island for garrison duty. Besides the Aosta the following units were part of the XI Military Territorial Command after the reform: Sicily Military Region, in Palermo R.M.SI. Command Unit, in Palermo 60th Infantry (Recruits Training) Battalion "Col di Lana", in Trapani (former I Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment) 46th Signal Battalion "Mongibello", in Palermo 30th Light Airplanes and Helicopters Squadrons Group "Pegaso", at Catania-Fontanarossa Air Base Command and Services Squadron 301st Light Airplanes Squadron (SM.1019A planes) 430th Reconnaissance Helicopters Squadron (AB 206 reconnaissance helicopters) 530th Multirole Helicopters Squadron (AB 204B/205 multirole helicopters) 11th Logistics Unit, in Messina 11th Mixed Maneuver Transport Unit, in Palermo (became 11th Transport Battalion "Etnea" on 1 October 1987) 11th Medical Company, in Palermo 11th Provisions Supply Company, in Palermo 11th Army Repairs Workshop Type B, in Palermo Military Hospital Type B, in Palermo Military Hospital Type B, in Messina Garrison Detachment, on Pantelleria island Recent history With the end of the Cold War the Italian Army began to disbanded a large number of its mechanized brigades in Northern Italy and redistributed their materiel: the Aosta received VCC-2 armored personnel carriers for its infantry battalions and M109 self-propelled howitzers for the 24th "Peloritani". Accordingly, the brigade changed its name on 18 August 1992 to Mechanized Brigade "Aosta". In the same year the brigade began its six-year involvement in the Operation "Sicilian Vespers" a security and policing operation in Sicily undertaken by the Italian armed forces between 25 January 1992 and 8 July 1998. After the end of the Cold War the brigade continuously changed composition as the Italian Army was drawing down its forces and moving a large number of units from the North to the South of the country, as most volunteers came from the economically less developed Southern regions. 21 April 1991 the 141st Motorized Infantry Battalion "Catanzaro" disbanded its companies and transferred its name, flag and traditions to the "Minor Islands" Battalion on Pantelleria (the "Catanzaro" was disbanded on 27 May 1995) 7 May 1991 the 6th Tank Squadrons Group "Lancieri di Aosta" of the Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto" left Cervignano del Friuli and moved to Palermo to join the Aosta 31 March 1992 the 23rd Bersaglieri Battalion "Castel di Borgo" of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" left Tauriano and moved to Trapani to join the "Aosta" 27 August 1992 the 62nd Armored Battalion "M.O. Jero" merged with the 62nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Sicilia"