5th Alpini Regiment


The 5th Alpini Regiment is a regiment of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II.

History

Formation

The 5th Alpini Regiment was formed on 1 November 1882. It consisted of three Battalions: Val Dora, Moncenisio and Valtellina, named after the valleys and localities from which their soldiers were recruited. In 1886 the Battalions were renamed, taking their new names from the location of their main logistic depot: Morbegno, Tirano, Edolo and the newly formed Vestone.

World War I

During World War I the regiment consisted of 16 battalions and saw heavy fighting in the Alps against Austria's Kaiserjäger and Germany's Alpenkorps. The battalions of the regiment in these days were :
On September 10, 1935, the 2nd Alpine Division “Tridentina” was formed and composed of the 5th Alpini and 6th Alpini Regiments and the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment.

World War II

In September 1942 the “Tridentina” division under the command of General Luigi Reverberi was sent together with the Alpini divisions Julia and Cuneense and other Italian units to the Soviet Union to form the ARMIR and fight alongside the Germans against the Red Army. Taking up positions along the Don River the Italian units covered part of the left flank of the German Sixth Army, which spearheaded the German summer offensive of 1942 into the city of Stalingrad.
After successfully encircling the German Sixth army in Stalingrad the Red Army's attention turned to the Italian units along the Don. On 14 January 1943, the Soviet offensive Operation Little Saturn began and the three Alpini division found themselves quickly encircled by the rapidly advancing armoured Soviet Forces. After 12 days of heavy fighting the Julia and Cuneense divisions were completely annihilated. The remnants of the Tridentina were able to break the Soviet encirclement in the epic and desperate Battle of Nikolayevka on 26 January 1943, allowing the 4,250 survivors to reach German lines.
The few survivors of the 5th regiment were repatriated and after the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies on 8 September 1943, the regiment dissolved in the vicinity of the Italian city of Brixen.

The Cold War

After World War II the 5th Alpini Regiment was reformed on 1 January 1953, in the city of Meran with the battalions "Tirano", and "Edolo" and became the sole Alpini regiment in the newly formed Alpine Brigade "Orobica". In 1956 the "Morbegno" was raised again. When the army dissolved the regimental level during the Italian Army 1975 reform the 5th Alpini was disbanded on 30 November and its battalions came under the direct command of the Orobica brigade. The traditions and regimental colours of the 5th Alpini were given to the "Morbegno" battalion, which carried them until the 5th Alpini Regiment was reformed on 8 August 1992.
Before being disbanded in 1975 the structure of the 5th Alpini Regiment was as follows:
Today the 5th Regiment consists of the Alpini Battalion "Morbegno", the regimental command, and a logistic support company. The regiment is based in Sterzing in the province of South Tyrol, making it the north most based regiment of the Italian Army and is part of the Alpine Brigade "Julia".
The Command and Logistic Support Company fields the following platoons: C3 Platoon, Transport and Materiel Platoon, Medical Platoon, and Commissariat Platoon.

Equipment

The Alpini companies are equipped with Bv 206S tracked all-terrain carriers, Puma 6x6 wheeled armored personnel carriers and Lince light multirole vehicles. The maneuver support company is equipped with 120mm mortars and Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles.