Regiment was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor. In 1855 the brigade provided two battalions for the Sardinian Expeditionary Corps in the Crimean War. In the Second Italian War of Independence the brigade was employed in the battles of Magenta and Solferino. The brigade was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor for its conduct at Solferino. Furthermore, the IV Battalion of the 5th Regiment was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor for its conduct during the Battle of Aspromonte. In the following years the brigade was employed in Calabria and the region of Salerno to suppress the popular revolt of the peasant population against the annexation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies into the new Kingdom of Italy. In the Third Italian War of Independence the brigade fought in the Battle of Custoza.