Italian Bersaglieri
in the Spanish Civil War

A Brief Introduction

by Rolfe Hedges


Bersaglieri were elite infantry initially attached to Celere divisions, which were semi-motorised fast moving units designed to carry out the role of cavalry in both manouvre and combat. The units initially had bicycles, by 1937 these had been completely replaced by motorbikes .

A total of seven companies of Italian motor cycle machine gunners (Motomitraglieri Bersaglieri) left Naples during January 1937 and arrived in Cadiz. They were accompanied with a company level detachment of armoured cars. Both were incorporated in the 'Raggruppamento Reparti Specializzati' motor mechanised unit commanded by Colonel C. Rivolto and were initially attached to the 8,000 man Littorio division.

One company of Motorcycle machine gunners took part in the Malaga campaign attached to the centre column (also known as the De Loja column) under General E. Rossi.

At Guadalajara in 1937, the main bulk of the Bersaglieri went into action with the 'Reparti Specializzatti' in which the battalion was practically destroyed. After the battle the armoured car company and the motorcycle company were amalgamated into a Battaglione Motomeccanizato and took part in the Santander campaign, seeing plenty of action notably at Sierra Grana and the one company of Bersaglieri being present at the siege of Bilbao. A company of motorcycle machine gunners consisted of 3 platoons of nine Breda 8mm M35 machine guns (3 bikes per squadron).

The Bersaglieri mainly used the Guzzi Gt 17 Motociclo Porta - Mitraglia fitted with the Breda 6.5mm light machine gun. The LMG was designed to be fired stationary only. The firer would position himself alongside the bike firing from its mount in the center of the handlebars, the seat on the bike would swivel so as to allow the firer a better position.

ERRATA

The Italian LMG referred to in the piece on Bersaglieri should of course be the 6.5mm Breda model 30. (Thanks Neil !)

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© Copyright 1997 by Rolfe Hedges
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