Posted 27 November 2007 - 09:39 AM by Andreas
Hi
According to the Italian OH, the detachment of Col. Valarini (consisting of two coys 65th Infantry from Trieste, the Barce Training Battalion and the 1st Battalion Carabinieri Paratroopers) was attacked and mostly destroyed on 20/21 Dec. 41 in an attack by 5th Indian Brigade supported by 42nd RTR (Matildas?)
Does anyone know more about this fight? In particular:
a) Who was Col. Valarini
b) What was the background of the paratroop battalion - when did it arrive in Africa, how was it equipped, was it some sort of special unit?
c) How was the detachment of Col. Valarini equipped in terms of heavy/support weapons?
Many thanks in advance.
All the best
Andreas
Posted 27 November 2007 - 04:24 PM by Davide Pastore
Skipped
One of the first para units created in Italy, this one being made of Carabinieri personnel.
Why it was selected for the African front I really cannot grasp :?
July 1941
- Reparto Comando (platoon strength)
- 3x Compagnie Paracadutisti (inner details I don't know for sure, but they had probably 3 platoons of 3 squads each, plus a tenth squad as HQ)
- Engineer platoon (attached)
Weaponry:
- 12x Breda 30 LMG (I have no idea how to fit them inside the triangular infantry structure shown above :? so that structure is possibly wrong)
- 12x Fiat 35 HMG (possibly not an original asset of the battalion but attached: if this is true, they are likely a MG company, either 3 platoons of 4 weapons or 4 of 3)
- 4x Solothurn ATR (attached)
- 6x 47/32 ATG (attached)
Strength is given at 350 men but I believe this number does not include any attached unit.
In the sense of being made of hand-picked personnel, yes; but not in the sense of specially-trained for modern-day SF employment. They were normal infantry, with the plus of being able to airdrop.
Skipped
Posted 08 February 2011 - 10:05 AM by david
Was it ever combined with the Battaglione Libica Nationale Paracadutisti?
Posted 10 February 2011 - 04:58 PM voloire
Good evening.
Not Valarini but Vaiarini
Col. SPE Gherardo Vaiarini, commanding officer of 65° infantry Rgt Trieste. Fallen in action on july 17 1942 leading his troops. Awarned with gold medal (in memoriam).
For those who read italian: you can take a look here
I Battaglione Carabinieri Paracadutisti
For Mr David: on 19 dec 1941 - Eluet el Asel - the batalion was renforced by a platoon of para destroyer, 9a compagnia bersaglieri (47/32 gun - Lt Coglitore) and 1 platoon of paracadutisti libici
Best regards
Posted 17 February 2011 - 01:55 PM by david
OK.
But the Battaglione Libica Nationale Paracadutisti were always seperate from the Valarini Detachment and I Bataglione Carabinieri Paracudisti ?
Posted 22 February 2011 - 06:48 PM by Andreas
I got the site's permission to translate and publish it:
https://rommelsriposte.com/2011/02/22/1st-carabinieri-parachute-battalion-in-north-africa-1941/
All the best
Andreas
Hi
According to the Italian OH, the detachment of Col. Valarini (consisting of two coys 65th Infantry from Trieste, the Barce Training Battalion and the 1st Battalion Carabinieri Paratroopers) was attacked and mostly destroyed on 20/21 Dec. 41 in an attack by 5th Indian Brigade supported by 42nd RTR (Matildas?)
Does anyone know more about this fight? In particular:
a) Who was Col. Valarini
b) What was the background of the paratroop battalion - when did it arrive in Africa, how was it equipped, was it some sort of special unit?
c) How was the detachment of Col. Valarini equipped in terms of heavy/support weapons?
Many thanks in advance.
All the best
Andreas
Posted 27 November 2007 - 04:24 PM by Davide Pastore
Skipped
One of the first para units created in Italy, this one being made of Carabinieri personnel.
Why it was selected for the African front I really cannot grasp :?
July 1941
- Reparto Comando (platoon strength)
- 3x Compagnie Paracadutisti (inner details I don't know for sure, but they had probably 3 platoons of 3 squads each, plus a tenth squad as HQ)
- Engineer platoon (attached)
Weaponry:
- 12x Breda 30 LMG (I have no idea how to fit them inside the triangular infantry structure shown above :? so that structure is possibly wrong)
- 12x Fiat 35 HMG (possibly not an original asset of the battalion but attached: if this is true, they are likely a MG company, either 3 platoons of 4 weapons or 4 of 3)
- 4x Solothurn ATR (attached)
- 6x 47/32 ATG (attached)
Strength is given at 350 men but I believe this number does not include any attached unit.
In the sense of being made of hand-picked personnel, yes; but not in the sense of specially-trained for modern-day SF employment. They were normal infantry, with the plus of being able to airdrop.
Skipped
Posted 08 February 2011 - 10:05 AM by david
Was it ever combined with the Battaglione Libica Nationale Paracadutisti?
Posted 10 February 2011 - 04:58 PM voloire
Good evening.
Not Valarini but Vaiarini
Col. SPE Gherardo Vaiarini, commanding officer of 65° infantry Rgt Trieste. Fallen in action on july 17 1942 leading his troops. Awarned with gold medal (in memoriam).
For those who read italian: you can take a look here
I Battaglione Carabinieri Paracadutisti
For Mr David: on 19 dec 1941 - Eluet el Asel - the batalion was renforced by a platoon of para destroyer, 9a compagnia bersaglieri (47/32 gun - Lt Coglitore) and 1 platoon of paracadutisti libici
Best regards
Posted 17 February 2011 - 01:55 PM by david
OK.
But the Battaglione Libica Nationale Paracadutisti were always seperate from the Valarini Detachment and I Bataglione Carabinieri Paracudisti ?
Posted 22 February 2011 - 06:48 PM by Andreas
I got the site's permission to translate and publish it:
https://rommelsriposte.com/2011/02/22/1st-carabinieri-parachute-battalion-in-north-africa-1941/
All the best
Andreas
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