5th Alpini Regiment

5th Alpini Regiment
5° Reggimento Alpini
Coat of Arms of the 5th Alpini Regiment
Active	1 November 1882 - 8 September 1943 1 January 1953 - 30 November 1975 8 August 1992 - today[1]
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Type	Alpini
Role	Mountain Infantry
Size	1 Battalion Morbegno Battalion
Part of	2nd Alpine Division “Tridentina” 1935 - 1943 Orobica Alpine Brigade 1963 - 1975 Tridentina Alpine Brigade 1992 - 2002 Julia Alpine Brigade 2002 - today
Garrison/HQ	Sterzing (BZ)
Motto(s)	"Nec videar dum sim"
Anniversaries	8 June 1916 - [2]
Engagements	World War I Battle of Monte Ortigara Battle of Vittorio Veneto World War II Battle of Nikolayevka War in Afghanistan
Decorations	1x Military Order of Italy 2x Gold Medals of Military Valour 1x Silver Medal of Military Valour 1x Bronze Medal of Military Valour 1x 1908 Messina earthquake Medal of Merit[3]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches

The 5th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 5° 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.

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 (pre-war raised units in bold, followed by their first and second line reserve battalions):

• Morbegno, Val d'Intelvi, Monte Spluga, Monte Mandrone
• Tirano, Valtellina, Stelvio, Tonale
• Edolo, Val Camonica, Monte Adamello, Monte Ortler
• Vestone, Val Chiese, Monte Suello, Monte Cavento

Interwar period[]

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 (Armata Italiana in Russia or Italian Army in Russia) 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 (out of 15,000 troops deployed) 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:

• 5th Alpini Regiment, in Meran^[4]
  • Command and Services Company, in Meran
  • Alpini Battalion "Morbegno", in Sterzing
    • 44th Alpini Company
    • 45th Alpini Company
    • 47th Alpini Company
    • 107th Mortar Company
  • Alpini Battalion "Tirano", in Mals
    • 46th Alpini Company, in Glurns
    • 48th Alpini Company
    • 49th Alpini Company, in Glurns
    • 109th Mortar Company
  • Alpini Battalion "Edolo", in Meran
    • 50th Alpini Company
    • 51st Alpini Company
    • 52nd Alpini Company
    • 110th Mortar Company

Current structure[]

A soldier from the 5th Alpini Regiment guarding the Colosseum in Rome

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".

• Regimental Command
  • Command and Logistic Support Company
  • Alpini Battalion "Morbegno"
    • 44th Alpini Company "L’Ardita"
    • 45th Alpini Company "L’Fer"
    • 47th Alpini Company "L’Audace"
    • 107th Maneuver Support Company "Là Dove Voglio"

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.

See also[]

• 7th Alpini Regiment
• 8th Alpini Regiment
• Alpine Brigade Julia
• Italian Army

External links[]

• Italian Army Website: 5° Reggimento Alpini
• 5th Alpini Regiment on vecio.it

Sources[]

• Franco dell'Uomo, Rodolfo Puletti: L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Volume Primo - Tomo I, Rome 1998, Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico, page: 473

References[]