Field Artillery Regiment "a Cavallo"

On May 24, 1915, the four groups of mounted batteries took part in the operations together with the four cavalry divisions that accompanied:[4]

• I Group: 1st and 2nd Horse Artillery Batteries;
• II Group: 3rd and 4th Horse Artillery Batteries;
• III Group: 5th and 6th Horse Artillery Batteries;
• IV Group: 7th and 8th Horse Artillery Batteries.

The Groups were brought together to form the Horse Artillery Regiment, and were employed in Cervignano, Villesse, the Isonzo crossing, Monte Sei Busi, Monfalcone, Sagrado.[4]

Once the war was stabilized, the Horse Artillery Batteries were temporarily used for coastal and anti-aircraft defence near Aquileia, San Giorgio di Nogaro and lower Tagliamento.[4]

In May 1916, the Groups were sent to the front with their respective cavalry divisions on foot, taking up positions in reduced formation at Monte Udern, San Jacob and Monfalcone.[4]

In October 1916, the Groups moved to the dependencies of various infantry divisions where the need arose for an artillery reinforcement. They occupied difficult and highly beaten positions in Gorizia, Ciprianisce, Oppacchiasella and Nova Vas.[4]

In 1917 the Regiment was reunited. The 1st Group occupied positions at Crni Krib, at the Pietra Rossa lake, at an altitude of 235 metres. The II Group was in Opacchiasella until May. From May to August it was in training on horseback with the 2nd Cavalry Division, then, once again on foot, it was in Gorizia and before Tolmino. The III Group held positions in Lukatic, Nad Bregom, Nova Vas, Segeti and Opacchiasella until October. The IV Group was in Opacchiasella, Monfalcone and Gorizia.[4]

At the Battle of Caporetto in October 1917, the Regimental Command with I and III Groups were on the Carso at an altitude of 208 south; the II Group was in front of Tolmino and the IV Group was in Salcano di Gorizia. On 24 October 1917 the II Group was surrounded by overwhelming Austrian forces while it was carrying out the fire. The other groups with the Regimental Command retreated to the Tagliamento where they took up positions to contain the enemy advance.[4]

Between the Tagliamento and the Piave, the I and III Groups supported the cavalry divisions in charge of covering the retreat of the bulk of the army. Once the Piave defensive line was reached, the Batteries took up positions on Montello.[4]

In 1918, the mounted batteries joined their respective cavalry divisions. In June 1918, the II Group was engaged in Monastier di Treviso against the Austro-Hungarian forces that had crossed the Piave. Once repulsed the Austro-Hungarian offensive, the Groups left the cavalry divisions and the Regiment was assembled and sent to the Asiago plateau. There, it occupied the positions of Campo Rossignolo, Bosco di Gallio, Cima Eckar and Monte Valbella, where it participated in all the fights that took place in that period in that sector.[4]

In early October 1918, in anticipation of the Italian offensive, the groups were again assigned to the cavalry divisions. On 29 October 1918 the Piave was forded, starting the pursuit of the enemy forces.[4]

On 1 October 1934 the Regiment was disestablished to give life with its Groups to the Celere Artillery Regiments (1st, 2nd and 3rd Celere Artillery Regiments).[1]

The 1st Celere Artillery Regiment arrived in Libya in February 1941, with two motorized Groups, after valiant actions in cooperation with the infantry, was officially dissolved for war events on 27 November 1942.[1]

The 2nd Celere Artillery Regiment, which arrived in Tripoli on 14 January 1941, with two motorized Groups, was overwhelmed after a year of fighting and 59 days of siege.[1]

The 3rd Celere Artillery Regiment, landed in Tripoli in February 1941, with two motorized Groups, sacrificed itself in an unequal fight between 24 October and 4 November 1942.[1]

The Horse Artillery Regiment, reconstituted in July 1941 by bringing together the horse Groups of the Celere Artillery Regiments, was sent, together with the 201st Motorized Artillery Regiment with counter-tank tasks, to the Russian front where it immolated men, horses and cannons side by side of the soldiers, of the cavalrymen of the Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd) and of the lancers of the Regiment "Lancieri di Novara" (5th) of the 3rd Celere Division.[1]

The Horse Artillery Regiment was reconstituted in Milan on 20 November 1946 as Horse Cavalry Regiment "Legnano".[1][5]

In 1954 the official designation changed to Army Corps Self-propelled Horse Artillery Regiment. In 1957 the Regiment was designated Self-propelled Anti-tank Horse Artillery Regiment and, in 1961, Self-propelled Horse Artillery Regiment. In 1963 it returned to the original and current denomination of Artillery Regiment "a Cavallo".[5]

From 1 December 1997 to 2005 the regiment was framed within the Group then the Artillery Brigade.[1]

In 2005, the Regiment was transferred to the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli".[1]