Alpine Brigade "Orobica"
military unit
The Alpine Brigade "Orobica" was a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units were Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II.
Constitution
The "Orobica" was constituted on 1 January 1953 in the city of Meran. The brigade's name alludes to the Bergamo Alps, which are called Alpi Orobie in Italian, and where most units of the brigade initially originated. The Brigade also drew the majority of its recruits from this region. Accordingly, the brigade's coat of arms was modeled after the coat of arms of the Province of Bergamo. During its existence the brigade's units were all based in the western and northern half of the province of South Tyrol. The brigade was tasked with the defence of the vital Brenner and Reschen mountain passes. The brigade's strength was around 3000 men and initially its composition was:
Alpine Brigade "Orobica", in Meran
Brigade Headquarters, in Meran
5th Alpini Regiment, in Meran
Command Company, in Meran
Alpini Battalion "Tirano", in Mals and Glurns
Alpini Battalion "Edolo", in Meran
5th Mortar Company, in Meran
5th Mountain Artillery Regiment, Meran
Command Battery, in Meran
Mountain Artillery Group "Bergamo", in Schlanders
Mountain Artillery Group "Sondrio", in Sterzing
Mountain Artillery Group "Vestone", in Meran
Signal Company "Orobica", in Meran
In the following years the brigade was augmented with further units:
Engineer Company "Orobica", in Meran (raised in 1954)
22nd Frontier Defense Regiment, in Meran (joined in 1954, disbanded on 31 December 1962)
XXIX Battalion, in Sterzing (renamed Alpini Battalion "Val Chiese" on 1 July 1963)
XXX Battalion, in Mals (reduced to reserve unit on 31 December 1962 and two companies passed to the XXIX Battalion, renamed Alpini Battalion "Val Camonica" on 1 July 1963, disbanded in 1964)
Alpini Battalion "Morbegno" (raised in 1956) in Sterzing
Alpini Paratroopers Platoon (raised in 1956)
Light Aircraft Section "Orobica", in Meran (formed in 1957 and expanded to Light Aircraft Unit in 1966)
The Alpini Paratroopers Platoon merged with the paratrooper platoons of the other four alpine brigades on 1 April 1964 to form the Alpini Paratroopers Company in Bolzano under direct command of the 4th Army Corps. The same year the 5th Mortar Company was disbanded and its mortars and troops divided among the brigade's three Alpini battalions.
1975 reorganization
With 1975 Italian Army reform the regimental level was abolished and battalions came under direct command of multi-arms brigades.
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