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Assault and Landing Divisions
The assault and landing division, adopted in 1941 in anticipation of the intended invasion of Malta, assumed a special organization different from that of an ordinary infantry division. Increased mobility was obtained by the decentralization of heavy support weapons (antitank guns and 81mm mortars) from regimental to battalion control and of light support weapons (machine guns and 45mm mortars from battalion to company control in late 1941 and affected three ordinary infantry divisions. Expanded engineer and assault engineer assets (a battalion of each) as well as a rock climber battalion were added to this type of division for combined operations. The invasion never took place, and the units were used as ordinary infantry. Three divisions were effected.
Motorized Infantry Divisions
Italian Motorized infantry divisions were like those in most other countries, designed to work together with the armored divisions. Two were pre-war formations, part of the Armored corps that also comprised two armored divisions. Three others were wartime conversions. As Italy could not support the number of motorized divisions needed for the mobile warfare in North Africa, semi- motorized divisions were created instead. Organization of these units was similar to that of ordinary infantry divisions except that the regiments had only two battalions instead of three and had additional motorized transport. TO&E charts are quite sketchy regarding the amount and type of vehicles provided and leave the impression that whatever was available was used.
Truck-Borne Infantry Division
a. The “European” type or “Divisione Fanteria Autotransportabile,” or lorried infantry divisions, were an attempt at solving the problems the Italians had with a lack of motor vehicles to motorize their infantry divisions to the level demanded by modern warfare. The eight divisions differed little from ordinary infantry divisions except that they may have had motorized artillery, no Black Shirt legion, and two divisional mortar battalions in the field if not on paper. The motor transport needed to carry it entirely was not allotted to the division but was drawn when required from the Intendance at corps level. The division retained a good proportion of animal transport, which enabled it to operate, when grounded, in “Horsed” columns. The animal transport could theoretically be lifted and transported by rail or motor transport.
b. The “North African” type or “Divisione Autotransportabile Tipo A(frica) S(ettentriole),” semi- motorized Italian infantry divisions, were organized for the North African theatre as a stop-gap measure, when the Italians did not have enough motor vehicles, nor gasoline, to convert them into actual motorized divisions. Ten divisions are thought to have been raised, but the number is a bit uncertain.
Mountain Infantry Divisions
a. Certain infantry divisions were designated as mountain infantry in an attempt to better adapt regular infantry divisions for operations in mountainous regions. These differed from Alpini divisions and were infantry divisions specially adapted for mountain warfare. They had the ordinary composition of an infantry division, but had more animal transport. All the guns of the artillery regiment could be transported in horse-drawn wagonloads or on pack animals. Personnel were not specially trained in mountain warfare, but were for the most part recruited from mountain districts. The division was not intended to operate at a higher altitude than 2000m (6,500’).
b. As the war went on, and there was no need for infantry adapted to mountain warfare, attempts were made to convert most of the nine divisions to truck-borne infantry divisions.
Alpini Divisions
a. General-The Alpine division, designed to operate above 6000’, was different from the mountain infantry division. It was an elite unit made up of men native to Italy’s mountainous regions, and was ideally suited for waging war in the Alps surrounding Italy’s northern borders, The standard of physique and training was high and the artillerymen were expert in the manhandling of pack artillery. The regiments had their own detachments of artillery, engineers, and auxiliary services permanently attached. This made the regiment self-supporting and capable of independent action for a considerable period. Decentralization did not stop at regiments; Alpini battalions and companies were detached from their parent units and regrouped with artillery units into regroupments. This procedure was made easier by the existence of independent transport right down to company organization.
b. Composition. The Alpine division consisted of a headquarters, two Alpine regiments, one Alpine artillery regiment, one mixed engineer battalion, one chemical warfare company, one supply section, and one medical section, decentralized to regiments. The table of organization provided for two reserve battalions (one for each infantry regiment). In practice replacements were drawn from the depot of the division as required. No allowance was therefore made for reserve battalions. Pack mules provided transportation. A large sanitation unit was required due to disposal problems in rocky terrain.
c. They saw little combat in that role though. There was some use in the invasions of France in 1940 and Yugoslavia in 1941. After that they mostly performed occupation duties. Three of them were sent to the Soviet Union to fight in the Caucasus Mountains, but instead ended up in the unending Russian Steppe, where they were ill suited and were virtually annihilated. There were six Alpini divisions.
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