The 19th Armored Battalion "M.O. Tumiati" (Italian: 19° Battaglione Corazzato "M.O. Tumiati") is an inactive armored battalion of the Italian Army, which was based in Florence in Tuscany and last operationally assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Friuli". The unit's lineage traces back to the World War II XIX Tank Battalion M15/42, which was formed in 1942 in Siena by the depot of the 31st Tank Infantry Regiment. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile the battalion fought against German forces in Piombino, but due to a lack of ammunition and an overwhelming number of German forces the battalion destroyed its vehicles and its personnel dispersed on 11 September. In 1960 the battalion was reformed and assigned to the Infantry Brigade "Friuli". In 1975 the battalion was renamed 19th Armored Battalion "M.O. Tumiati". In 1991 the battalion was disbanded and its flag transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.[1][2]
Originally the unit, like all Italian tank units, was part of the army's infantry arm, but on 1 June 1999 the tankers specialty was transferred from the infantry arm to the cavalry arm. The battalion's anniversary falls, as for all tank units, which have not yet distinguished themselves on the battlefield, on 1 October 1927, the day the tankers speciality was founded.[1]
On 15 August 1943, the 136th Armored Legionary Division "Centauro" entered the Royal Italian Army and the XIX Tank Battalion M15/42 was intended to be assigned to the division. Due to a lack of tanks the battalion at this time fielded 20 M15/42 tanks and 18 Semoventi 75/34 self-propelled guns. On 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was announced, but due to the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III fleeing Rome without issuing orders, the Italian military units were left without clear instructions how to respond to German forces occupying Italian cities and towns. On 10 September, a German detachment tried to land by sea and occupy the harbor of Piombino. The Royal Italian Navy units guarding the harbor, as well as the Navy's coastal defense batteries, one battalion of the 215th Coastal Division, and armed civilians immediately began to fight the Germans, and a heavy battle ensued. By 18:00 in the evening the tanks and self-propelled guns of the XIX Tank Battalion M15/42 arrived in Piombino and opened fire on the German troops. The battle lasted until the early hours of 11 September, when the German remaining forces surrendered. However, due to a lack of ammunition and further German forces on the way to Piombino, the XIX Tank Battalion M15/42 retreated to Venturina, where the battalion destroyed its tanks and self-propelled guns, before its personnel dispersed.[1][4]
On 1 May 1960, the Armored Battalion "Friuli" was formed in Rovezzano and assigned to the Infantry Brigade "Friuli". The battalion consisted of a command company, two tank companies, which were equipped with M47 Patton medium tanks, and one mechanized fusiliers company. In 1961 the battalion was renamed XIX Armored Battalion. For its conduct after the 1966 flood of the Arno the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Civil Valor, which was affixed to the battalion's flag and is depicted on the battalion's coat of arms.[1][2]
During the 1975 army reform the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were granted their own flags for the first time. On 23 September 1975, the XIX Armored Battalion was renamed 19th Armored Battalion "M.O. Tumiati". Tank and armored battalions created during the 1975 army reform were named for officers, soldiers and partisans of the tank speciality, who had served in World War II and been awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor. The 19th Armored Battalion was named for Second Lieutenant Francesco Tumiati, who, after having served in 1941-1942 in the Western Desert Campaign, had returned to Italy in February 1942 and been assigned to the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile he led part of his troops into the mountains and formed one of the first partisan detachments in the Marche region. After eight months of fighting the German occupiers Tumiati was captured on 17 May 1944 and immediately executed by a German firing squad.[1][2][5]
After the end of the Cold War Italian Army began to draw down its forces: on 16 January 1991, the 19th Armored Battalion "M.O. Tumiati" was reduced to a reserve unit. On 6 March 1991, the battalion was disbanded and its flag transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.[1][2]
^Stefani, Filippo (1989). La storia della dottrina e degli ordinamenti dell'Esercito Italiano - Vol. III - Tomo 2°. Rome: Ufficio Storico - Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito. pp. 1190–1192.
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