With the rank of captain, he participated in the Italo-Turkish War, earning a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, and then in the First World War rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and earning a Silver Medal of Military Valor for his role during the battle of Asiago.

After serving as a staff officer, he was promoted to colonel on March 28, 1933, taking command of the 19th Artillery Regiment "Venezia", part of the 19th Infantry Division "Gavinana".

He then participated in the conquest of Ethiopia, during which he was awarded another bronze medal for military valor for his role in the battle of Shire.

On 15 April 1939 he became commander of the Division, a post he still held when the Kingdom of Italy entered the Second World War on 10 June 1940.

In the afternoon of 21 July 1940, while returning to Cagliari after inspecting the anti-aircraft defenses of the great dam of Santa Chiara del Tirso, Scanagatta was killed in a car crash about fifteen kilometers from Oristano.