Republican Italy

MSH Italy 1985 Sheet.xlsx

Italy has presented an interesting modern military history. From complete defeat in 1943, it was rebuilt by the Allies in 1943 to fight the Germans. Even in the role of an ally, it did not realize much success.

A snapshot of the Italian army, in some pages taken from Corps Commander Supplement “By Air And Sea”, a 1988 Tabletop ruleset from B.A. Rea Taylor, working at the same tactical level as Spearhead.

Ita85 Corps Commander.pdf

Italian Modern Army Organisation taken from the web

Italian Brigade Headquarters Group

HQ 1 HQ

Anti Tank Company 3 SPAT (either Jeep/106, M113/106, M150)

Engineer Company 3 Engr, 3 Truck

Note Anti-Tank Company added to Mechanized and Armored Brigades in 1983.

Italian Infantry Battalion 1949 to 1979

HQ 1 HQ, 1 Jeep/106

3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle

1 Mortar Company 2 81M, 2 Truck

Note Use this ORBAT for Mountain and Parachute units to 1989.

Italian Infantry Battalion 1979+

HQ 1 HQ, 1 Jeep/106

3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle

1 Mortar Company 2 120M, 1 HQ, OP, 2 Jeep, 4 Truck

Italian Motorized Infantry Battalion 1959 to 1989

HQ 1 HQ, 1 Jeep/106

3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 4 Truck

1 Mortar Company 2 120M, 2 Truck

Italian Infantry Regiment 1949 to 1959 (Commands 2 to 4 Infantry Battalions)

HQ 1 HQ

Italian Infantry Regiment 1959+ (Commands 3 Infantry Battalions)

HQ 1 HQ

Italian Parachute Infantry Regiment 1949 to 1989 (Commands 3 Infantry Battalions)

HQ 1 HQ

Italian Mountain Infantry Regiment 1949 to 1989 (Commands 3 Infantry Battalions)

HQ 1 HQ

Italian Infantry Regiment 1999+

HQ 1 HQ

3 Rifle Companies each 3 Rifle, 3 VCC80

1 Anti Tank Company 2 TOW, 3 Milan, 5 VCC80

1 Mortar Company 2 SPM

Italian Bersaglieri Battalion 1949 to 1989

HQ 1 HQ, 1 Jeep/106 or M150

3 Bersaglieri Companies each3 Rifle, 3 M113 or VCC1, 1 Jeep/106 or M113/106 or M150

1 Mortar Company 2 M113/120

Note Use M3 HT for APC prior to 1969, M113 overlaps to 1989 and VCC1 after 1986. It is probable that the armored divisions had VCC1 and the mechanized divisions M113 after 1986. M150 is added after 1983.

Italian Armored Battalion 1959 to 1979

HQ 1 HQ

3 Companies each 3 M46 or M47

Italian Armored Battalion 1979 to 1989

HQ 1 HQ

3 Companies each 3 M60 or Leo 1

Note The Ariete Armored Division had the M60, the Centauro Armored Division and the Mechanized Divisions had Leopard 1. The Centauro division only has one armored and one mechanized brigade.

Italian Divisional Cavalry Battalion 1949 to 1989

HQ 1 HQ, 1 Tank

1 Armored Company 3 M60 or Leo 1 or M47

2 Bersaglieri Companies each3 Rifle, 3 M3 HT, M113 or VCC1, 1 Jeep/106 or M113/106

Note APC and Tank as appropriate to year.

Italian
Field Artillery Battalion

3 Batteries each 1 FAO, 2 Tubes, 2 Trucks

Note Tubes – 1949 – 1959: M7, Sexton, 155H, 149H, 5.5H

1959 – 1969: 155H, M52, 105H

1969 – 1979: M109, 155H, 105H, 203H

1979 – 1989: M109G, 155H, 105H, 203H

M109 and M52 in Mechanized and Armored Brigades only, 155H used as divisional artillery. 203H form one artillery battalion per infantry, mechanized and armored division. Mountain Artillery Battalion has 2 batteries of 105mm pack howitzers and 1 battery of 120mm mortars.

Italian Divisional Helicopter Battalion 1975 to 1989

2 Flights each 2 AB206

1 Recce Flight 2 AB47

Italian Amphibious Regiment (Sardegna) (Commands 3 to 4 amphibious battalions and tank battalion)

HQ 1 HQ

Note Tank battalion is equipped with an older type of tank than the army tank battalions.

Italian Amphibious Battalion (Sardegna)

HQ 1 HQ, 1 Jeep/106 or M150

3 Marine Companies each 3 Rifle, 3 M113, M113/106 or M150

1 Mortar Company 2 M113/120

1 Amphibious Company 5 LVTP7

Large Units:

Infantry Division 1949 to 1990 – 1 Divisional Headquarters, 2 Infantry Regiments or Brigades (depending on year), 1 Fortress Regiment, 1 Armored Infantry Regiment, 1 Field Artillery Regiment, 1 Recce Cavalry Group, 1 Engineer Battalion

Armored Division 1949 to1990 – 1 Divisional Headquarters, 2 Tank Brigades (2 Armored Battalions and 1 Bersaglieri Battalion, 1 Field Armored Battalion), 1 Mechanized Brigade (1 Armored Battalion and 3 Bersaglieri Battalions, 1 Field Artillery battalion), 1 Field Artillery Regiment (3 Field Artillery Battalions and 1 203H Battalions), 1 Divisional Cavalry Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Divisional Helicopter Battalion (after 1975)

Mechanized Division 1949 to1990 – 1 Divisional Headquarters, 1 Tank Brigade (2 Armored Battalions and 1 Bersaglieri Battalion, 1 Field Armored Battalion), 2 Mechanized Brigades (1 Armored Battalion and 3 Bersaglieri Battalions, 1 Field Artillery battalion), 1 Field Artillery Regiment (3 Field Artillery Battalions and 1 203H Battalion), 1 Divisional Cavalry Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Divisional Helicopter Battalion (after 1975)

Cavalry Brigade 1949 to 1990 – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 2 Cavalry Regiments, 1 Field Artillery Regiment.

Parachute Brigade 1949 to 1990 – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 1 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1 Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, Parachute Engineer Battalion.

Mountain Brigade 1949 to 1990 – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 1 Mountain Infantry Regiment, 1 Mountain Field Artillery Regiment, 1 Fortress Battalion, 1 Engineer Company.

Infantry Brigade 1949 to 1990 – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 1 Infantry Regiment, 1 Field Artillery Regiment, 1 Engineer Company.

Motorized Infantry Brigade 1949 to 1990 – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 3 Motorized Infantry Battalions, 1 Field Artillery Battalion, 1 Mortar Company.

Armored Group 1947 – 1 Group Headquarters, 2 tank Battalions (Sherman), 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M3 HT)

Armored Brigade 1948 – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 3 tank Battalions (Sherman), 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion (M3 HT), 1 Artillery Battalion (M7)