Alpini 1999227 220224588 2008-06-18T21:09:36Z Noclador 271068 /* World War I */ {{Infobox Military Unit |unit_name= Italian Alpini |image=[[Image:Alpini.jpg|300px]] |caption=Alpini in a parade |nickname= ''Le Penne Nere'' ("Black Feathers") |motto= ''Di Qui Non Si Passa!'' ("From here, nobody goes through!") |colors= |march= |ceremonial_chief= |type= [[Mountain warfare|Mountain troops]] |branch=[[Italian Army]] |dates= 1872 - today |country=[[Italy]] |allegiance= |command_structure=[[COMALP|Alpine Corps Command]] |size= 2 Brigades |current_commander= |patron= [[Saint Maurice|San Maurizio]] <br /> celebrated every September 22nd |battles=[[First Italo–Ethiopian War]]<br>[[Boxer Rebellion]]<br />[[Italo-Turkish War]]<br />[[Italian Campaign (World War I)|World War I]]<br>[[Second Italo-Abyssinian War]]<br />[[Greco-Italian War]]<br />[[World War II]]<br />[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] |notable_commanders= [[Luigi Reverberi]] |anniversaries= October 15th 1872 <br /> Date of Foundation |decorations= 9 [[Military Order of Italy|Croci di Cavaliere dell'O.M.I.]]<br /207 Gold Medals for Military Valour [16 at the reparts, 191 at the single soldier]<br />22 Silver Medals for Military Valour<br />5 Bronze Medals for Military Valour<br />1 War Cross for Military Valour<br />2 Bronze Medals for Army Valour<br />1 Gold Medal for Civil Valour<br />1 Bronze Medal for Civil Valour<br />1 Silver Cross for Army Merit<br />1 Cross for Army Merit. }} The '''''[[Alpini]]''''', meaning '''"the [[Alpine]]s"''', are the elite [[mountain warfare]] soldiers of the [[Italian Army]]. They are currently organised in two main operational brigades, which are subordinated to the ''Alpini'' Corps Command. The singular is an ''Alpino'' (an "[[Alpine]]"). Originally formed in [[1872]], their mission was to protect Italy's northern mountainous borders. In 1888 the ''Alpini'' were sent to their first mission abroad, in [[Africa]], during the [[First Italo–Ethiopian War]]. They distinguished themselves during [[World War I]] when they fought against [[Austria-Hungary|Austro-Hungarian]] soldiers in what has since been called the "[[Italian Campaign (World War I)|War in snow and ice]]". During [[World War II]], the ''Alpini'' fought together with [[Axis powers of World War II|Axis]] forces mostly on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] being tasked to hold the front in the [[Don River, Russia|Don]] river plains. In the 1990s, after the end of the [[Cold War]], three of the five ''Alpini'' brigades and many support units were disbanded due to the reorganization process of the [[Italian Army]]. Currently, despite having some of the best trained and best equipped mountain troops in the world, the military role of Alpines is seen in terms of peacekeeping missions and minor disputes interventions. ==Origins== [[Image:Fiamme verdi.jpg|thumb|A pair of Fiamme Verdi collar patches.]] The first 15 ''Alpini'' [[Company (military unit)|companies]] were formed, in 1872, at the suggestion of Captain [[Giuseppe Perrucchetti]], as a force capable of defending Italy’s northern mountainous borders. The newly created [[Italian unification|Kingdom of Italy]], with its new capital in [[Rome]], faced major problems in defending its new land borders, which, after the 1866 war against Austria, coincident in large parts with the [[Alps|Alpine Arch]]. Homeland defense had previously been based on the so called Quadrilatero: defending the [[Po Valley]] ("Pianura Padana") and leaving the Alps undefended because that region was considered unsuitable to military operations. The idea of recruiting the inhabitants of the valleys of Italy’s northern mountain regions into a special corps, thereby taking advantage of both their knowledge of the frontier territory and their adaptability to Alpine conditions, was an innovative one. In 1877, five ''Alpini'' Mountain [[Artillery]] [[Artillery battery|Batteries]] were formed and, in the following year, the Alpines had already grown to 36 companies of mountain infantry organized into 10 [[battalions]]. On November 1, 1882, the now 20 ''Alpini'' battalions and 8 ''Alpini'' Mountain Artillery Batteries were organized into six ''Alpini'' Regiments and two ''Alpini'' Mountain Artillery Brigades. The battalions took the names of the valleys and localities from which their soldiers were recruited: [[Image:Capello Alpino.jpg|thumb|right|A ''Cappello Alpino'' of an ''Alpino'' Engineer soldier.]] * [[1 Alpini Regiment|1° regiment]]: '''"Alto Tanaro"''', '''"[[Tanaro River|Val Tanaro]]"''', '''"[[Val Camonica]]"''' battalions * [[2 Alpini Regiment|2° regiment]]: '''"[[Col de Tende|Col Tenda]]"''', '''"[[Schio|Val Schio]]"''', '''"[[Chiusa di Pesio|Val Pesio]]"''' battalions * [[3 Alpini Regiment|3° regiment]]: '''"[[Stura di Demonte|Val Stura]]"''', '''"[[Mera River|Val Maira]]"''', '''"Monti Lessini"''' battalions * [[4 Alpini Regiment|4° regiment]]: '''"[[Torre Pellice|Val Pellice]]"''', '''"Val Chisone"''', '''"[[Brenta River|Val Brenta]]"''' battalions * [[5 Alpini Regiment|5° regiment]]: '''"[[Dora Riparia|Val Dora]]"''', '''"[[Moncenisio]]"''', '''"[[Valtellina]]"''' battalions * [[6 Alpini Regiment|6° regiment]]: '''"Val d'Orco"''', '''"[[Val d'Aosta]]"''', '''"[[Tagliamento|Val Tagliamento]]"''' battalions On June 7, 1883, the Alpini were awarded the "''fiamme verdi''" (green flames) collar patch. Also adopted was their distinctive headdress; the "Cappello Alpino" with its black feather, which led to them being nicknamed "''Le Penne Nere''" or "black feathers". In 1886 the names of the battalions were changed to the names of the locations of their main logistics depot. (e.g., in 1943, the division '''"Tridentina"''' from [[Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol|Trento]] province, comprised the battalions [[Morbegno]], [[Tirano]], [[Edolo]], [[Vestone]] and [[Verona]], plus the artillery groups [[Bergamo]] and [[Vicenza]], all named after mountain centres in northern Italy). On August 1st, 1887 the [[7 Alpini Regiment|7° Alpini Regiment]] was formed in [[Conegliano|Conegliano Veneto]] receiving two battalions from the 6th regiment. With this the number of battalions increased by two to a new total of 22. On November 1st, 1887 the [[1 Mountain Artillery Regiment (Italy)|1° Alpini Artillery Regiment]] was formed in [[Turin]]. * [[1 Alpini Regiment|1° regiment]]: '''"[[Pieve di Teco]]"''', '''"[[Ceva]]"''', '''"[[Mondovi]]"''' battalions * [[2 Alpini Regiment|2° regiment]]: '''"[[Borgo San Dalmazzo]]"''', '''"[[Vinadio]]"''', '''"[[Dronero]]"''' (later renamed '''"[[Saluzzo]]"''') battalions * [[3 Alpini Regiment|3° regiment]]: '''"[[Fenestrelle]]"''', '''"[[Susa, Italy|Susa]]"''', '''"Susa 2°"''' (later renamed '''"[[Exilles]]"''') battalions * [[4 Alpini Regiment|4° regiment]]: '''"[[Aosta]]"''', '''"[[Ivrea]]"''', '''"[[Verbania|Pallanza]]"''' (later renamed '''"[[Verbania|Intra]]"''') battalions * [[5 Alpini Regiment|5° regiment]]: '''"[[Morbegno]]"''', '''"[[Tirano]]"''', '''"[[Edolo]]"''', '''"[[Vestone]]"''' battalions * [[6 Alpini Regiment|6° regiment]]: '''"[[Verona]]"''', '''"[[Vicenza]]"''', '''"[[Bassano del Grappa|Bassano]]"''' and until 1887 '''"[[Cadore|Pieve di Cadore]]"''', '''"[[Gemona del Friuli|Gemona]]"''' battalions * [[7 Alpini Regiment|7° regiment]]: '''"[[Feltre]]"''', '''"[[Pieve di Cadore]]"''', '''"[[Gemona del Friuli|Gemona]]"''' battalions The Alpine units were issued the M.91TS version of the [[Carcano]] rifle in 1897 as their main weapon. ==Baptism of Fire== Although created as a defensive force specializing in Alpine combat, in 1888, a mixed battalion of Alpines was sent to [[Africa]], where they went through their baptism of fire during the [[First Italo–Ethiopian War]]. On March 1, 1896, during the [[Battle of Adowa]], the mixed ''Alpini'' battalion and the [[1 Mountain Artillery Regiment (Italy)|1° Mountain Artillery]] regiment suffered heavy losses and were routed by the Ethiopian forces. The mixed battalion lost over 400 of it 550 men, including the commanding officer Lt. Col. [[Menini]]. During the 1900 [[Boxer Rebellion]], a Mountain Artillery Battery participated in the lifting of the siege of the International Compound in Beijing. In 1909, the [[2 Mountain Artillery Regiment (Italy)|2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment]] regiment was formed and, in 1908, a new Alpini battalion, "Tolmezzo", was raised; followed two years later by the "[[Belluno]]" battalion. Both were assigned to the 7° regiment. In 1910, the “Tolmezzo” battalion along with the "Gemona" battalion were assigned to the newly formed 8° regiment: *[[8 Alpini Regiment|8° regiment]]: '''"Gemona"''', '''"[[Cividale]]"''', '''"[[Tolmezzo]]"''' battalions From 1911 until 1914, the ''Alpini'' battalions Fenestrelle, Saluzzo, Mondovi, Susa, Ivrea, Verona, Feltre, Edolo, Tolmezzo, Venzone along with batteries from both ''Alpini'' Artillery regiments fought during the [[Italo-Turkish War]] in the [[Libyan]] desert. ==World War I== [[Image:Alpini2.jpg|thumb|left|<center>''Alpino'' Celestino Ellero. WW1. He wears the 1st issue Italian Gas mask container strapped over his right shoulder. ca. 1916</center>]] During [[World War I]] the 24 peacetime ''Alpini'' battalions were increased by 64 battalions and saw heavy combat all over the alpine arch. During the war years the ''Alpini'' regiments consisted of the following battalions (pre-war raised units in bold). The first reserve units were named after the valleys (in Italian: "''Val''") in Northern Italy from were they drew their recruits. The later raised units were named after mountains in Northern Italy: * [[1 Alpini Regiment|1° regiment]]: '''"[[Pieve di Teco]]"''', '''"[[Ceva]]"''', '''"[[Mondovi]]"''', "Val Tanaro", "Val Rosa", "Val d'Ellero", "Monte Clapier", "Monte Saccarello", "Monte Mercantur". * [[2 Alpini Regiment|2° regiment]]: '''"[[Borgo San Dalmazzo]]"''', '''"[[Dronero]]"''', '''"[[Saluzzo]]"''', "Val Stura", "Val Maira", "Val Varaita", "Argentera", "Bicocca", "Monte Viso". * [[3 Alpini Regiment|3° regiment]]: '''"[[Pinerolo]]"''', '''"[[Fenestrelle]]"''', '''"[[Susa, Italy|Susa]]"''', '''"[[Exilles]]"''', "Val Pellice", "Val Chisone", "Val Dora", "Val Cenischia", "Monte Granero", "Monte Albergian", "Monte Assietta", "Moncenisio". * [[4 Alpini Regiment|4° regiment]]: '''"[[Aosta]]"''', '''"[[Ivrea]]"''', '''"[[Verbania|Intra]]"''', "Val d'Orco", "Val Baltea", "Val Toce", "Monte Levanna", "Monte Cervino", "Monte Rosa". * [[5 Alpini Regiment|5° regiment]]: '''"[[Morbegno]]"''', '''"[[Tirano]]"''', '''"[[Edolo]]"''', '''"[[Vestone]]"''', "Val d'Intelvi", "Val Tellina", "Val Camonica", "Val Chiese", "Monte Spluga", "Stelvio", "Monte Adamello", "Monte Suello". * [[6 Alpini Regiment|6° regiment]]: '''"[[Verona]]"''', '''"[[Vicenza]]"''', '''"[[Bassano del Grappa|Bassano]]"''', "Val d'Adige", "Val Leogra", "Val Brenta", "Monte Baldo", "Monte Berico", "Sette Comuni". * [[7 Alpini Regiment|7° regiment]]: '''"[[Feltre]]"''', '''"[[Pieve di Cadore]]"''', '''"[[Belluno]]"''', "Val Cismon", "Val Piave", "Val Cordevole", "Monte Pelmo", "Monte Pavione", "Monte Antelao". *[[8 Alpini Regiment|8° regiment]]: '''"[[Gemona del Friuli|Gemona]]"''', '''"[[Cividale]]"''', '''"[[Tolmezzo]]"''', "Val Tagliamento", "Val Fella", "Val Natisone", "Monte Arvenis", "Monte Canin", "Monte Matajur". [[Image:World War 1 Rotwand.png|thumb|<center>Austrian Positions on Rotwand summit</center>]] [[Image:Dolomites2006-071.jpg|thumb|<center>Italian Positions on Cinque Torri summit today</center>]] To these 78 regular Alpini battalions came 10 special battalions that were not assigned to any regiment. Some of these regiments were [[Ski warfare|Skiing]] battalions named after glaciers in the Alps: * "Garibaldi" battalion (later renamed "Monte Mandrone") * "[[Ortler]]" battalion * "Cavento" battalion * "[[Monte Bianco]]" battalion The ''Alpini'' battalions were divided in 233 [[Company (military)|companies]] of 100 to 150 men each. The Alpini regiments were never sent into battle as a whole, instead single companies and battalions were given specific passes, summits or ridges to guard and defend on their own. The war has become known as the "[[Italian Campaign (World War I)|War in snow and ice]]" , as most of the 600 km frontline ran through the highest mountains and glaciers of the [[Alps]]. 12 meters (40 feet) of snow were a usual occurrence during the winter of 1915/16 and thousands of soldiers died in [[avalanches]]. The remains of these soldiers are still being uncovered today. The ''Alpini'', as well as their Austrian counterparts: [[Kaiserjäger]], [[Standschützen]] and [[Landeschützen]] occupied every hill and mountain top around the whole year. Whole cities were drilled and blown into the mountainsides and even deep into the ice of glaciers like the [[Marmolada]]. Guns were dragged by hundreds of troops on Mountains up to 3,890 m (12,760 feet) high. Streets, cable cars, mountain railroads and walkways were built through the steepest of walls. Most of these walkways and streets are still viable today. In addition, along the former frontline it is still possible to see what is left of hundreds of kilometers of barbed wire. [[Image:Col di Lana.jpg|thumb|left|[[Col di Lana]] after the detonation of the Italian [[Mining (military)|mine]].]] In this kind of warfare, whoever occupied the higher ground first was almost impossible to dislodge, so both sides turned to drilling tunnels under mountain peaks, filling them up with explosives and then detonating the whole mountain to pieces, including its defenders: i.e. [[Col di Lana]], [[Monte Pasubio]], [[Lagazuoi]], etc. Climbing and [[ski warfare|skiing]] became essential skills for the troops of both sides and soon Ski Battalions and special climbing units were formed. It was during these years that the Alpini, their spirit and their mules became legend, although at the cost of over 12,000 casualties out of a total of 40,000 mobilized Alpinis. Many of the famous [[Alpini songs]] originated during this time and reflect upon the hardships of the "War in Snow and Ice". ==World War II== [[Image:AlpinoLouisCelotti.jpg|thumb|<center>An ''Alpino'' Corporal, Louis Celotti. ca. 1925 (note the "cappello Alpino" under his left arm) </center>]] After World War I all battalions with the exception the pre-war battalions were dissolved. In 1919 the Alpini gained the [[9 Alpini Regiment|9° Alpini regiment]]. In 1935 the [[Italian fascism|fascist]] government of Italy reorganized its Armed Forces, creating six Alpine divisions and forming two new Alpini regiments: the [[11 Alpini Regiment|11° Alpini regiment]] and the [[12 Alpini Regiment|12° Alpini regiment]]. The [[5 Alpine Division Pusteria]] formed of the 7th and 11th Alpini regiment was quickly dispatched to [[Eritrea]] were it participated in the [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War|Italian attack]] on [[Abyssinia]]. During [[World War II]], Italy fielded six Alpine divisions: * [[1 Alpine Division Taurinense|1st Alpine Division Taurinense]] * [[2 Alpine Division Tridentina|2nd Alpine Division Tridentina]] * [[3 Alpine Division Julia|3rd Alpine Division Julia]] * [[4 Alpine Division Cuneense|4th Alpine Division Cuneense]] * [[5 Alpine Division Pusteria|5th Alpine Division Pusteria]] * [[6 Alpine Division Alpi Graie|6th Alpine Division Alpi Graie]] Each division consisted of two Alpini regiments with three battalions each, one Alpine Artillery Regiment with three Artillery groups, one Mixed Engineer Battalion, one Logistic Battalion and some support units. The strength of each division was 573 officers and 16,887 NCOs and soldiers for a total strength of 17,460 men. Also each division had almost 5000 mules and 500 vehicles of various types at its disposal.<br /> The divisions saw combat in [[France]], [[Africa]], [[Italy]], [[Albania]], [[The Soviet Union]], [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Greece]]. One ''Alpini'' battalion was employed in [[East Africa]]. In [[1942]], Tridentina, Julia and Cuneense division were sent to [[Eastern Front (World War II)|fight in the Soviet Union]]. In Russia, instead of being deployed in the Caucasus mountains as expected, the ''Alpini'' were tasked with holding a front on the plains of the [[Don River, Russia|Don River]]. As a result of this disastrous strategic decision, troops armed, trained, and equipped for mountain warfare were pitted in the plains against tanks and mechanized infantry, to counter which they were neither equipped nor trained. Despite this, the ''Alpini'' held the front until [[Eastern Front (World War II)#Eastern Front in Autumn and Winter 1943|January 1943]], when, due to the collapse of the Axis front, they were encircled by the advancing Soviet Army. The ''Alpini'' were able to break the encirclement and fight their way towards the new line of the front established after the Axis retreat. Only about one third of the Tridentina division (4250 survivors of 15000 troops deployed) and one tenth of the Julia (1200/15000) were able to survive this odyssey. The Cuneense division was annihilated. Italian dictator [[Benito Mussolini]]'s [[fascist]] government in northern Italy, the [[Italian Social Republic]], had one division of ''Alpini'', the 4th Italian "Monte Rosa" ''Alpini'' Division. {{seealso|Fall of France|East African Campaign (World War II)|Greco-Italian War|invasion of Yugoslavia|Italian war in Soviet Union, 1941-1943|Yugoslav People's Liberation War}}. ==Alpini today== ===Structure=== After [[World War II]], five Alpine Brigades were formed and assigned to the IV (Alpine) Army Corps: * [[Image:CoA mil ITA brg Julia.jpg|25px]] '''[[Alpine Brigade Julia|Julia]]''' * [[Image:CoA mil ITA brg Taurinense.jpg|25px]] '''[[Alpine Brigade Taurinense|Taurinense]]''' * [[Image:CoA mil ITA brg Tridentina.jpg|25px]] '''[[Alpine Brigade Tridentina|Tridentina]]''' (dissolved 2002) * [[Image:CoA mil ITA brg Cadore.jpg|25px]] '''[[Alpine Brigade Cadore|Cadore]]''' (dissolved 1997) * [[Image:CoA mil ITA brg Orobica.jpg|25px]] '''[[Alpine Brigade Orobica|Orobica]]''' (dissolved 1991) <br /> [[Image:Br tau fotohome.jpg|thumb|right|280px|<center>Alpini from the [[Alpine Brigade Taurinense|Taurinense Brigade]] on exercise.</center>]] After the end of the [[Cold War]], all but the Julia and Taurinense Brigades were dissolved, thus leaving the following ''Alpini'' units, that still carry the "fiamme verdi" collar insignia: * [[Image:CoA mil ITA cdo Comalp.jpg|25px]]'''as part of the '''[[COMALP|Alpine Corps Command - COMALP]]''':<ref>[http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/unita2_sez/arma_ftr_rgt_alp.asp Current Alpini structure according to the Italian Army Official Site] - accesed April 2007</ref> ** [[Image:CoA mil ITA cdo Comalp.jpg|20px]] COMALP Support Battalion ** [[Image:CoA of Centro di Alpinismo.png|20px]] Alpini Formation Centre "[[Aosta|Aosta Battalion]]" ** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 004.png|20px]] [[4 Alpini Regiment|4° Alpini]] [[Parachutist]] Regiment "[[Matterhorn|Monte Cervino Battalion]]" (a [[Special Forces]] unit) ** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 006.png|20px]] [[6 Alpini Regiment|6° Alpini Regiment]] "[[Bassano del Grappa|Bassano Battalion]]" ** [[Image:Div tridentina2.jpg|25px]] '''"[[Alpine Brigade Tridentina|Tridentina]]"''' Division Command (without fixed units) ** [[Image:CoA mil ITA brg Taurinense.jpg|25px]] '''[[Alpine Brigade Taurinense]]:''' *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA btg log taurinense.png|20px]] Taurinense Brigade Support Battalion *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 002.png|20px]] [[2 Alpini Regiment|2° Alpini Regiment]] "[[Saluzzo|Saluzzo Battalion]]" *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 003.png|20px]] [[3 Alpini Regiment|3° Alpini Regiment]] "[[Susa, Italy|Susa Battalion]]" *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 009.png|20px]] [[9 Alpini Regiment|9° Alpini Regiment]] "[[L'Aquila|L'Aquila Battalion]]" *** [[Image:CoA 1 Artimon Rgt.svg|20px]] [[1 Mountain Artillery Regiment (Italy)|1° Mountain Artillery Regiment]] "[[Aosta|Aosta Artillery Group]]" *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt genio 32.png|20px]] [[32 Alpine Engineer Regiment|32° Alpine Engineer Regiment]] "30° Battaglione" ** [[Image:CoA mil ITA brg Julia.jpg|25px]] '''[[Alpine Brigade Julia]]:''' *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA btg log julia.png|20px]] Julia Brigade Support Battalion *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 005.png|20px]] [[5 Alpini Regiment|5° Alpini Regiment]] "[[Morbegno|Morbegno Battalion]]" *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 007.png|20px]] [[7 Alpini Regiment|7° Alpini Regiment]] "[[Feltre|Feltre Battalion]]" *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 008.png|20px]] [[8 Alpini Regiment|8° Alpini Regiment]] "[[Tolmezzo|Tolmezzo Battalion]]" *** [[Image:CoA 3 Artimon Rgt.png|20px]] [[3 Mountain Artillery Regiment (Italy)|3° Mountain Artillery Regiment]] "[[Conegliano|Conegliano Artillery Group]]" *** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt genio 02.png|20px]] [[2 Alpine Engineer Regiment|2° Alpine Engineer Regiment]] "[[Lake Iseo|Iseo Battalion]]" * '''as part of other Military Commands:''' ** [[Image:CoA 2 Artimon Rgt.png|20px]] [[2 Mountain Artillery Regiment (Italy)|2° Mountain Artillery Regiment]] '''"[[Vicenza]]"''' ** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt trasmissioni 02.png|20px]] [[2 Signal Regiment (Italy)|2° Signal Regiment]] with the "[[Val Gherdëina|Gardena Battalion]]" and "[[Pordoi Pass|Pordoi Battalion]]" ** [[Image:CoA mil ITA rgt logistico 24.png|20px]] [[24 Maneuver Logistics Regiment (Italy)|24° Maneuver Logistics Regiment]] '''"[[Dolomites|Dolomiti]]"''' [[Image:Alpini Mostreggiature.png|center|thumb|696px|Collar Patches worn by Alpinis today]] [[Image:Alpini ISAF.jpg|right|thumb|4th Alpini in Afghanistan]] ===Armament=== Currently an Alpino is equipped with a [[Beretta AR70/90|Beretta SC70/90]] assault rifle, a [[Beretta 92|Beretta 92 FS]] pistol, OD/82SE [[hand grenade]]s, a Type III AP/98 [[Ballistic vest|bullet-proof vest]] and a 3rd generation [[night vision device]]. The [[squad automatic weapon]] is the [[FN Minimi]] or, alternatively, the [[Rheinmetall MG3]] (sometime still called [[MG42]]). Supporting fire can be provided also by [[M2 Browning]] (0.50") [[machine gun]], the Hirtenberger [[M6C-210 Commando]] 60 mm, man-portable light mortar or by the [[Mortier 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1|MO-120-RT-61]] 120 mm heavy mortar. Mobility is guaranteed by the use of [[Iveco LMV|Iveco VTLM Lince]] 4WD tactical vehicles, [[Puma (AFV)|Puma 6x6]] Armored Personal Carriers and [[Bandvagn 206|Bv 206 / Bv 206S]] all terrain tracked vehicles. The anti-tank weapons are the [[Panzerfaust 3]] [[rocket propelled grenade]] and the [[MILAN|MILAN 2]] and [[BGM-71 TOW|TOW II]] [[anti-tank guided missile]]s. The latter two will be replaced by the [[Spike (missile)|Spike]] anti-tank guided missile over the next years. The artillery regiments were until recently equipped with the [[OTO Melara Mod 56]] pack howitzer. This lightweight gun (1273 kg) can be manhandled by its crew, allowing its use in direct fire support role. Furthermore, it can be easily disassembled in 12 separate loads for ease of transportation, allowing its deployment almost anywhere in the rugged terrain of a mountain battlefield. Recently the artillery regiments have been issued with the more powerful [[FH-70]] howitzer. Whereas this has led to a great increase in the firepower of the regiments, it has also reduced their versatility. Indeed they are not anymore designated as "[[mountain artillery]]". ==National Alpini Association== The ANA (Associazione Nazionale Alpini or National Alpini Association) is a registered society representing the "[[Veci]]" or former members of the Alpini corps. As the "Veci" see themselves as merely "on leave" rather than veterans, the ANA is colloquially known to be the [[10 Alpini Regiment|10° Alpini Regiment]]. Since 1920 every year ANA organizes a national reunion the "Veci". Hundreds of thousands of Alpini congregate with family and friends to an Italian city for a weekend in the late spring to celebrate, drink heavily and have a good time while remembering old times. <ref>[http://www.ana.it/ Official Site of the National Alpini Association]</ref> ==See also== * [[Chasseurs Alpins|French Chasseurs Alpins]] * [[Gebirgsjäger|German Gebirgsjäger]] * [[Podhale rifles|Polish Podhale rifles]] * [[Vânători de Munte|Romanian Vânători de Munte]] ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==Sources== [http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/unita2_sez/arma_ftr_rgt_alp.asp Italian Army- The Alpini]<br /> [http://www.truppealpine.eu/ COMALP- Alpine Troops Command]<br /> [http://www.anaconegliano.it/reparti/index.htm ANA Conegliano- History of Alpini units] == External links == *[http://www.nevasport.com/nevablogs/d/los-alpini-italianos---the-italian-alpini/1241 Brief History and pictures] *[http://www.vecio.it Site dedicated to Alpini, in Italian] *[http://www.frontedolomitico.it The war in the Dolomites: men, mountains and battles (in italian)] [[Category:Military of Italy]] [[Category:Boxer Rebellion]] [[Category:Alpini|*]] [[de:Alpini]] [[es:Alpini]] [[fur:Alpins]] [[it:Alpini]] [[pms:Alpin]] [[fi:Italian vuoristojoukot]]