Sardinian Grenadiers

Brigata Meccanizzata "Granatieri di Sardegna"
Coat of Arms Granatieri di Sardegna Brigade
Active	25 October 1831 - 20 April 1850 Guards Brigade 20 April 1850 - November 1852 Granatieri Brigade November 1852 - 25 October 1871 Granatieri di Sardegna Brigade 2 January 1881 - 8 February 1934 Granatieri di Sardegna Brigade 8 February 1934 - 10 September 1943 Granatieri di Sardegna Infantry Division 15 May 1944 - 31 August 1944 Granatieri Division 1 April 1948 - 1 November 1976 Granatieri di Sardegna Infantry Division 1 November 1976 - today Granatieri di Sardegna Mechanized Brigade
Country	Italy
Allegiance	Italian Army
Branch	Army
Type	Brigade
Role	Infantry
Part of	COMFOD 2°
Garrison/HQ	Rome
Colors	red
Engagements	World War I World War II Bosnia SFOR Kosovo KFOR Afghanistan ISAF Iraq Multinational force in Iraq
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier Giovanni Armentani

The Granatieri di Sardegna Mechanized Brigade (Grenadiers of Sardinia Mechanized Brigade) is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based mainly in Rome and central Italy. The brigade fields one of the oldest regiments of the Army and is one of the guard regiments of the Italian president. The name of the unit dates back to the Kingdom of Sardinia and not the eponymous Mediterranean island of Sardinia.

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 Guards Grenadiers Brigade (Brigata Granatieri "Guardie") was raised as one of 10 infantry brigades of the kingdom. The brigade consisted of the 1st Grenadiers Regiment (1° Reggimento Granatieri), with four battalions of four companies each and a depot battalion of four companies, and the 2nd Hunters Regiment (2° Reggimento Cacciatori), with three battalions of four companies each and a depot battalion of three companies.

The 1st Grenadiers Regiment was founded as Regiment of the Guards (Reggimento delle Guardie) on 18 April 1659 by the Duke of Savoy Charles Emmanuel II as his personal bodyguard regiment during military campaigns. The regiment participated in the War of the Spanish Succession where it excelled during the Siege of Turin. After the Duchy had been elevated to kingdom in 1720 the regiment fought in the War of the Polish Succession and War of the Austrian Succession, during which the regiment performed exceptionally brave during the Battle of Assietta.