| 1st Mountain Infantry Division Superga | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1940 – 1943 |
| Country |
 Regno d'Italia Kingdom of Italy |
| Branch |
 Regio Esercito Royal Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Torino |
| Nickname(s) | "La Spezia" |
| Engagements | World War II |
1st Mountain Infantry Division Superga was an infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed in 1940, and was part of the Italian I Corps during the Italian invasion of France.[1] Mountain Divisions are not to be confused with the "Alpini" specialized mountain troops. The Mountain divisions had pack horse artillery instead of the usual towed type.
Action[]
On 24 June 1940 the Division attacked the Ouvrage Pas du Roc in the Alpine Line. Supported by its neighbor, Ouvrage Arrondaz and others, the fort repelled the attack.[2] The Division was reorganized for the planned invasion of Malta but was instead sent to Tunisia in November 1942. It was destroyed in May 1943 fighting against the British forces in the Tunisia Campaign.[3]
Organization[]
Commander[]
General Curio Barbasetti di Prun
Order of battle[]
- 91. Basilicata Infantry Regiment
- 92. Basilicata Infantry Regiment
- 5º Reggimento artiglieria "Superga" (5. Superga Artillery Regiment)
- 2 x Battalion
- 2 x Battalion (mot)
- Mortar Battalion
- Anti-Aircraft Battalion
- 3 x Battery
- 1. Anti-Tank Battalion
- 101. Engineer Battalion
- 1. Signals Company
- 14. Pioneer Company
- 1. Carabinieri Section
- 2. Carabinieri Section
- 80. Field Post Office
- 50. Special Brigade
The force designated '50 Special Brigade' consisted of 6th Infantry Battalion(Regiment?), 557th (7th) Semovente Group, (75/18 Assault Guns), and the 15th Armoured Battalion from the Centauro Armoured Division plus 3 Artillery battalions - or 3d Artillery Group. [3][nb 1]
Notes[]
- Footnotes
- ↑ An Italian Infantry Division normally consisted of two Infantry Regiments (three Battalions each), an Artillery Regiment, a Mortar Battalion (two companies), an Anti-Tank Company, a Blackshirt Legion (Regiment of two Battalions). Each Division had only about 7,000 men, The Infantry and Artillery Regiments contained 1,650 men, the Blackshirt Legion 1,200, each company 150 men.[4]
- Citations
- ↑ Jowett, Philip S. The Italian Army 1940-45 (1): Europe 1940-1943. Osprey, Oxford - New York, 2000, pp. 5-6, ISBN 978-1-85532-864-8
- ↑ Kauffmann, p. 178
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wendal, Marcus. "Italian Army". Axis History. Archived from the original on 2009-04-25. http://www.webcitation.org/5gIfkCdaY. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
- ↑ Paoletti, p 170
References[]
- Paoletti, Ciro (2008). A Military History of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-98505-9.
The original article can be found at 1st Mountain Infantry Division Superga and the edit history here.