This is a working version not a completed document nato order of battle

11. 
    Sardinia Military Region – Cagliari
    

1. 
   Sassari Motorized Brigade – Sassari:
   

1. 
   151^st Motorized Infantry Battalion Sette Comuni - Cagliari: 6 120mm mortars, 18 Milan
   
2. 
   152^nd Infantry Battalion BAR Sassari - Sassari
   
3. 
   1^st Armoured Infantry Regiment (training unit) - Capo Teulada:
   

b) 2^nd Battalion (cadre):

4. 
   170^th Artillery Group (cadre)
   

2. 
   21^st ALE Squadrons Group Orsa Maggiore - Cagliari Elmas:
   

1. 
   211^th AL Sq: 6 SM-1019
   
2. 
   421^st ERI Sq: 6 AB-206
   
3. 
   521^st EM Sq: 6 AB-205
   

3. 
   45^th Infantry Battalion BAR Arborea - Macomer
   
4. 
   47^th Signal Cp - Cagliari
   
5. 
   12^th Mixed Manoeuvre Truck Unit
   

12. Carabinieri: a gendarmerie force, i.e. military personnel mainly operating in civil and military police duties. In case of war Carabinieri would have contributed with both field or mobilized units from the 11^th Brigade and with internal security detachments drawn from the hundreds of posts and stations all over the country. The territorial organization was based on Divisions, Brigades, Legions and Groups (all of them largely administrative echelones), but the basic building block of the territorial organization was the ubiquitous "Stazione Carabinieri" detachments, present in every single town in Italy. Each Station had its own mobilization plan (mainly road chokepoints secutity, garrisons etc) and a ready stockpile of weapons to fuilfill it (barbed wires, MGs, rifles etc).

a. 3 Divisions, 9 Brigades and 24 Legions with MP and rear area security duties;

b. 1 Brigade of school/training units;

c. 11^th Brigade of 13 Mobile Battalions:

1)- Horse Regiment - Roma

d. 11 Helicopter detachments

1. 
   Torino
   
2. 
   Orio al Serio
   
3. 
   Bolzano
   
4. 
   Pisa
   
5. 
   Ancona Falconara
   
6. 
   Bari
   
7. 
   Ponteacagnano
   
8. 
   Palermo Fontanarossa
   
9. 
   Vibo Valentia
   
10. 
    Olbia
    
11. 
    Cagliari
    
12. 
    Forlì
    
13. 
    Genova
    
14. 
    Treviso Sant’Angelo
    

Command Cp: 5 M47

Recon platoon

Armoured Cars Co: FIAT 6616/6614

2 Mech Inf Cps: M113

1 81mm Mortar Cp

1. 
   Polizia di Stato: 70,000, 11 mobile units, 40 Fiat 6614, 3 P-64, 5 P-68 AC, 1 AB-47, 12 A-109, 20 AB-206, 9 AB-212.
   
2. 
   Guardia di Finanza: 50,000, helicopters, patrol boats. Controls the following helicopters: 10 A-109, 68 Nardi-Hughes (40 NH-500C, 16 –D, 12 –M)
   
3. 
   Guardie Forestali
   
4. 
   Vigili del Fuoco
   
5. 
   Corpo Agenti di Custodia
   

ALE: Aviazione Leggera dell’Esercito (Army Light Air Force).

AL: Aerei Leggeri (Light Aircrafts)

ERI: Elicotteri da Ricognizione (Recon Helicopters).

EM: Elicotteri Medi (Medium Helicopters).

ETM: Elicotteri da Trasporto Medi (Medium Transport Helicopters).

Also in ALE and Cavalry units Squadron is the equivalent to Troop, Squadron Group equivalent to Squadron.

BAR: Battaglione Addestramento Reclute (recruits training battalion).

Battaglioni Fanteria d’Arresto are static units committed to halt or slow down enemy advances, they rely on previously built fortifications, bunkers and strongpoints which are not listed.

BgPz2 is also called Bergeleopard.

VCC: Veicolo Corazzato da Combattimento, loosely equivalent to IFV.

VTC: Veicolo da Trasporto Corazzato, loosely equivalent to APC.

The Italian Army eliminated the division as a unit in October 1986.

Tank Battalions were tank-only units with 3 companies of 16 tanks, plus a tank for the battalion commander. M60A1s were assigned to 5 tank battalions of the former Ariete division, in the Ariete, Mameli, Garibaldi Brigades. All other tank battalions have Leopard 1.

Armored Battalions were combined arms units with 2 tank companies on 13 tanks, 1 mech Inf company and a mortar company, generally equipped with the oldest available equipment. In 1989 the M-47 was being taken out of service: only units that definitely still had it by the end of the year were training units and 7^th Carabinieri Arm Bn. The OOB depicts the end-of-the-year situation.

Around this time, a reduction from 5 to 4 tanks in each platoon was being planned. Under this organization, battalions would decrease from 49 to 40 tanks. When this reorganization took place is unclear; some sources report that in 1988-89 all tank platoons were converted to 4 tanks, other sources of the early 90’s report that it had yet to take place. Only for Acqui’s 9^th armored battalion I have a figure of 26 Leopard 1 (2 cp with 4 tank-platoons) in December 1989, received from disbanding of other tank battalions. Taking this as the case for other armored battalions, and leaving the tank battalions at 49, there are sufficient Leopards enough to equip them all and leave some for training/storage. It’s proving hard to determine if all tank units had shifted on 4 tank platoons by 1989, till opposite evidence I leave them on 5 for Tank Bns and 4 for Armoured Bns.

Total tanks in inventory:

200 Leopard 1A1, 720 Leopard 1A2, 300 M60A1, 400+ M47;

5 Tank Battalions with 49 M60 each, for a total of 245

15 Tank Battalions and Sq Gr with 49 Leo1 each (-1 disbanded in 1989), for a total of 686 after disbanding

5 Armoured Battalions and Sq Gr with 26 Leo1 each, for a total of 130*

1 Carabinieri Armoured Battalion with 16 Leo1*

2 Cav Recon Sq Gr with 31 Leo1 each (1 disbanded in 1989), 31 tanks

1 tank company in 1^st Arm Rgt in Capo Teulada Training Area, 16 tanks

Total of Leopard 1 employed 879.

*at least some of these received Leopard 1’s from disbanded Tank and Recon Bns.

2 Armoured Battalion with 34 M47 and one with 16 (they kept the 5-tanks platoons) for a total of 84; other in Carabinieri Mobile Battalions and as many as 300 in storage.

Also available 136 BgPz2 Bergeleopard recovery vehicles, enough for 1 for each tank company, with 55 others available (perhaps with battalions headquarters).

Infantry Battalions are of different types:

.

Anti-Tank Weapons: TOW were mounted on M113 and AR-76 4WD jeeps; the former in Armored and Mechanized Infantry brigades, with some possible exceptions, and the latter in Folgore, Alpini and Motorized brigades. Milan -- 1330 total launchers. In addition, IISS lists 432 TOWs on light vehicles or ground mounts and 270 on M113s. For lighter weapons, IISS lists ~500 Apilas and ~800 Folgore.

Artillery Groups are organized with 3 batteries of 4-6 pieces each. Available at this time:

In addition, Italy held some obsolete equipment in storage: 36 M55 SP203mm, 108 M44 SP155mm.

Equipment of 1^st, 11^th Monferrato, 11^th Teramo, 13^th, 24^th, 33^th, 52^nd, 107^th Groups remains uncertain, but likely equipped with M114.

Italy also had 7 FIROS-30 122mm MRLs and 2 MLRS.

Jane’s lists italy as holding 109 12.7mm Quad M55 towed, 230 40mm L/70 towed, 35 SIDAM Quad 25mm SP (with deliveries ongoing), an unknown number of Stingers (at least 150), Mistrals being delivered, 4 batteries of SPADA, 60 I-Hawks, 96 Nike-Hercules

Engineers corps has four specialities:

Rail Engineers (Genio Ferrovieri)

Bridge Engineers (Genio Pontieri)

Combat Engineers (Genio Guastatori): Mech engineer combat units with the task of laying and defending minefields and other obstacles to enemy advance. (5 battalions and brigade companies)

Pioneers (Genio Pioneri): Engineers with secondary combat duties. (6 Battalions and one School Battalion)

Combat Engineers and Pioneers Battalions are organized as 3 Engineers Companies and one Special Equipment Company with 3 platoons: 1 bridges, 1 earth moving vehicles and 1 special vehicles company with 1-2 bridgelayers, 2 pioneer tanks and mining systems.

Available heavy specialty equipment: 64 BrPz1 Biber and 40 PionierLeopard.

The Italian Army maintained significant helicopter holdings. In 1989, IISS and Flight International lists the Army (not including the various police forces or the navy) as having: 22 A-47G/J (Bell model 47s), 21 A-109EOA Scout/Attack, 5 A-109 in other roles, 20 AB-204B, 92 AB-205A (UH-1D/H), 126 (135, FI) AB-206 (OH-58/Bell 206), 14 (20, FI) AB-212 (UH-1N), 11 AB-412 (4-blade UH-1), 39 CH-47C. Italy had also begun receiving its first A-129 Mangusta attack helicopters – Jane’s 89-90 says that 30 (of 60 ordered) had been delivered by mid-1989, with production ongoing at a rate of 3 per month. Italy also had 68+ SM.1019 and 30+ O-1E Bird Dog fixed wing aircraft acting as forward observer aircraft. World Air Force’s 1989 lists the Italian Army as having 60 A-129 Mangustas on order (along with 6 training versions) with deliveries commencing, along with 26 CH-47C, 10+ AB-412, 20 AB-212, 93 AB-205A, 19 AB-204B, 24 A109EOA (deliveries ongoing), 5 A109A, 135 AB-206A, 21 AB-47 (including varients), 68+ SM.1019, 30+ O-1E.

FIR was formed in 1986 to respond to regional crises out of the northeastern theatre. While it was not organized in peacetime, it consisted of a command tasked with planning and intervention drills in case of sudden crisis; it was expected to control the Folgore Airborne Brigade, the Friuli Motorized Brigade, the San Marco Operational Group (company strength), the 11^th Signal Battalion Leonessa with the support of 1^st RALE Antares, 46^th Air Transport Brigade and Navy 3^rd Naval division with amphibious units San Giorgio and San Giusto.

IISS lists the army as having a reserve pool of 520,000, including 240,000 assigned to mobilization units. Many of the reservists would field out combat support units. IISS says the Italian army would form 1 Mech, 1 Alpini and 1Armoured Brigade from school units immediately upon war alert: these were the Piemonte, Lazio and Puglie Brigades, however their effectiveness as combat units must be considered very limited: only Piemonte Brigade made a mobilization drill in the mid 80’s. IISS says 1 Infantry brigade, plus 1 armored, 3 Infantry and 7 artillery battalions would also be activated from reservists upon mobilization. The reserve battalions referenced by IISS are likely those listed as cadre above. Any additional details on reserve units would be greatly appreciated.

Brigades’ Logistic battalions were so organized:

Command

Command and Services Cp

Manteinance Cp

Medium Transports Cp

Medical Cp (cadre) not in Acqui, Brescia, Folgore, Goito, Gorizia, GdS.

Command

Mixed Transport Cp

Special Transport Cp
Logistical Manoeuvre Battalions:

Command

Supply Cp

Mantainance Cp

1-2 Medium Transports Cp

1-2 Mixed Transport Cp
ITALIAN AIR FORCE
Credit for this section goes to Arturo Filippo Lorioli, who went through Italian records and publications to put it together.
1. 2^nd Stormo (Wing) - “Mario d'Agostini” - Treviso-Sant'Angelo, Italy:

a. 14^th Gruppo (Squadron) Cacciabombardieri (Fighter/Bomber): 18 G91

a. 28^th Gruppo CBR: RF-104G and F-104G

b. 132^nd Gruppo CBR: RF-104G and F-104G
3. 4^th Stormo “Amedeo d’Aosta”- Grosseto, Italy:

a. 9^th Gruppo CIO: F-104S

b. 20^th Gruppo AO: TF-104G and F-104S
4. 5^th Stormo “Giuseppe Cenni” - Rimini-Miramare, Italy:

a. 23^rd Gruppo CIO: F-104S

b. 102^nd Gruppo CBOS: F-104S
5. 6^th Stormo “Alfredo Fusco”- Ghedi, Italy:

a. 154^th Gruppo CBOS: Tornado IDS

b. 155^th Gruppo CBOS: Tornado IDS
6. 8^th Stormo “Gino Priolo” - Cervia, Italy:

a. 101^st Gruppo CB: G.91Y

a. 10^th Gruppo CIO: F-104S

a. 13^th Gruppo CB: G.91Y

a. 12^th Gruppo CIO: F-104S

b. 156^th Gruppo CBOS : Tornado IDS
10. 37^th Stormo “Cesare Toschi” - Trapani-Birgi, Italy:

a. 18^th Gruppo CI/CB: F-104S

a. 22^nd Gruppo CIO: F-104S

b. 103^rd Gruppo CB: AM-X, G.91R, G.91T (not operational, converting to AM-X)
12. 53rd Stormo “Gugliemo Chiarini” - Cameri, Italy:

a. 21st Gruppo CIO: F-104S

1) 57^th Gruppo IT – Ceccia: 12 Nike/Hercules

2) 58^th Gruppo IT - Cordovado: 12 Nike/Hercules

3) 80^th Gruppo IT - Bagnoli di Sopra: 12 Nike/Hercules

4) 81^st Gruppo IT - Chioggia: 12 Nike/Hercules
b. 17th Stormo - Padova:

1) 65th Gruppo IT - Montichiari: 12 Nike/Hercules

2) 67th Gruppo IT - Monte Calvarina: 12 Nike/Hercules

3) 72nd Gruppo IT - Bovolone: 12 Nike/Hercules

4) 79th Gruppo IT - Zelo: 12 Nike/Hercules
14. Combat-capable Training units :
a. 20^th Gruppo AO (OCU): (already listed with the 4th Stormo)
b. 60^th Brigata Aerea - Foggia-Amendola:

1) 201^st Gruppo : G.91T:

2) 204^th Gruppo : G.91T:
c. 61^st Brigata Aerea - Lecce-Galatina:

1) 212^th Gruppo: MB.339A:

2) 213^th Gruppo: MB.339A:
15. Independent units:

a. 313^th Gruppo AA “Frecce Tricolori” - Udine-Rivolto: MB.339PAN (air demonstration unit)

Definitions

Stormo = Wing

Gruppo = Squadron

AA = Addestramento Acrobatico (Aerobatic Training)

AO = Addestramento Operativo (Operational Training - OCU)

CB = Cacciabombardieri (Fighter/Bombers)

CBOS = Cacciabombardieri Ognitempo Speciali (Special All-Weather Fighter/Bomber, where “Special” means nuclear weapons capable)

CBR = Cacciabombardieri Ricognitori (Recon Fighter/Bombers)

CI = Caccia Intercettori (Interceptor Fighters)

CIO = Caccia Intercettori Ognitempo (All-Weather Interceptor Fighters)

IT = Intercettori Teleguidati (Remote-controlled Interceptors, i.e. Nike/Hercules SAMs)

c. 201^st, 204^th, 205^th Training Gruppos: G-91T

Tornado IDS – 85 standard and 15 IDS-T training versions. In addition to the above squadrons, 10 were stationed at the NATO tri-national training facility at Cottesmore, UK. 2 were lost to accidents in 1984 and one in June 1989. Information from Tornado-data.com.

G.91: 38+ G.91Y (light attack version), 45+ G.91R (recon/light attack version), 71 G.91T (trainer/light attack version)

Other Aircraft:

80 MB.339A (advanced trainer with secondary attack role), 10 MB.339PAN (demonstration team version), 5 MB.339RM (radar calibration version)

66+ MB.326 (former advanced trainers used as communications/liason aircraft)

30 SF-260M (lead-in trainers)

18 Atlantic (Marine Reconnaissance)

Transports: 12 C-130H, 32 G-222

6 G-222VS/RM (ELINT), 21 PD-808RM/ECM (ECM/radar calibrations)

In addition, deliveries of AMX light attack aircraft began in 1989
Note 3: Italian Air Force Helicopter Holdings: In addition to fixed-wing aircraft, Italy also had substantial holdings of rotary wing aircraft: 10 AB-205A, 50 NH-500D, 32 AB-212, 2 AB-61A-4, 18 HH-3E Pelicans, plus 28 AB-47G/J and 25 AB-204 in the training role (data for early 1990 from Jane’s).

GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG
ROYAL LUXEMBOURG ARMY
1. 1^st Infantry Battalion (Light) - assigned to the Allied Mobile Force (Land):

a) 3 Infantry Companies

b) Support Company with ~16 Land Rovers with HMGs, 6 Land Rover with I-TOW, 1 battery (6 tubes?) of 81mm mortars

c) Artillery Battery (attached to Belgian field artillery school): 3 105mm howitzers on 25lber carriages.