31st Tank Regiment (Italy)

The 31st Tank Regiment was an armored unit of the Royal Italian Army (Regio Esercito) during World War II. Formed in 1941, it was primarily deployed in North Africa and later participated in the defense of Sicily following the Allied invasion. The regiment was part of the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete," known for its participation in key battles, including the Second Battle of El Alamein.

The 31st Tank Regiment was equipped with a mix of tanks, including the M13/40 and later the M14/41 medium tanks, the mainstay of the Italian armored forces at the time. These tanks, while relatively advanced for their period of development, were ultimately outmatched by the more heavily armored and better-gunned Allied tanks.

Throughout its operational history, the 31st Tank Regiment engaged in numerous defensive and offensive operations. Its performance was often hampered by logistical difficulties, mechanical unreliability of its equipment, and the generally inferior firepower of its tanks compared to those of the opposing forces.

The regiment was effectively destroyed during the fighting in North Africa and the subsequent invasion of Sicily. With the Armistice of Cassibile in September 1943, which saw Italy surrender to the Allies, the 31st Tank Regiment ceased to exist as a fighting formation. The survivors were either taken prisoner or joined the co-belligerent Italian forces fighting alongside the Allies.