131 Armoured Division Centauro
Encyclopedia
The 131st Armoured Division Centauro (in ) was an armoured division of the Italian Army
during World War II
. It was formed in February 1939, by upgrading the 1st Armoured Brigade (1ª Brigata Corazzata). It took part in operations in Albania
, Greece
and Yugoslavia
before returning to Italy. Sent to North Africa
in August 1942, it surrendered in Tunisia in May 1943.
in the late 1930s. In February 1939, Centauro was re-designated a division.
in April 1939, the Centauro was equipped with L3/33 and L3/35
tankettes. The division also participated in the Greco-Italian War
in 1940, just before it received its first M13/40 tanks in December 1940, and deployed with them at Klisura
in January 1941, losing many of them to the Greek artillery fire. The following year the Centauro was deployed into Yugoslavia, together with the 4th Division "Littorio", where they performed well despite their outdated equipment. In June 1941 they were recalled to Italy to be re-equipped.
In August 1942 they were ordered to prepare to move to Libya
.
, and arrived during the retreat from Egypt
back into Libya in late 1942. They were involved in action in Tunisia
and played a major part in the Battle of the Kasserine Pass
. The Centauro remained in Tunisia until the end of the campaign, surrendering in May 1943.
Royal Italian Army (1940–1946)
This article is about the Italian Royal Army which participated in World War II.The Italian Royal Army was reformed in 1861 and lasted until 1946. The Royal Army started with the unification of Italy and the formation of the Kingdom of Italy . It ended with the dissolution of the monarchy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was formed in February 1939, by upgrading the 1st Armoured Brigade (1ª Brigata Corazzata). It took part in operations in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
before returning to Italy. Sent to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
in August 1942, it surrendered in Tunisia in May 1943.
History
The 1st Armoured Brigade was formed in April 1937, and, along with the 132nd Armoured Division Ariete, formed the Italian Armoured Corps. The two divisions took part in the first corps-level exercises in the Po ValleyPo Valley
The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain is a major geographical feature of Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of 46,000 km² including its Venetic extension not actually related to the Po River basin; it runs from the Western Alps to the...
in the late 1930s. In February 1939, Centauro was re-designated a division.
Balkans
When Italy invaded AlbaniaItalian invasion of Albania
The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom. The conflict was a result of the imperialist policies of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini...
in April 1939, the Centauro was equipped with L3/33 and L3/35
L3/35
The L3/35 or Carro Veloce CV-35 was an Italian tank used before and during World War II. Although designated a light tank by the Italian Army, its turretless configuration, weight and firepower make it closer to contemporary tankettes....
tankettes. The division also participated in the Greco-Italian War
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
in 1940, just before it received its first M13/40 tanks in December 1940, and deployed with them at Klisura
Klisura
Klisura is a small town in the Karlovo municipality of the Plovdiv Province in central Bulgaria. It is situated in a valley surrounded by the Balkan Mountain range and Sredna Gora...
in January 1941, losing many of them to the Greek artillery fire. The following year the Centauro was deployed into Yugoslavia, together with the 4th Division "Littorio", where they performed well despite their outdated equipment. In June 1941 they were recalled to Italy to be re-equipped.
Restructure
With the experience they had obtained fighting in the Western Desert the Italian Armoured Divisions were now re organized into a three tank, three infantry battalion structure, combined with a large Artillery regiment which included two battalions of self propelled guns and one anti aircraft battalion and organic reconnaissance and engineer battalions.In August 1942 they were ordered to prepare to move to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.
Western Desert
Centauro missed both Battles of El AlameinBattle of El Alamein
There were two battles of El Alamein in World War II, both fought in 1942. The Battles occurred in Egypt in and around an area named after a railway stop called El Alamein at .* First Battle of El Alamein – 1–27 July 1942...
, and arrived during the retreat from Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
back into Libya in late 1942. They were involved in action in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and played a major part in the Battle of the Kasserine Pass
Battle of the Kasserine Pass
The Battle of the Kasserine Pass was a battle that took place during the Tunisia Campaign of World War II in February 1943. It was a series of battles fought around Kasserine Pass, a wide gap in the Grand Dorsal chain of the Atlas Mountains in west central Tunisia...
. The Centauro remained in Tunisia until the end of the campaign, surrendering in May 1943.
Order of battle
- 31. Tank Regiment
- 13. Armoured Battalion
- 14. Armoured Battalion
- 15. Armoured Battalion
- 5. BersaglieriBersaglieriThe Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian Army originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian Army...
Infantry Regiment- 14. Bersaglieri Motorized Battalion
- 22. Bersaglieri Motorized Battalion
- 24. Bersaglieri Motorized Battalion
- 5. Bersaglieri Motorcycle Company
- 22. Motorized Infantry Support Battalion
- 131. Artillery Regiment
- 31. Motorized Engineer Battalion
- Motorized Anti-Tank Battalion
- Armoured Car Battalion
Further reading
- George F. Nafziger - Italian Order of Battle: An organizational history of the Italian Army in World War II (3 vol)
- John Joseph Timothy Sweet - Iron Arm: The Mechanization of Mussolini's Army, 1920-1940