Eugen Pinak
New Member
MVSN short story (in Italian): http://www.regioesercito.it/milizia/mvsnstoria.htm
Basic MVSN military organization was the infantry battalion. AFAIK, it was never similar to the Army infantry battalion - it was always smaller and lightly armed.
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1929???
According to the article from "RIVISTA MILITARE 1932 N.5", Blackshirt infantry battalion was organized, as follow:
- HQ platoon,
- Signal platoon (plotone collegamenti) - reduced composition compared to Army battalion (one less squad, probably to match the lack of one (HMG) company).
- 3 Blackshirt companies (HQ platoon (with signal squad-?), 3 Blackshirt platoons, 1 recon squad).
Blackshirt platoon was organized along Army 1928-pattern rifle platoon, but had only 2 rifle squads instead of 3. So there were 2 rifle and 1 LMG (with 2 LMG) squads - IMHO, very logical combination, unlike the Army one.
Author refused to provide exact data on battalion strength, only saying, it has 1/2 of the officers, 1/1,5 of the NCO, 1/1,6 of the troops and 1/2 of the horses of the Army infantry battalion. He also says, that Blackshirt battalion has no HMG, has comparable amount of "trombonicini", but superior amount of hand grenades and LMG ammo magazines, compared to Army battalion.
Note, that 1932 article also mentions Blackshirt cyclist battalions of the MVSN, though says nothing on their organization.
The normal allocation of Blackshirt infantry battalions seems to be 2 per infantry division. I wonder, if Blackshirt cyclist battalions were intended for allocation to Celere divisions?
************************************************
1939
See here: https://comandosupremo.com/blackshirts/
Basic MVSN military organization was the infantry battalion. AFAIK, it was never similar to the Army infantry battalion - it was always smaller and lightly armed.
*****************************************
1929???
According to the article from "RIVISTA MILITARE 1932 N.5", Blackshirt infantry battalion was organized, as follow:
- HQ platoon,
- Signal platoon (plotone collegamenti) - reduced composition compared to Army battalion (one less squad, probably to match the lack of one (HMG) company).
- 3 Blackshirt companies (HQ platoon (with signal squad-?), 3 Blackshirt platoons, 1 recon squad).
Blackshirt platoon was organized along Army 1928-pattern rifle platoon, but had only 2 rifle squads instead of 3. So there were 2 rifle and 1 LMG (with 2 LMG) squads - IMHO, very logical combination, unlike the Army one.
Author refused to provide exact data on battalion strength, only saying, it has 1/2 of the officers, 1/1,5 of the NCO, 1/1,6 of the troops and 1/2 of the horses of the Army infantry battalion. He also says, that Blackshirt battalion has no HMG, has comparable amount of "trombonicini", but superior amount of hand grenades and LMG ammo magazines, compared to Army battalion.
Note, that 1932 article also mentions Blackshirt cyclist battalions of the MVSN, though says nothing on their organization.
The normal allocation of Blackshirt infantry battalions seems to be 2 per infantry division. I wonder, if Blackshirt cyclist battalions were intended for allocation to Celere divisions?
************************************************
1939
See here: https://comandosupremo.com/blackshirts/
