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4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment

(Redirected from Alpini Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino")

The 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment (Italian: 4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti) is a special operations forces regiment of the Italian Army based in Montorio Veronese in Veneto. Originally the regiment belonged to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry specialty, but since 14 July 1996 its personnel also belongs to the Paratroopers infantry specialty. On 1 November 1882, the Royal Italian Army formed the 4th Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area in the Graian Alps and Pennine Alps. Since 2013 the regiment is assigned to the Army Special Forces Command. The regiment is one of the most often and one of the highest decorated regiments of the Italian Army, although its two Gold Medals of Military Valor were awarded to the regiment's currently inactive Alpini Battalion "Aosta", respectively the currently active Battalion "Monte Cervino".[5][6][7] During World War I the regiment expanded to ten battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front. The regiment's anniversary falls on 18 May 1917, the day the regiment's Alpini Battalion "Aosta" stormed and held the summit of Monte Vodice during the Tenth Battle of the Isonzo.[5][6][7]

4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment
4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti
Regimental coat of arms
Active1 Nov. 1882 — 8 Sept. 1943
15 April 1946 — 2001
25 Sept. 2004 — today
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
TypeSpecial operations forces
Part ofArmy Special Forces Command
Garrison/HQMontorio Veronese
Motto(s)"In adversa ultra adversa"
Anniversaries18 May 1917
Decorations
2x Military Order of Italy[1]
2x Gold Medals of Military Valor[2][3]
9x Silver Medals of Military Valor
1x Bronze Medal of Military Valor
1x Silver Medal of Civil Valor
1x 1908 Messina earthquake Medal of Merit[4]
Insignia
4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment gorget patches

History

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On 15 October 1872, the Royal Italian Army formed 15 locally recruited Alpini companies in the alpine regions of Northern Italy. Nine more companies were formed the following year. In 1875 the 24 companies were organized into seven battalions, and in 1878 the companies were increased to 36 and the battalions to ten. On 1 November 1882, the Alpini companies were increased to 72 and grouped into 20 battalions. On the same date the battalions were assigned to six newly formed Alpini regiments, which were numbered 1st to 6th from West to East, while companies were numbered from 1 to 72 from to West to East. Upon entering the regiments, the battalions, which until then had been designated by a Roman numeral, were named for their recruiting zone, while the Alpini companies were renumbered sequentially from 1st to 72nd. One of the six Alpini regiments formed on 1 November 1882 was the 4th Alpini Regiment, which was formed in Turin in Piedmont. The new regiment received the Battalion "Val Pellice", which recruited in the Pellice Valley, the Battalion "Val Chisone", which recruited in the Chisone Valley, and the Battalion "Val Brenta", which was recruited in the Brenta valley in Veneto.[6][7]

  • 4th Alpini Regiment, in Turin[7][8]
    • Battalion "Val Pellice", in Pinerolo
      • 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th Company
    • Battalion "Val Chisone", in Fenestrelle
      • 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st Company
    • Battalion "Val Brenta", in Bassano
      • 62nd, 63rd, and 64th Company

On 1 April 1885, the regiment transferred the Battalion "Val Chisone" to the 3rd Alpini Regiment, and the Battalion "Val Brenta" to the 6th Alpini Regiment. In turn the regiment received from the 6th Alpini Regiment the battalion "Val d'Orco" and "Val d'Aosta". The Battalion "Val d'Orco" recruited in the Orco Valley, while the Battalion "Val d'Aosta" recruited in the Aosta Valley.[6][7]

In 1886 the regiment moved from Turin to Ivrea and on 1 November of the same year, the battalions changed their names from their recruiting zones to the cities and towns, where their base was located. At the same time Alpini soldiers and non-commissioned officers were issued thread tufts, called Nappina in Italian, which were clipped to the Cappello Alpino headdress, and colored white for the troops of a regiment's first battalion, red for the troops of a regiment's second battalion, green for the troops of a regiment's third battalion, and blue for the troops of a regiment's fourth battalion. The 4th Alpini Regiment consisted afterwards of the following units:[6][7]

  • 4th Alpini Regiment, in Ivrea[7][8]
    •   Alpini Battalion "Pinerolo", in Pinerolo (former Battalion "Val Pellice")
      • 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Ivrea", in Ivrea (former Battalion "Val d'Orco")
      • 37th, 38th, 39th, and 40th Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Aosta", in Aosta (former Battalion "Val d'Aosta")
      • 7th, 41st, 42nd, and 43rd Alpini Company

On 1 October 1888, the Alpini Battalion "Pinerolo" was transferred to the 3rd Alpini Regiment, which in turn ceded its Alpini Battalion "Susa 2°" in Susa to the 4th Alpini Regiment. On 1 February 1889, the Alpini Battalion "Susa 2°" was renamed Alpini Battalion "Susa". In 1895-96 the regiment provided 14 officers and 512 troops to help form the I and II provisional Alpini battalions, which were deployed to Eritrea for the First Italo-Ethiopian War. In 1901 the regiment was assigned together with the 3rd Alpini Regiment and 5th Alpini Regiment to the II Alpini Group, which on 9 August 1910 was renamed II Alpine Brigade. In 1908 the Alpini Battalion "Susa" returned to the 3rd Alpini Regiment, and the 4th Alpini Regiment formed a new battalion, which received the 7th Alpini Company of the Alpini Battalion "Aosta", the 24th Alpini Company of the Alpini Battalion "Pinerolo", and the 37th Alpini Company of the Alpini Battalion "Ivrea". The new battalion was initially based in Pallanza and therefore named Alpini Battalion "Pallanza", but soon the battalion moved from Pallanza to Intra and was renamed Alpini Battalion "Intra". The 4th Alpini Regiment consisted now of the following battalions:[6][7]

  • 4th Alpini Regiment, in Ivrea[7][8]
    •   Alpini Battalion "Ivrea", in Ivrea
      • 38th, 39th, and 40th Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Aosta", in Aosta
      • 41st, 42nd, and 43rd Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Intra", in Intra
      • 7th, 24th, and 37th Alpini Company

In December 1908 the regiment was deployed to the area of the Strait of Messina for the recovery efforts after the 1908 Messina earthquake. For its service the regiment was awarded the 1908 Messina earthquake Medal of Merit, which was affixed to the regiment's flag. On 29 September 1911 the Kingdom of Italy declared war against the Ottoman Empire and the regimental command of the 4th Alpini Regiment along with the Alpini Battalion "Ivrea" deployed to Libya for the Italo-Turkish War.[4][6][7]

World War I

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See also: Alpini and Mountain Artillery formations in World War I

At the outbreak of World War I the Alpini speciality consisted of eight regiments, which fielded 26 battalions with 79 companies. Each Alpini battalion, with the exception of the Alpini Battalion "Verona", fielded three Alpini companies, while the Alpini Battalion "Verona" fielded four companies. Each company consisted of one captain, four lieutenants and 250 other ranks. After Italy's initial declaration of neutrality 38 additional Alpini companies were formed during the autumn of 1914 with men, who had completed their military service in the preceding four years. These companies were numbered from 80th to 117th and assigned to the existing Alpini battalions. In January 1915, each Alpini battalion formed a reserve battalion, with men, who had completed their military service at least four years, but not more than eleven years prior. These reserve battalions were named for a valley (Italian: Valle; abbreviated Val) located near their associated regular Alpini battalion's base, and the reserve battalions received the same Nappina as their associated regular Alpini battalion. The companies of the Valle battalions were numbered from 201st to 281st, with the numbers 227th, 233rd, 237th, 271st, and 273rd unused.[6][7][8]

On 23 May 1915, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary and at the time the 4th Alpini Regiment consisted of the following units:[7][8]

  • 4th Alpini Regiment, in Ivrea[7][8]
    •   Alpini Battalion "Ivrea"[9]
      • 38th, 39th, 40th, 86th, and 111th Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Aosta"[10]
      • 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 87th, and 103rd Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Intra"[11]
      • 7th, 24th, 37th, and 112th Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Val d'Orco"[12]
      • 238th, 239th, and 240th Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Val Baltea"[13]
      • 241st, 242nd, and 280th Alpini Company
    •   Alpini Battalion "Val Toce"[14]
      • 207th, 243rd, and 281st Alpini Company

By the end of 1915 the Alpini regiments began to form additional companies with recruits born in 1896. These new companies were numbered from 118th to 157th and were used, together with the 38 companies formed earlier, to form an additional reserve battalion for each regular battalion. These new battalions were named for a mountain (Italian: Monte) located near their associated regular Alpini battalion's base, and the reserve battalions received the same Nappina as their associated regular Alpini battalion. The 4th Alpini Regiment thus added the following Monte battalions:[7][8]

As the mountainous terrain of the Italian front made the deployment of entire Alpini regiments impracticable, the regimental commands of the eight Alpini regiments were disbanded in March 1916. Likewise in April 1916 the pre-war alpine brigade commands were disbanded, and the personnel of the regimental commands and alpine brigade commands used to from twenty regiment-sized group commands and nine brigade-sized grouping commands. Afterwards Alpini battalions were employed either independently or assigned to groups, groupings, or infantry divisions as needed.[7][8]

In February and March 1917 the Royal Italian Army formed twelve skiers battalions, each with two skiers companies. On 22 May 1917, the V Skiers Battalion was disbanded and its personnel used to form the 302nd Alpini Company. The company was assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Pallanza", which was formed on the same day. The new battalion was assigned to the 4th Alpini Regiment and included, besides the 302nd Alpini Company, the newly formed 282nd and 283rd Alpini companies. The battalion was associated with the Alpini Battalion "Ivrea" and therefore it troops wore a white Nappina.[7][8][18]

During the war a total of 31,000 men served in the 4th Alpini Regiment, of which 189 officers and 4,704 soldiers were killed in action, while 455 officers and 10,923 soldiers were wounded.[8] On 18-27 May 1917, during the Tenth Battle of the Isonzo, the regiment's Alpini Battalion "Aosta" stormed and held the summit of Monte Vodice, and on 25-27 October 1918, during the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, the "Aosta" stormed and held the summit of Monte Solarolo. For these two actions, which cost the Alpini Battalion "Aosta" 403 respectively 669 casualties, the "Aosta" was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor, making it the only Alpini unit to be awarded Italy's highest military honor throughout the war.[2][4][7][8][10] Additionally six of the 4th Alpini Regiment's battalions were awarded Silver Medals of Military Valor for their conduct and sacrifice during the war:[4][7][8]

  • the Alpini Battalion "Monte Cervino" was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor for its conduct on Cima Bisorte during the Austro-Hungarian Asiago Offensive in May 1916, its conduct at Bodrež and on Monte Vodice during the Tenth Battle of the Isonzo in May 1917, and for fighting to its annihilation in the Melette massif, where the battalion suffered 1,209 casualties on Monte Fior in November and December 1917.[16]
  • the Alpini battalions "Intra" and "Val d'Orco" were awarded a shared Silver Medal of Military Valor for having conquered Height 2163 to the East of the summit of Krn on 19-21 July 1915.[11][12]
  • the Alpini battalions "Aosta" and "Val Toce" were awarded a shared Silver Medal of Military Valor for the "Aosta" battalion's sacrifice during a failed attack on the Alpe di Cosmagnon in the Pasubio sector on 10 September 1916, which cost the battalion 353 casualties, and a subsequent successful attack by the two battalions in the same sector on 9-12 October 1916.[10][14]
  • the Alpini battalions "Aosta" and "Monte Levanna" were awarded a shared Silver Medal of Military Valor for the storming and holding of the summit of Monte Vodice on 18-21 May 1917.[10][15] The Alpini battalions "Monte Levanna" and "Val Toce" were awarded a shared Silver Medal of Military Valor for having supported the "Aosta" battalion during the conquest of the summit of Monte Solarolo on 25-27 October 1918.[14][15]

The Gold Medal of Military Valor and the five Silver Medals of Military Valor were affixed to the 4th Alpini Regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms.[4][7][8]

Interwar years

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After the end of the war the Valle and Monte battalions were disbanded, while the Alpini Battalion "Intra" was sent to the Italian protectorate over Albania to fight in the Vlora War. On 1 January 1920, the regimental command was reformed and the regiment consisted of the Alpini battalions "Ivrea" and "Aosta". In 1921, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Alpine Division, which also included the 5th Alpini Regiment, 6th Alpini Regiment, and 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment. On 12 February 1921, the Alpini Battalion "Monte Levanna" was reformed, while the Alpini Battalion "Intra" was transferred after its return from Albania to the 5th Alpini Regiment. With the transfer of the battalion also the military awards of the battalion were transferred from the 4th Alpini Regiment to the 5th Alpini Regiment and affixed to the flag of the latter. In 1923, the 2nd Alpine Division was replaced by the II Alpini Grouping, which in 1926 was reorganized as II Alpine Brigade. The brigade included, besides the 4th Alpini Regiment, also the 1st Alpini Regiment, 2nd Alpini Regiment, 3rd Alpini Regiment, and 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment. In April of the same year, the Alpini Battalion "Monte Levanna" was disbanded, while in December the Alpini Battalion "Intra" returned from the 5th Alpini Regiment to the 4th Alpini Regiment.[7][8]

On 19 October 1933, I Alpine Brigade was split and the 1st Alpini Regiment and 2nd Alpini Regiment were assigned to the newly formed IV Alpine Brigade, while the 3rd Alpini Regiment, 4th Alpini Regiment, and 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment remained with the I Alpine Brigade. In 1934 the regiment moved from Ivrea to Aosta. On 27 October 1934, the I Alpine Brigade was renamed I Superior Alpine Command. In December of the same year the command was given the name "Taurinense". On 31 October 1935, the I Superior Alpine Command "Taurinense" was reorganized as 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense", which included the 3rd Alpini Regiment, 4th Alpini Regiment, and 1st Alpine Artillery Regiment "Taurinense".[7][8][19]

Second Italo-Ethiopian War

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Alpini with a Fiat–Revelli Mod. 1914 machine gun during the Battle of Amba Aradam

On 22 December 1935, the 4th Alpini Regiment transferred its Alpini Battalion "Intra" to the newly formed 11th Alpini Regiment, which on 31 December of the same year was assigned to the newly formed 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria". The new division had been formed for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and on 6 January 1936 the "Pusteria" division's units embarked in Livorno and Naples for the transfer to Massawa in Eritrea. The same month the 4th Alpini Regiment formed the 623rd Company, which consisted of volunteers and was assigned to the XI Replacements Battalion. The XI Replacements Battalion was attached to 11th Alpini Regiment and shipped to East Africa, where in the meantime the "Pusteria" was engaged in combat against Ethiopian troops. In East Africa the Alpini Battalion "Intra" fought in the Battle of Maychew, during which the battalion distinguished itself at Mekan Pass and was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 4th Alpini Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms.[4] In April 1937, the Alpini Battalion "Intra" returned to Italy and the regiment.[7][8]

World War II

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See also: 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense"

On 25 August 1939, shortly before the German Invasion of Poland, the Alpini battalions "Val d'Orco", "Val Baltea", and "Val Toce" were reformed with reservists. After the Battle of France the three battalions were disbanded on 31 October 1940.[7][8]

In 1940, the regiment, as part of the Taurinense division, fought in the Italian attack on Greece. After the German invasion of Yugoslavia the Taurinense performed garrison and anti-partisan duties in Montenegro. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, most of the division was captured by German forces near Kotor, while the Alpini Battalion "Ivrea" and Alpine Artillery Group "Aosta" joined the Yugoslav Partisans and formed the Partisan Division "Garibaldi".

Cold War

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Main article: Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"

After World War II the 4th Alpini Regiment was reformed on 15 April 1946 with the battalions "Aosta", "Saluzzo" and "Susa". In 1953, the "Mondovì" battalion was reactivated as fourth battalion of the regiment. The 4th Alpini Regiment was the infantry component of Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". On 26 October 1962, the "Mondovì" was transferred to the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to augment the Alpine Brigade "Julia" and in 1963, the "Aosta" battalion was transferred to the Alpine Military School in Aosta. Four years later, it was again subordinated to 4th Alpini Regiment.

In the early stages of the Cold War the 4th Alpini Regiment consisted of the following units:

During the 1975 army reform the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were given for the first time their own flags. On 10 October 1975, the 4th Alpini Regiment was disbanded and on the same day the regiment's Alpini Battalion "Aosta" in Aosta was assigned the flag and traditions of the 4th Alpini Regiment.[7] The "Aosta" was assigned to the Alpine Military School and would have joined the Taurinense only in case of war. On 11 September 1989 the Alpini Battalion "Aosta" was reorganized as Tactical Logistic Support Battalion "Aosta", which supported the Alpine Military School.

Organization

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Alpini Paratroopers of the 4th regiment in Afghanistan
 
Alpini of the 4th regiment abseiling from an AB205 helicopter during the Falzarego 2011 exercise

On 1 July 1998, Logistical and Tactical Support Battalion "Aosta" was merged with the Complement Officer Cadets Battalion and redesignated as Training Battalion "Aosta". In 2001 the battalion was reduced Training Grouping "Aosta" and therefore transferred the flag of the 4th Alpini Regiment to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome..

On 25 September 2004, the 4th Alpini Regiment was reformed as 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment in the city of Bolzano with the existing Alpini Paratroopers Battalion "Monte Cervino" as its only battalion. Today the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment is one of three special forces regiments of the Italian Army. The Alpini Paratroopers have recently served in Iraq and one of the regiment's companies was continuously rotated to Afghanistan. In January 2011, the regiment moved to its new base in Montorio Veronese and in 2013 joined the newly formed Army Special Forces Command (COMFOSE).

As of 2024 the regiment's structure is as follows:[5][20]

The Operational Support Company consists of a C4 Platoon and a Mobility Support Platoon. Each Ranger company fields three platoons of 36 men. The Maneuver Support Company fields an Anti-tank Platoon with eight Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles launchers, a Heavy Mortar Platoon with three F1 120mm mortars and a Medium Mortar Platoon with three Expal 81mm mortars. The maneuver support company is equipped with a total of six F1 120mm mortars and six Expal 81mm mortars, allowing the mortar platoons to switch between calibres as needed.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "4° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. ^ "4° Reggimento Alpini - Battaglione Sciatori "Monte Cervino"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 466.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "4° Reggimento Alpini". Vecio.it. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Ivrea". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d "Aosta". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Intra". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Val d'Orco". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Val Baltea". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Val Toce". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  15. ^ a b c "Monte Levanna". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Monte Cervino". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Monte Rosa". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Pallanza". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  19. ^ "1ª Divisione Alpina "Taurinense"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  20. ^ a b "4° Reggimento Alpini Paracadutisti". Italian Defense Ministry. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  21. ^ a b Scarpitta, Alberto. "Il potenziamento del Comando Forze Speciali dell'Esercito". Analisi Difesa. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  22. ^ Alberto Scarpitta (13 July 2020). "Il potenziamento del Comando Forze Speciali dell'Esercito". Analisidifesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 31 March 2021.
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