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5th reggimento bersaglieri

jwsleser

Administrator
Staff member
Posted 06 April 2006 - 06:00 PM by Reggie O

I have the 5th Bers Reg with the 14-22-24 Btns. Initially, I had two of the btns as motorized and one as a heavy support btn, but I didn't have the unit numbers of which were which. Since Voloire's recent info, I have updated the info to: 14. & 24. Btns motorized and 22. M/C Btn, and the 5. A/T Company (47/32), as apparently the heavy btn was incorrect. I had that info for many years, as the file card is old, and so I have no idea where I got that info back then.

Anyway, the regiment was with the 131. "Centauro" Division, and thus it's history essentially mirrors that of the division. I'm lacking some info on the division's history, so I'll definitely need someone to fill in the gaps.
I have the regimental depot at Siena, and the regiment and division in Albania in June 1940, as part of XXVI. Corps. Participated in the Invasion of Greece in late October 1940 and in the entire campaign until Spring of 1941, under 9th Army command. Location after that?

The regiment seems to have kept the same structure, and the regiment and division were sent to Tunisia/Libya in late 1942, where they were destroyed by May 1943.

Posted 06 April 2006 - 10:50 PM by david

F.W.I.W. I have a pencilled arrival date of Nov' '42 at Tripoli.

Please help me out here with corrections and additions!

Posted 07 April 2006 - 07:44 AM by Lupo Solitario

let's see...

agree on composition (general note: heavy weapons battalions appeared only in 1941).
On the greek front Centauro never fought as a whole and 5th Bersaglieri acted largely as an indipendent unit.
In the yugoslavian campaign (April 1941) there had been some sort of remixing between 1st and 5th Bersaglieri Regiment for which I got some trouble in fixing which exactly were bersaglieri with Centauro. In successive months regiments turned back to original disposition.

Centauro turned back to Italy in late 1941; in summer 1942 was deployed along the italo-french armistice line. In fall 1942 was sent in Lybia and was near Tripoli on the eve of Torch when was ordered to enter in Tunisia.

Posted 07 April 2006 - 06:03 PM by Reggie O

So, you mean that at some point in 1941, it did have a heavy weapons btn?

Posted 07 April 2006 - 06:40 PM by Lupo Solitario

no, I mean that if you find a heavy weapon battalion in a OOB before 1941 is wrong

AFAIK the 5th had never had an heavy weapon battalion

Posted 24 December 2011 - 11:07 AM by david

When the 5th Reggimento arrived in North Africa in late 1942, do we know how closely the Battaglione Bersaglieri adhered to the AS42 Tabelle Organiche?
 

jwsleser

Administrator
Staff member
Posted 26 January 2012 - 05:41 PM by david

Lupo.

Are you saying that XXII Battaglione 5th Bersaglieri Reggimento was always Motorcyclisti and not Accompagnamento?

Posted 27 January 2012 - 11:18 AM by arturolorioli

When the 5th Reggimento arrived in North Africa in late 1942, do we know how closely the Battaglione Bersaglieri adhered to the AS42 Tabelle Organiche?

AFAIK no Bersaglieri unit was ever reorganized as such, only "standard" infantry. The AS.42 TO&E was a purely defensive reorganization to allow a more rational allocation of HWs and manpower to form self-contaianed company-sized defensive areas, split in roughly platoon sized strongpoints. The Bersaglieri were mobile troops, with offensive tasks, and had entirely different needs.

... XXII Battaglione 5th Bersaglieri Reggimento was always Motorcyclisti and not Accompagnamento?

AFAIK yes, it was. The change from m/c to a/a was applied only on the Bersaglieri Rgts in A.S., at that time the 5th Rgt was still in Europe. The odd thing is that it hadn't been changed to a motorized bn (as the recon duties of the Centauro were already satisfied by its R.E.Co.)

Posted 16 May 2014 - 07:59 AM by dicassette2000

I'm still looking for that elusive date, can anyone help?

March 1942 Albania, may 1942 Fanna-Cavasso-Maniago (Udine (Italy), November 1942 Hq, 14.a and 22.o battalion Tripolitania by plane, 24.o battalion Tunisi with german 5th Armee, January 1943 Hq and 14.o and 22.o battalion Tunisia, Rennouch (nordovest Gabes) with Centauro division, 28 January 1943 22.o battalion retired and recostituited (Maknassy), 14.o battalion february 1942 Gabes-Gafsa road......Hope it helps
All the best
Maurizio

Posted 17 May 2014 - 05:08 AM by david

Yes, that does help thank you. Do you know when in November 1942 14 & 22 arrive?

Posted 17 May 2014 - 07:41 AM by dicassette2000

The trip was by Regia Aereonautica.......the times uncertain.....the single trips were throught the months and when the planes are ready .....I dont know the exact breakdown....
All the best
Maurizio
 
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