3rd Armored Infantry Regiment (Italy)

The 3rd Armored Infantry Regiment (Italian: 3° Reggimento Fanteria Corazzato) is an inactive armored warfare regiment of the Italian Army, which was based in Persano in Campania and last operationally assigned to the Infantry Division "Granatieri di Sardegna". The regiment was formed in 1927 as Armed Tanks Regiment. In 1936 the regiment was split into four tank infantry regiments and the 3rd Tank Infantry Regiment was assigned the flag and traditions of the Armed Tanks Regiment. During World War II the regiment served as central training command for all Italian tank units. The regiment was disbanded by invading German forces after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943.

In 1964, the regiment was reformed as 3rd Armored Infantry Regiment and assigned to the Infantry Division "Granatieri di Sardegna". In 1975, the regiment was disbanded and its flag and traditions transferred to the 9th Armored Battalion "M.O. Butera", which was assigned to the Motorized Brigade "Acqui". In 1991, the battalion was disbanded and the flag of the 3rd Armored Infantry Regiment transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome for safekeeping. From 1992 to 1995 the 9th Armored Battalion "M.O. Butera" was again active as a training support unit at the Monte Romano training range. 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 regiment's anniversary falls on 5 January 1941, the day the last survivors of the regiment's IX Tank Battalion L surrendered to British forces after having fought to annihilation in the Battle of Bardia, for which the battalion was awarded Bronze Medal of Military Valor.