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| FOLGORESECTION |
The Units of the "Folgore"
The fighting part of the unit stands on three infantry regiments, one of Military Police and one of Special Forces, together with a Para Artillery Group.
The Brigade has been recently upsized, so that nowadays it amounts a total of around seven thousand men, included the cadre. Of these 7000, almost 3000 serve in the Jump School (including in this training, repairing, rigging, studying all the materials involved in an airdrop) and the remaining four thousand serve in combat units. As a matter of fact, the excellent training received by all the maroon beret men enable also the logistic-serving unit, or not directly involved in field activities, to fully co-operate within the frame of the combat units.
It is well known the location of the Para Bde in Tuscany, with Livorno as its pounding heart. In Livorno city are located the HQ, the 1st, 9th, 187th and 185 reg.
The HQ are based inside Villa Ruspoli, so named after the two brothers that were awarded two of the 22 gold medals given to the Div. for the El-Alamein Battle in 1943. At Vannucci Lines, on the seashore, are permanently based the 1 Carabinieri Para, 187 para reg., the 9 Special Forces, and -last but not least- the Test and Evaluation Para Center. This latter is in charge of the testing of all the jumping material issued to the Bde, either already on duty or new acquisition, altogether with experimentation and projecting of the new jumping techniques.
The Command and Combat support Battalion is hosted, together with the 185 Para Artillery, inside the newly restructured Pisacane Lines. In recent times the Lines needed to be enlarged in order to host one more battery, the AAA , equipped with the American GD FIM-92A Stinger missile.
The training facilities "Lustrissimi".
Moreover the two abseiling/climbing towers and the indoor swimming pool, it has been raised a FIBUA, for the training of the units. 186 Para reg. is in Siena, "Lamarmora Lines", while 183 Para Reg. is in Pistoia town, "Marini Lines". The Combat Engineer Company is located in Lucca, "lorenzini Lines".
In Pisa town, moreover than the illustrious Jump School based in "Gamerra Lines", including the 3 Para Depot Training and the rigging Coy, you can find the Logistic Bn, divided between the "Bechi Luserna" and "Artale " lines. Always in Pisa you will find the 26th Army Aviation Squadron Group "Giove" in S.Giusto airport, shared with the
C-130s and G-222 of the 46th Air Brigade, unit that intensely share the life of the Para Bde.
 Military Jump School
Founded in Tarquinia on 15, Oct. 1939, it derived from The Libyan Jump School. On Dec '42 it was united with the Jump School set up in Viterbo, to face the rising need of more para troops to be trained in the same time. Both of the school eventually closes down on 08, Sep. '43. On 1, Jan '47 a Parachute Depot is set up in Rome, then it will move to Viterbo again on 1950, where it will stay up to 1957, when it will move north to Pisa. On 1 Jan 1963 it will assume the name of Paratroopers Training Center, giving so birth to the Para Brigade. On 1964 it resumes the old Military Jump School name. Since 1 Jan. 1983 it is under direct command of the Brigade Commanding Officer.
(Unit Location: Pisa) |
 1st Carabinieri Para Regiment "Tuscania"
Founded on 01, Jul. 1940, it will fight in Northern Africa on 29, Jun 1941. The Carabinieri national flag will be awarded the silver medal to the valor for the bravery shown in the Eluet el- Asel battle. On 15, may '51 is born the Carabinieri Para unit, subsequently upsized to Battalion strength on 15, Jul. '63. On 01, Oct. '75 gets its current denomination, and one year later it will be issued the War Flag.
(Unit Location: Livorno) |
187th Para Reg. "Folgore"
Founded on 01, Jul. 1940, it will be comprised in the 1st Para Reg., and it will play its first combat jump in Cefalonia island, on 30, Apr. 1941. Changed its name again back to 187th Para Reg., it will fight inside the Folgore Divisional frame. After the II WW, in Livorno is constituted the 1st Para Reg., based on 2nd and 5th Para, the later being the base on which it will be born the 186th Para Reg. on 1976. On 08 Apr. '76 it gets its War Flag.
(Unit Location: Livorno) |
 186th Para Reg. "Folgore"
Founded inside the frame of 1st Para, it was active part of the Folgore Division during the II WW, especially in the bitter fighting at El Alamein against the British. The survivors of that struggle were then formed up in the 285th Maneuver Bn., and after some more fighting in Tunisia, it will be disbanded on may 1943. On 08 Apr. '76 it gets its War Flag.
(Unit Location: Siena) |
 185th Para Artillery Reg. "Folgore"
Direct heir to the 185 field artillery Reg., it was founded on Jan. '42, and it fights along with Folgore Division in Northern Africa, issued with 47/32 howitzers. On 01, Sep 1958 the Para Battery is set up once again inside the Para task Force, and on 01 Jun. '63 the battery is upsized to Group. It will get its own War Flag on 18 Dec 1966, and it will hold the privilege to be the first -and only- artillery group to have its own war flag from 1966 up to 1975 in the whole Italian Army.
(Unit Location: Livorno) |
 183rd Para Reg. "Nembo"
Founded on 01, Feb. '43 it was active part of the Nembo Division during the Italian Liberation war against the Germans. After the 08 Sep truce anyway, part of the regiment decided otherwise, going to fight along with the old allies, the Germans. On 24 Sep '44 it is disbanded. Fighting inside the Folgore Task Force, it will drop one hundred of its officers and Men in the last airdrop of II WW. Disbanded once more, it rises up again as Reg. in the Folgore Division, taking back its old 183 numeration on 01 Dec 1948. On 20, Oct. '75 it is transformed in a Mechanized Bn, inside the "Gorizia" mech. Bde. This latter will be disbanded on 30, Apr. 1991, giving in this way the occasion -long waited for- to be reborn as Para Bn, in Pistoia. It will assume the Regimental rank on 1994.
(Unit Location: Pistoia) |
 3rd Para Battalion " Poggio Rusco"
Founded on 1941 in the 1st Para Reg. framework, it gets the 185 numeration on July of the same year. Rolled up in the Nembo Div. On Sep. 42, after the 8 Sep 43 truce it will form the "F" recce squadron, immediately taking part in the Herring Operation. Split up in patrols, together with Nembo Bn is airdropped behind enemy lines into different areas SW of ferrara city, among whom Poggio Rusco town. It is the warden of the 1st Para Reg. War flag and traditions.
(Unit Location: Pisa) |
 9th Para Assault Regiment
"Col Moschin"
Direct heir of the spirit and traditions of all the Italian special forces, it carries the name of the 9th assault Bn that, during I WW distinguished itself on Col Moschin mountain.
It is on the line of the 10th Braves Regiment, founded on 1942, of whom inherited the War Flag. It has been the protagonist of the very last battle involving Italian units, during the Italian liberation war.
(Unit Location: Livorno) |
 Logistic support Para Battalion "Folgore"
Founded in Pisa on 1, Oct. 1975, to support logistically the Brigade, it is the direct descendant of the support units of the Folgore Div.
On 23 Oct. '76 it gets its War Flag.
(Unit Location: Pisa) |
 Command and Combat support Battalion "Folgore"
Founded in Pisa on 1, Oct. 1963, to serve as The Para Brigade HeadQuarters, it is today named Command and Combat support BN. The Signal Company, active part of the unit since 15 Sep 1977, takes the heritage of the 185th signal engineers coy, of the Folgore Division during the II WW.
(Unit Location: Livorno) |
 Combat Engineer Company
Constituted in Pisa on 01, Oct. 1975 by transformation of the disbanded combat engineer divisional platoon, it gets the current denomination on 01, Aug. 1986. It holds up the traditions and heritage of the 185th Sapper Company in the Folgore Division in II WW.
(Unit Location: Lucca) |
 26th Army Aviation Squadron Group "Giove"
Constituted in Pisa on 21, Jul 1966 by S. Giusto Airfield, with the name of The Para Bde Helicopter Section. The following year it gets birth to the Flight Detachment, and it will get the current denomination on 20, Feb. 1976.
(Unit Location: Pisa) |
 46th Air Brigade
On 03, Sep 1973, with a manifest of Jump School Officers and NCO manifest it took life the jumping activity from C-130 "Hercules", issued the year before to the 50 Air Transport Group. In the meantime, started the evaluation flights of the Twin propelled G-222 prototype, revolving around the airdrop of men and equipment. It passed the entire test, and since then the 2nd and 98th Air Transport Group are issued with such machines.
(Unit Location: Pisa) |
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