Evolution of the Infantry Regiment of the Regio Esercito in World War I

[Il Sergente Salvucci]

Someone know the evolution of the TO&E of the Infantry regiment from 1914 to 1918?

 

[jwsleser]

Good day

I just read your post. Let me check to see what I have. I hope that some others might have this information.

Pista! Jeff

 

[jwsleser]

I don't have much on the R.E. organization in the 1GM. This is a start to get the discussion going.

The organization in 1913. From the Handbook of the Italian Army 1913.

Reggimento fanteria
-Reggimento comando
-Three battaglioni (each with four compagnia)
-One sezione mitraglieri (2 mtr.)

 

[jwsleser]

From what I have found on the web.....

Battaglione fanteria 1918
- Battaglione comando with 4 lanciabombe Stokes
- Three compagnia fucilieri (rifle companies), each of which was assigned a section of machine guns (2 pistole mitragliatrici).
- One compagnia mitragliatrici pesanti (8 mtr.)
- One detachment zappatori

 

[Eugen Pinak]

From "Le Marche e la Prima Guerra Mondiale".

Company (compagnia) 1915:
Comandante,
Plotone misto (HQ),
1-3 plotone.
5 officers, 250 other ranks. 4 animals.

Company 1918:
Comandante,
Plotone comando,
1-3 plotone,
Sezione pistole mitragliatrici (= 2 Fiat 1915).
4 officers, 169 other ranks.

*******

Battalion (Battaglione) 1915
Comando,
1-4 compagnia,
Sezione mitragliatrici (= 2 MG).
25 officers, 1068 other ranks. 33 animals, 12 carts (2-wheel), 5 bicycles.

Battalion (Battaglione) 1918
Comando,
1-3 compagnia,
Compagnia mitragliatrici Fiat (= 8 MG),
Compagnia zappatori (sappers),
Sezione lanciabombe "Stokes" (= 4 3-in. mortars).
22 officers, 780 other ranks. 35 animals, 16 carts (2-wheel), 5 bicycles.

*******

Regiment (Reggimento) 1915
Comando,
1-3 battaglione,
Unita di salmeria reggimentale (supply column).
81 officers, 3505 other ranks. 330 animals, 39 carts (2-wheel), 2 carts (4-wheel), 20 bicycles.

Regiment (Reggimento) 1918
Comando,
1-3 battaglione,
Unita di salmeria reggimentale (supply column).
81 officers, 2591 other ranks. 222 animals, 54 carts (2-wheel), 2 carts (4-wheel), 20 bicycles.

Note, that the book mentions also the following units created in the regiment during the war:
- plotone assalto,
- repato cannonicini 37-mm (4 infantry guns),
- sezione lanciafliamme (12 portable flame throwers).

It is unclear, where they were disbanded by 1918 or were supernumerary - i.e. not included in the TOE organization.

*******

Brigade (Brigata) 1915 - in Italian army this was the highest level of infantry organization.
Comando,
1-2 reggimento.

Brigade 1918
Comando,
1-2 reggimento,
1-2 Compagnia mitragliatrici.