8th Alpini Regiment

The 8th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 8° Reggimento Alpini) 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.

8th Alpini Regiment
8° Reggimento Alpini
Coat of Arms of the 8th Alpini Regiment
Active1 Oct. 1909 - 13 Sept. 1943
15 April 1946 - 30 Sep. 1975
8 Aug. 1992 - today[1]
CountryItaly
BranchItalian Army
TypeAlpini
RoleMountain Infantry
Size1 Battalion
Tolmezzo Battalion
Part of3rd Alpine Division Julia
1935 - 1943
Alpine Brigade Julia
1949 - 1975
1992 - today
Garrison/HQVenzone (UD)
Motto(s)"O là o rompi"
Anniversaries24 January 1915 - Battle of Pal Piccolo, Pal Grande, and Freikofel[2]
EngagementsItalo-Turkish War
World War I
World War II
War in Afghanistan
Decorations
1x Military Order of Italy
2x Gold Medals of Military Valour
1x Silver Medal of Military Valour
1x Silver Medal of Army Valour
1x Bronze Medal of Army Valour
1x Silver Cross of Army Merit[3]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches
8th Alpini patrol in Afghanistan
8th Alpini Regiment mortar team

History

World War I
Main article: Alpini and Mountain Artillery formations in World War I

During World War I the regiment consisted of 10 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 (pre-war raised units in bold, followed by their first and second line reserve battalions):

  • Tolmezzo, Val Tagliamento, Monte Arvenis
  • Gemona, Val Fella, Monte Canin
  • Cividale, Val Natisone, Monte Matajur, Monte Nero

Cold War

During the Cold War the 8th Alpini Regiment consisted of the following units:

In 1962 the regiment also received the Mondovì Battalion from the Alpine Brigade Taurinense:

Current structure
A soldier from the 8th Alpini Regiment guarding the Altare della Patria in Rome

The regiment is part of the Alpine Brigade "Julia" and based in the city of Venzone.

  • Regimental Command
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"
      • 6th Alpini Company "La Bella"
      • 12th Alpini Company "La Terribile"
      • 69th Alpini Company "La Fulmine"
      • 112th Maneuver Support Company "La Tormenta"

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.

Sources
  • Franco dell'Uomo, Rodolfo Puletti: L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Volume Primo - Tomo I, Rome 1998, Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico, pages: 489

References
  1. "8° Reggimento Alpini - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  2. "8° Reggimento Alpini". Italian Army. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  3. "8° Reggimento Alpini - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  4. F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 489.


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