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The De Carli barracks in Cordenons are home to 132° Reggimento Carri (Italian 132nd Tank Regiment) “Ariete”. This unit is composed of a regimental headquarters, a support company and a logistics battalion and is manned by volunteers. It was originally formed on 1 September 1941 in North Africa from 32nd Infantry Regiment. As part of the Ariete armoured division at Bir Hacheim it had its ‘baptism of fire’ on 18 November 1941 at Bir el Gobi. It later took part in the battles of Sidi Rezegh and Gazala and the reoccupation of Benghazi. It was equipped with M13/40 tanks and fought at Rughet el Atash on 27 May 1942. Later battles included Tobruk, El Alamein and the retreat from Libya, after which it was dissolved in December 1942 due to heavy losses. It was reconstituted in Sardinia in March 1944 but disbanded later that year. It was reconstituted in Rome in 1948 under the name 1º Reggimento Carristi of the Ariete armoured brigade before becoming 132º Reggimento Carristi ‘Ariete’ the following year. Further moves and reorganisations followed until it was dissolved in October 1975. It was reconstituted in July 1992 and took part in relief operations in Somalia from December 1992 to March 1994. On 30 November 1995 it moved to Cordenons.
Arranged around the barracks are various displayed vehicles and three memorials. The first memorial consists of a stylised dragon and tank atop a plaque that reads:
FERREA MOLE FERREO CUORE
A.N.C.I.
[Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani] | IRON HULL IRON HEART
A.N.C.I.
[National Association of Italian Communities] |
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IN ONORE DEI NOSTRI CADUTI PER LA PATRIA
CON IMMUTABILE ORGOGLIO CARRISTA
L'ASSOCIAZONE NAZIONALE CARRISTI D'ITALIA
SEZIONE DI S.MICHELE AL TAGLIAMENTO
AL
132º REGGIMENTO CARRI
CORDENONS. 20. 03. 2008 | IN HONOUR OF THE FALLEN FOR OUR COUNTRY
WITH UNCHANGING PRIDE IN OUR TANK CREWMEN
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN TANK CREWMEN
SAN MICHELE AL TAGLIAMENTO SECTION
OF
132ND TANK REGIMENT
CORDENONS. 20 March 2008 |
The second memorial consists of a bust of a tank crewman surrounded by a tank track on a mount with a plaque that reads:
| CARRISTA DEL DESERTO | DESERT TANK CREWMEN |
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LA DOVE IL GHIBLI SOFFIA E BRUCIA IL SOLE
SONO RIMASTE L'ETERNE INCANCELLABILI
PAROLE CHE TU CARRISTA CON IL
TUO SANGUE HAI SCRITTO
ITALIA ONORE | WHERE THE SUN BURNS AND GALES BLOW
HAVING REMAINED ETERNALLY UNFORGETTABLE
YOU CREWS WITH THE WORDS
YOU HAVE WRITTEN WITH YOUR BLOOD
ITALY HONOURS |
The third memorial consists of a bust of a tank crewman on an altar table above a piece of tank track. It commemorates the battles of Bir El Gobi and El Alamein. The supports of the table have inscribed Comando Supremo bulletins of the actions and details of the award of the Gold Medal for Valour. A plaque in front of the tank track reads:
MEDAGLIA D'ORO AL V.M. [Valore Militare] ALLA BANDIERA
DEL
132º REGGIMENTO CARRI ARIETE
BIR EL GOBI 18 NOVEMBRE 1941
EL ALAMEIN 3 LUGLI 1942 | GOLD MEDAL [OF MILITARY VALOUR] TO THE FLAG
OF
132ND TANK REGIMENT ARIETE
BIR EL GOBI 18 NOVEMBER 1941
EL ALAMEIN 3 JULY 1942 |
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External Display Area
| Location ID: | 5122 | | Latitude, Longitude: | 45.99847089, 12.72863746 | | Location Accuracy: | 6 |
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Unique ID: |
1527
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Insignia painted on centre of glacis. Italian flag painted on left of glacis.
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Unique ID: |
1523
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Ariete insignia painted on transmission cover. “132” painted on turret stowage box sides. Unit marking painted on hull sides (“1” above blue rectangle with single white stripe indicating First Battalion, First Platoon of Second Company).
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This M4 has a composite (‘hybrid’) cast and welded hull. It was transferred in June 2007 from Caserma De Michiel, Vivaro, PN (source: Ferrea Mole). It has a stone memorial in front of it that reads:
CARRO IN DOTAZIONE
AL RGT. ALL’ATTO
DELLA RICOSTITUZIONE
( 10 . 7 . 1948 ) | ARMOURED EQUIPMENT
OF THE REGIMENT
AT RECONSITUTION
(10 July 1948) |
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Unique ID: |
1524
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101220: “RE 101220” painted on nose and right hull rear.
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Ariete insignia painted on superstructure sides. Painted overall desert sand.
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This L3 shows signs of damage on the left side.
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Storage
| Location ID: | 5124 | | Latitude, Longitude: | 0, 0 | | Location Accuracy: | 0 |
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Unique ID: |
1525
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7221: “RºEº 7221” painted on nose and left hull rear.
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Painted overall desert sand.
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This L3 is in running order; it was restored with a modern engine from a FIAT Campagnola AR70 and has an incorrect engine cowling (source: M. Foti)
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Unique ID: |
1526
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3700: “RE 3700” painted on nose and “RºEº 3700” painted on right hull rear.
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“132” painted on superstructure rear corners. Carries a half red/half blue pennant marked with “132”. Unit marking painted on turret sides and rear (“1” above red rectangle with single white stripe indicating First Battalion, First Platoon of First Company). Painted overall desert sand.
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This M15 is in running order (source: M. Foti).
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