2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment
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The 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment () is an inactive
mountain artillery Mountain guns are artillery pieces designed for mountain warfare and other areas where wheeled transport is not possible. They are generally capable of being taken apart to make smaller loads for transport by horses, humans, mules, tractors, or t ...
regiment of the
Italian Army The Italian Army ( []) is the Army, land force branch of the Italian Armed Forces. The army's history dates back to the Italian unification in the 1850s and 1860s. The army fought in colonial engagements in China and Italo-Turkish War, Libya. It ...
, which was based in
Trento Trento ( or ; Ladin language, Ladin and ; ; ; ; ; ), also known in English as Trent, is a city on the Adige, Adige River in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. It is the capital of the Trentino, autonomous province of Trento. In the 16th ...
in
Trentino Trentino (), officially the Autonomous Province of Trento (; ; ), is an Autonomous province#Italy, autonomous province of Italy in the Northern Italy, country's far north. Trentino and South Tyrol constitute the Regions of Italy, region of Tren ...
. The regiment was formed in 1915 by the
Royal Italian Army The Royal Italian Army () (RE) was the land force of the Kingdom of Italy, established with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. During the 19th century Italy started to unify into one country, and in 1861 Manfredo Fanti signed a decree c ...
as 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment. In
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
the regiment's groups and batteries served on the Italian front. In 1926 the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment switched numbers with the then 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment, but retained its flag, traditions, and place as the third oldest Italian mountain artillery regiment. In 1935 the regiment was assigned to the
2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" The 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" () was a Division (military), division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated and elite mountain corp ...
, with which it served during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
in the
invasion of France France has been invaded on numerous occasions, by foreign powers or rival French governments; there have also been unimplemented invasion plans. * The 978 German invasion during the Franco-German war of 978–980 * The 1230 English invasion of ...
and the
Greco-Italian War The Greco-Italian War (), also called the Italo-Greek War, Italian campaign in Greece, Italian invasion of Greece, and War of '40 in Greece, took place between Italy and Greece from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. This conflict began the Balk ...
. In summer 1942 the division was transferred to the
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
, where it was destroyed in winter 1942-43 during the Soviet
Operation Little Saturn Operation Little Saturn () was a Red Army offensive on the Eastern Front of World War II that led to battles in Don and Chir rivers region in German-occupied Soviet Union territory in 16–30 December 1942. The success of Operation Uranus, lau ...
. The remnants of the division were repatriated in spring 1943 and invading German forces disbanded the division and its regiments after the announcement of the
Armistice of Cassibile The Armistice of Cassibile ( Italian: ''Armistizio di Cassibile'') was an armistice that was signed on 3 September 1943 by Italy and the Allies, marking the end of hostilities between Italy and the Allies during World War II. It was made public ...
on 8 September 1943. The regiment was reformed in 1951 and assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina". In 1975 the regiment was split into two mountain artillery groups and its flag and traditions were assigned to the Mountain Artillery Group "Vicenza". In 1991 the group was assigned to the
4th Alpine Army Corps The Comando Truppe Alpine (Alpine Troops Command) or COMTA (formerly also COMALP) commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called ''Alpini'' (singular: ''Alpino'') and various support and training units. It is the successor to the ''4º ...
and one year later the group entered the reformed regiment. In 1997 the regiment was assigned to the army's Artillery Grouping. The regiment was disbanded in 2015. The Italian mountain artillery has served since its inception alongside the infantry's
Alpini The Alpini are the Italian Army's specialist mountain infantry. Part of the army's infantry corps, the speciality distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Currently the active Alpini units are organized in two operati ...
speciality, with whom the mountain artillery shares the distinctive
Cappello Alpino The Cappello Alpino (Alpine Hat) is the most distinctive feature of the Italian Army's Alpini troops' uniform. The ''Alpini'' are light Infantry troops, specializing in Mountain warfare, mountain combat. Initially, the Cappello was only issued to ...
. The regimental anniversary falls, as for all Italian Army artillery regiments, on June 15, the beginning of the
Second Battle of the Piave River The Second Battle of the Piave River (or Battle of the Solstice), fought between 15 and 23 June 1918, was a decisive victory for the Italian Army against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, as Italy was part of the Allied Forces, whi ...
in 1918.


History


World War I

On 1 February 1915 the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment was formed in the city of
Bergamo Bergamo ( , ; ) is a city in the Alps, alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from the alpine lakes Lake Como, Como and Lake Iseo, Iseo and 70 km (43 mi) from Lake Garda, Garda and Lake ...
. The new regiment consisted of the Mountain Artillery Group "Oneglia" in
Oneglia Oneglia ( or ) is a former town in northern Italy on the Ligurian coast, in 1923 joined to Porto Maurizio to form the Comune of Imperia (city), Imperia. The name is still used for the suburb.Roy Palmer Domenico, ''The regions of Italy: a refere ...
, which had been ceded by the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment, the Mountain Artillery Group "Genova" in
Genoa Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...
, which had been formed in December 1914 by the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment, the Mountain Artillery Group "Bergamo" in Bergamo, which had been ceded by the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment, and the Mountain Artillery Group "Como" in
Como Como (, ; , or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como. Nestled at the southwestern branch of the picturesque Lake Como, the city is a renowned tourist destination, ce ...
, which had been formed in December 1911 by the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment. All four groups were equipped with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns. At the outbreak of
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
the regiment formed the 59th and 61st batteries and entered the war with the organization depicted in the following table: Note 3: The "Genova" group's 60th Mountain Artillery Battery and the "Como" group's 62nd Mountain Artillery Battery were not raised until November 1916 for lack of available 65/17 mod. 13 cannons. During the war the regiment's depots formed the commands of the 7th Mountain Artillery Grouping and the commands of 17 mountain artillery groups: XVII (72nd, 73rd, 74th batteries), XVIII (75th, 76th, 77th batteries), XXIV (56th, 60th, 62nd batteries), XXVII (88th, 89th, 90th batteries), XXXI (97th, 98th, 99th batteries), XXXII, XL, XLV, XLVI, XLVII, XLVIII, LV, LVI, LVII, LIX, LX, and LXVI. The regiment's depots also formed 44 mountain artillery batteries, two commands of siege groups and 19 siege batteries. During the war the regiment was broken up and its groups and batteries attached to different
Alpini The Alpini are the Italian Army's specialist mountain infantry. Part of the army's infantry corps, the speciality distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Currently the active Alpini units are organized in two operati ...
units. The Mountain Artillery Group "Oneglia" fought in 1915 in the Val d'Assa and then on Monte Coston. In 1916 the group was deployed on the
Melette Melette is a mountain massif in the Veneto region in Northern Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that ...
, where it fought on the slopes of
Monte Fior Monte Fior is a mountain of Veneto, Italy. It is located on the Asiago Plateau, in the Vicentine Alps, and has an elevation of . Monte Fior is the highest peak of the Melette group, in the Province of Vicenza. Along with the rest of the group, i ...
during the
Battle of Asiago The Südtirol Offensive, also known as the Battle of Asiago or Battle of the Plateaux (in Italian: Battaglia degli Altipiani), wrongly nicknamed ''Strafexpedition'' "Punitive expedition" (this name has no reference in official Austrian document ...
. In 1917 the group remained initially on the
Asiago Asiago (; Venetian language, Venetian: ''Axiago'', Cimbrian: ''Slege'', German language, German: ''Schlägen'' ) is a minor township (population roughly 6,500) with the title of ciin the surrounding plateau region (the ''Altopiano di Asiago'' o ...
plateau, where it fought for control of Monte Zebio. After the
Battle of Caporetto The Battle of Kobarid (also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, the Battle of Caporetto or the Battle of Karfreit) took place on the Italian front of World War I. The battle was fought between the Kingdom of Italy and the Central P ...
the group was transferred to the
Monte Grappa Monte Grappa () (1,775 m) is a mountain of the Venetian Prealps in Veneto, Italy. It lies between the Venetian plain to the south and the central alpine areas to the north. To the west, it is parted from the Asiago upland by the Brenta river, a ...
massif, where it fought on Monte Tomba and Monfenera during the
Battle of Monte Grappa The Battles of Monte Grappa were a series of three battles which were fought during World War I between the armies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy for control of the Monte Grappa massif, as it covered the left flank of ...
. In 1918 the group fought at Fagarè during the
Second Battle of the Piave River The Second Battle of the Piave River (or Battle of the Solstice), fought between 15 and 23 June 1918, was a decisive victory for the Italian Army against the Austro-Hungarian Empire during World War I, as Italy was part of the Allied Forces, whi ...
and in October participated in the
Battle of Vittorio Veneto The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought from 24 October to 3 November 1918 (with an armistice taking effect 24 hours later) near Vittorio Veneto on the Italian Front during World War I. After having thoroughly defeated Austro-Hungarian troops ...
. In 1919 the group was deployed to
Italian Libya Libya (; ) was a colony of Fascist Italy (1922–1943), Italy located in North Africa, in what is now modern Libya, between 1934 and 1943. It was formed from the unification of the colonies of Italian Cyrenaica, Cyrenaica and Italian Tripolitan ...
to help subdue the local population. The Mountain Artillery Group "Genova" was deployed in 1915 on the Monte Altissimo and fought near
Brentonico Brentonico (''Brentònec'' in local dialect) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige, located about southwest of Trento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 3,770 and an area of .A ...
. In 1916 the group was on Monte Zugna and the nearby Buole Pass during the
Battle of Asiago The Südtirol Offensive, also known as the Battle of Asiago or Battle of the Plateaux (in Italian: Battaglia degli Altipiani), wrongly nicknamed ''Strafexpedition'' "Punitive expedition" (this name has no reference in official Austrian document ...
. In 1917 the group was on the Monte Cimone di Tonezza and then deployed in the Val d'Astico. In 1918 the group fought on Monte Pelle, before being deployed in the Val Lagarina. The Mountain Artillery Group "Bergamo" was from 1915 to 1917 on the Krn and only after the
Battle of Caporetto The Battle of Kobarid (also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, the Battle of Caporetto or the Battle of Karfreit) took place on the Italian front of World War I. The battle was fought between the Kingdom of Italy and the Central P ...
in October and November 1917 the group moved left the area of the Krn. In 1918 the group was on the
Cima Presanella Presanella is a mountain in the Adamello-Presanella range of the Italian Alps of northern Italy. Presanella has an elevation of 3,558 meters and is located in the Adamello Brenta National Park within the Trentino province of Italy. Climbing hi ...
, fought on the Monticello Pass and on the Cavento Pass below the
Corno di Cavento The Corno di Cavento is a mountain in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. It is located in the Province of Trento, between Val Rendena and Val di Fumo. Its summit was conquered for the first time by a young Bohemian climber, Julius von Payer, along ...
. The Mountain Artillery Group "Como" was deployed in 1915 on the Sass de Stria and then the
Monte Piana Monte Piana is a tall mountain in the Sexten Dolomites and located on the border between the provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno. The smaller Northern summit of the mountain is named ''Monte Piano'' (2,305m). During the so-called "White War" ...
. In 1916 the group was in the
Tofane Tofane is a mountain group in the Dolomites of northern Italy, west of Cortina d'Ampezzo in the province of Belluno, Veneto. Most of the Tofane lie within the Ampezzo Dolomites Natural Park. Peaks The highest peaks of the Tofane group are ''To ...
group. In 1917 the group fought on the Piccolo Lagazuoi and then on the
Monte Grappa Monte Grappa () (1,775 m) is a mountain of the Venetian Prealps in Veneto, Italy. It lies between the Venetian plain to the south and the central alpine areas to the north. To the west, it is parted from the Asiago upland by the Brenta river, a ...
massif during the
Battle of Monte Grappa The Battles of Monte Grappa were a series of three battles which were fought during World War I between the armies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy for control of the Monte Grappa massif, as it covered the left flank of ...
. In 1918 the group was at
Roncade Roncade is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about north of Venice and about southeast of Treviso. Roncade borders the following municipalities: Casale sul Sile, Meolo, Monastier d ...
, then on the Monte Coston, again on Monte Grappa, and then deployed on the Montello. In October 1918 the group participated in the
Battle of Vittorio Veneto The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought from 24 October to 3 November 1918 (with an armistice taking effect 24 hours later) near Vittorio Veneto on the Italian Front during World War I. After having thoroughly defeated Austro-Hungarian troops ...
.


Interwar years

In 1919 the regiment was reduced to the groups "Oneglia", "Bergamo" and XXIX, each with three batteries with 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns. On 21 February 1921 the mountain groups lost their names and the regiment consisted of the I, II, and III groups. On 1 July 1923 the regiment formed the IV Group with 100/17 mod. 14 howitzers. On 11 March 1926 the Royal Italian Army reorganized its artillery. As Alpini units were traditionally numbered from West to East the army decided that the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment and 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment should swap numbers. Furthermore, the army decided that mountain artillery groups should again be named and not numbered and that the groups with 100/17 mod. 14 howitzers should be transferred to the field artillery. The mountain artillery regiments also redistributed their groups and so the new 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment consisted after the swap of the groups "Bergamo" and "Vicenza", and received from the new 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment that regiment's III Group, which was redesignated Mountain Artillery Group "Belluno". At the same time the new 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment transferred its own I Group to the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment, which upon entering the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment was redesignated Mountain Artillery Group "Aosta", and transferred its IV Group with 100/17 mod. 14 howitzers to the
9th Field Artillery Regiment The 9th Field Artillery Regiment is a field artillery regiment of the United States Army first formed in 1916. The regiment served in Hawaii during World War I, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 9th Divisions between the world wars, and with 3rd Infantry Divis ...
. On 1 December 1929 the regiment received the Group "Aosta" from the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment and transferred its Group "Belluno" to the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment. Afterwards the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment consisted of the Group "Aosta", with the 4th, 5th, and 6th batteries, the Group "Vicenza", with the 19th and 20th batteries, and the Group "Bergamo", with the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd batteries. The regiment was assigned to the II Alpine Brigade, which also included the
5th Alpini Regiment The 5th Alpini Regiment () is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Sterzing in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 November 18 ...
and
6th Alpini Regiment The 6th Alpini Regiment () is a mountain warfare training regiment of the Italian Army based in Bruneck in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Training Center in Aosta. ...
. On 1 January 1934 the Group "Aosta" returned to the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment and in the course of the year the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment formed the 21st Battery for the Group "Vicenza". On 27 October 1934 the II Alpine Brigade changed its name to II Superior Alpine Command and the regiment was renamed 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment. In December of the same year the command was given the name "Tridentina". On 10 September 1935 the II Superior Alpine Command "Tridentina" was renamed
2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" The 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" () was a Division (military), division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated and elite mountain corp ...
and consequently the regiment was renamed 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Tridentina". On 31 December 1935 the depot of the regiment in
Bergamo Bergamo ( , ; ) is a city in the Alps, alpine Lombardy region of northern Italy, approximately northeast of Milan, and about from the alpine lakes Lake Como, Como and Lake Iseo, Iseo and 70 km (43 mi) from Lake Garda, Garda and Lake ...
formed the 5th Alpine Artillery Regiment "Pusteria". To ready the new regiment quickly for the
Second Italo-Ethiopian War The Second Italo-Ethiopian War, also referred to as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, was a war of aggression waged by Fascist Italy, Italy against Ethiopian Empire, Ethiopia, which lasted from October 1935 to February 1937. In Ethiopia it is oft ...
the other alpine artillery regiments transferred existing batteries temporarily to the new regiment. In case of the 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Tridentina" the 21st Battery of the Group "Vicenza" was transferred to the newly formed Alpine Artillery Group "Lanzo", but returned to the regiment, when the Group "Lanzo" was disbanded after the war on 12 April 1937. In 1936 the regiment moved from Bergamo to
Meran Merano (, ; ) or Meran () is a (municipality) in South Tyrol, Northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier Va ...
. On 25 September 1937 the regiment's Group "Vicenza" ceded its 21st Battery permanently to the reformed the Group "Lanzo". On 20 March 1939, the 19th Battery of the Group "Vincenza" was mobilized and the personnel, dressed in civilian clothes, embarked in the port of
La Spezia La Spezia (, or ; ; , in the local ) is the capital city of the province of La Spezia and is located at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the southern part of the Liguria region of Italy. La Spezia is the second-largest city in the Liguria ...
for
Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
. After arriving on 25 March in Cadiz the Italian "volunteers" joined the
Corpo Truppe Volontarie The Corps of Volunteer Troops () was a Fascist Italian expeditionary force of military volunteers, which was sent to Spain to support the Nationalist forces under General Francisco Franco against the Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil ...
, which fought on the Nationalist side in the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...
. However the end of hostilities on 1 April meant that the battery did not see any combat.


World War II

In 1939 the regiment mobilized the Alpine Artillery Group "Val Camonica" (28th, 29th, and 30th batteries) and the Alpine Artillery Group "Val d'Adige" (45th, 75th, 76th, and 77th batteries). The two groups supported the Alpini groups, which were manned with reservists. On 10 June 1940, the day Italy entered
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the regiment consisted of a command, command unit, the Group "Vicenza" (19th and 20th batteries), and the Group "Bergamo" (31st, 32nd, and 33rd batteries). Both groups were equipped with 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns. The regiment was assigned, together with the
5th Alpini Regiment The 5th Alpini Regiment () is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Sterzing in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 November 18 ...
and
6th Alpini Regiment The 6th Alpini Regiment () is a mountain warfare training regiment of the Italian Army based in Bruneck in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Training Center in Aosta. ...
, to the
2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" The 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" () was a Division (military), division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated and elite mountain corp ...
. In June 1940 the division participated in the
invasion of France France has been invaded on numerous occasions, by foreign powers or rival French governments; there have also been unimplemented invasion plans. * The 978 German invasion during the Franco-German war of 978–980 * The 1230 English invasion of ...
in the
Little St Bernard Pass The Little St Bernard Pass (French: ''Col du Petit Saint-Bernard'', Italian: ''Colle del Piccolo San Bernardo'') is a mountain pass in the Alps on the France–Italy border. Its saddle is at 2188 metres above sea level. It is located between Sa ...
sector. On 31 October 1940 the Group "Val Camonica" was disbanded and the following month the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" was transferred to
Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...
to shore up the crumbling Italian front during the
Greco-Italian War The Greco-Italian War (), also called the Italo-Greek War, Italian campaign in Greece, Italian invasion of Greece, and War of '40 in Greece, took place between Italy and Greece from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. This conflict began the Balk ...
. In Albania the Group "Vicenza" was reinforced with the 50th Battery of the Group "Val Chisone" of the 1st Alpine Artillery Regiment "Taurinense". On 23 November the division entered the front in the upper Devoll valley, but in December the Greek counter-offensive forced the division to retreat. On 15 March 1941 the Group "Vicenza" was reinforced with the 45th Battery of the Group "Val d’Adige". In April 1941, during the
Battle of Greece The German invasion of Greece or Operation Marita (), were the attacks on Greece by Italy and Germany during World War II. The Italian invasion in October 1940, which is usually known as the Greco-Italian War, was followed by the German invasi ...
, the division pursued the retreating Greek forces to
Leskovik Leskovik () is a town in Korçë County, in southeastern Albania. Historically, until 2015, it was a municipality, after which it became a municipal unit of Kolonjë. Leskovik is located from Melesin mountain. The town is located close to the Gre ...
and
Ersekë Ersekë ( sq-definite, Erseka), is a town and a former municipality in southeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision and the seat of the municipality Kolonjë. Founded in the 17th century, Erseka was the seat o ...
. In July 1941 the division was repatriated. For its conduct and service on the Greek front the 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Tridentina" was awarded a
Bronze Medal of Military Valor The Bronze Medal of Military Valor () is an Italian medal for gallantry. It was established by Charles Albert of Sardinia on 26 March 1833, along with the higher ranking Gold Medal of Military Valor and Silver Medal of Military Valor, which were ...
, which was affixed to the regiment's flag and is depicted on the regiment's coat of arms. On 15 November 1941 the depot of the 1st Alpine Artillery Regiment "Taurinense" formed the 6th Alpine Artillery Regiment, which received the Alpine Artillery Group "Val d'Adige" from the 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Tridentina". In spring 1942 the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" was assigned, together with the
3rd Alpine Division "Julia" The 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" () was a Division (military), division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated, elite mountain corps of the ...
and
4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" The 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" () was a Division (military), division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The headquarters of the division was in the city of Cuneo, and the majority of its Alpi ...
, to the Italian 8th Army, which was sent in summer 1942 to the Eastern Front. In preparation for the deployment to the
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
the Alpine Artillery Group "Val Camonica", with the 28th and 29th batteries, was reformed in April 1942 and assigned to the regiment. The Group "Val Camonica" was equipped with 105/11 mod. 28 mountain guns. The regiment also received the 56th and 59th anti-aircraft batteries with 20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns, and after arriving in the Soviet Union the regiment received in September 1942 the 76th Anti-tank Battery with Pak 97/38 anti-tank guns. During its time in the Soviet Union the regiment consisted of the following units: * 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Tridentina" ** Command Unit ** Alpine Artillery Group "Vicenza" *** Command Unit *** 19th Battery, with 4× 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns *** 20th Battery, with 4× 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns *** 45th Battery, with 4× 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns *** Ammunition and Supply Unit ** Alpine Artillery Group "Bergamo" *** Command Unit *** 35th Battery, with 4× 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns *** 36th Battery, with 4× 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns *** 39th Battery, with 4× 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns *** Ammunition and Supply Unit ** Alpine Artillery Group "Val Camonica" *** Command Unit *** 28th Battery, with 4× 105/11 mod. 28 mountain guns *** 29th Battery, with 4× 105/11 mod. 28 mountain guns *** Ammunition and Supply Unit ** 56th Anti-aircraft Battery, with 8× 20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns ** 59th Battery, with 8× 20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns ** 76th Anti-tank Battery, with 6× Pak 97/38 anti-tank guns The groups "Bergamo" and "Vicenza" fielded 1,296 men (32 officers, 32 non-commissioned officers, and 1,232 soldiers), which operated twelve 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns. Being an alpine unit the group's main mode of transport were
mule The mule is a domestic equine hybrid between a donkey, and a horse. It is the offspring of a male donkey (a jack) and a female horse (a mare). The horse and the donkey are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes; of the two ...
s, of which the group had 720. In July 1942 the three alpine division, grouped together in the
Alpine Army Corps The Comando Truppe Alpine (Alpine Troops Command) or COMTA (formerly also COMALP) commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called ''Alpini'' (singular: ''Alpino'') and various support and training units. It is the successor to the ''4º ...
, arrived in
Eastern Ukraine Eastern Ukraine or East Ukraine (; ) is primarily the territory of Ukraine east of the Dnipro (or Dnieper) river, particularly Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts (provinces). Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are often also regarded as ...
, from where they marched eastwards towards the
Don Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name * Don, Benin, a town in Benin * Don, Dang, a village and hill station in Dang district, Gu ...
river. The Italian 8th Army covered the left flank of the German 6th Army, which spearheaded the German summer offensive of 1942 towards
Stalingrad Volgograd,. geographical renaming, formerly Tsaritsyn. (1589–1925) and Stalingrad. (1925–1961), is the largest city and the administrative centre of Volgograd Oblast, Russia. The city lies on the western bank of the Volga, covering an area o ...
. On 12 December 1942 the
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...
commenced
Operation Little Saturn Operation Little Saturn () was a Red Army offensive on the Eastern Front of World War II that led to battles in Don and Chir rivers region in German-occupied Soviet Union territory in 16–30 December 1942. The success of Operation Uranus, lau ...
, which, in its first stage, attacked and encircled the Italian II Army Corps and XXXV Army Corps, to the southeast of the Alpine Army Corps. On 13 January 1943, the Red Army launched the second stage of Operation Little Saturn with the
Voronezh Front The 1st Ukrainian Front (), previously the Voronezh Front (), was a major formation of the Red Army during World War II, being equivalent to a Western army group. They took part in the capture of Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany. Wartime ...
encircling and destroying the
Hungarian Second Army The Hungarian Second Army (''Második Magyar Hadsereg'') was one of three field armies raised by the Kingdom of Hungary which saw action during World War II. All three armies were formed on March 1, 1940. The Second Army was the best-equipped Hu ...
to the northwest of the Alpine Army Corps. On the evening of 17 January 1943, the Alpine Army Corps commander, General Gabriele Nasci, ordered a full retreat. At this point only the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" was still capable of conducting combat operations. The 40,000-strong mass of stragglers — Alpini and Italians from other commands, plus German and Hungarians — followed the Tridentina division, which led the way westwards to the Axis lines. As the Soviets had already occupied every village bitter battles had to be fought to clear the way. On the morning of 26 January, the spearheads of the Tridentina reached the hamlet of Nikolayevka, occupied by the Soviet
48th Guards Rifle Division The 48th Guards Rifle Division was formed as an elite infantry division of the Red Army in October 1942, based on the 2nd formation of the 264th Rifle Division, and served in that role until after the end of the Great Patriotic War. It was in the ...
. General Nasci ordered a frontal assault and at 9:30 am the
Battle of Nikolayevka The Battle of Nikolayevka was the breakout of Italian forces in January 1943. The breakout involved the COMALP, Alpine Army Corps of the Italian Army in Russia, Italian 8th Army near the village of Nikolayevka (now Livenka, Belgorod Oblast, in ...
began with the
6th Alpini Regiment The 6th Alpini Regiment () is a mountain warfare training regiment of the Italian Army based in Bruneck in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Training Center in Aosta. ...
, the II Mixed Alpine Engineer Battalion, the Alpine Artillery Group "Bergamo", and three German
Sturmgeschütz III The ''Sturmgeschütz'' III (StuG III) was an assault gun produced by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was the most-produced German Continuous track, fully tracked armoured fighting vehicle, and second-most produced German armored combat ve ...
leading the attack. By noon the Italian forces had reached the outskirts of the village and the Alpine Army Corps' Chief of Staff General
Giulio Martinat __NOTOC__ Giulio Martinat (24 February 1891 – 26 January 1943) was a brigadier general in the Italian armed forces during World War II. He was killed while leading his men in the Battle of Nikolayevka. Born in a small town of Perrero, of Wald ...
brought up reinforcements: the
5th Alpini Regiment The 5th Alpini Regiment () is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Sterzing in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 November 18 ...
, and the remaining alpine artillery groups "Vicenza" and "Val Camonica", as well as the remnants of the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" of the "Julia" division. General Martinat fell during this assault. By sunset the Alpini battalions were still struggling to break the reinforced Soviet lines and in a last effort to decide the battle before nightfall General
Luigi Reverberi Luigi Reverberi ( Cavriago, 12 September 1892 – Milan, 22 June 1954) was an Italian general during World War II. Biography Reverberi attended the Military Academy of Modena and graduated as second lieutenant; with this rank he fought in ...
, commander of the Tridentina, ordered the remaining troops and stragglers, to assault the Soviet positions in a
human wave attack A human wave attack, also known as a human sea attack, is an offensive infantry tactic in which an attacker conducts an unprotected frontal assault with densely concentrated infantry formations against the enemy line, intended to overrun and ...
. The assault managed to break open the Soviet lines and the Italian survivors managed to continue their retreat, which was no longer contested by Soviet forces. On 1 February 1943 the remnants of the Alpine Army Corps reached Axis lines. Only one third of the Tridentina had survived the battles on the
Don Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name * Don, Benin, a town in Benin * Don, Dang, a village and hill station in Dang district, Gu ...
river and the following retreat (approximately 4,250 survivors of 18,000 troops deployed). For its bravery and sacrifice in the Soviet Union the 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Tridentina" was awarded Italy's highest military the
Gold Medal of Military Valor The Gold Medal of Military Valor () is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia for deeds of outstanding gallantry in war by junior officers and soldiers. The face of the medal displayed the profile o ...
, which was affixed to the regiment's flag and is depicted on the regiment's coat of arms. The regiment was still in the process of being rebuilt, when the
Armistice of Cassibile The Armistice of Cassibile ( Italian: ''Armistizio di Cassibile'') was an armistice that was signed on 3 September 1943 by Italy and the Allies, marking the end of hostilities between Italy and the Allies during World War II. It was made public ...
was announced on 8 September 1943. On 10 September the regiment was disbanded near
Sterzing Sterzing (; ) is a comune in South Tyrol in northern Italy. It is the main town of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack River flows through the medieval town. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). Hi ...
by invading German forces.


Cold War

On 1 April 1948 the Mountain Artillery Group "Bergamo" was reformed in
Bolzano Bolzano ( ; ; or ) is the capital city of South Tyrol (officially the province of Bolzano), Northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third largest in historical Tyrol. The ...
and assigned to the IV Territorial Military Command. The group was equipped with 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns and consisted of the 31st, 32nd, and 33rd batteries. On 1 May 1951 the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment was reformed in
Brixen Brixen (; , ; or , ) is a town and communes of Italy, commune in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano. Geography Brixen is the third-largest city and oldest town in the province, with a population of nearly twenty-three t ...
and assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina", which had been formed the same day. The Mountain Artillery Group "Bergamo" entered the reformed regiment, which consisted of a command, a command unit, the Group "Bergamo", the Anti-tank Group "Tridentina" with QF 6-pounder anti-tank guns, and a Light Anti-aircraft Group with 40/56 anti-aircraft autocannons. After its formation the regiment's command moved from Brixen to Bolzano. In June of the same year the regiment formed a maneuver group with 100/17 mod. 14 howitzers in
Meran Merano (, ; ) or Meran () is a (municipality) in South Tyrol, Northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier Va ...
and on 13 August the regiment formed the 35th Battery for the Group "Bergamo". On 1 July 1952 the Mountain Artillery Group "Asiago" was formed in
Toblach Toblach (; ) is a ''comune''/''Gemeinde'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in Northern Italy, located in the Puster Valley about northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria. Geography As of November 30, 2010, it had a population ...
. Initially the group "Asiago" consisted only of the 28th Battery, but on 10 November 1952 the 77th Battery was formed, which, like the 28th Battery, was equipped with M30 107mm mortars. The Group "Asiago" was named for the village of
Asiago Asiago (; Venetian language, Venetian: ''Axiago'', Cimbrian: ''Slege'', German language, German: ''Schlägen'' ) is a minor township (population roughly 6,500) with the title of ciin the surrounding plateau region (the ''Altopiano di Asiago'' o ...
, which gave its name to the
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
Battle of Asiago The Südtirol Offensive, also known as the Battle of Asiago or Battle of the Plateaux (in Italian: Battaglia degli Altipiani), wrongly nicknamed ''Strafexpedition'' "Punitive expedition" (this name has no reference in official Austrian document ...
, during which the Mountain Artillery Group "Genova", which consisted of the 28th, 29th, and 30th batteries, had fought. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
the 28th and 29th batteries had been assigned to the Alpine Artillery Group "Val Camonica", which served with the 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Tridentina" on the Eastern Front. On 14 December 1952 the Anti-tank Group "Tridentina" was disbanded and its personnel used to from a recruits training group. In the course of the year 1952 the Group "Bergamo" moved from Bolzano to
Bruneck Bruneck (; or Ladin language, Ladin: ''Bornech'' or ''Burnech''; or ''Brunopolis'') is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italy, Italian province of South Tyrol. Geography Bruneck rises up in the middle of a wide valley (perhaps a ...
, while the maneuver group with 100/17 mod. 14 howitzers moved from Meran to
Brixen Brixen (; , ; or , ) is a town and communes of Italy, commune in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano. Geography Brixen is the third-largest city and oldest town in the province, with a population of nearly twenty-three t ...
, where the group was renamed Mountain Artillery Group "Verona" on 26 December 1952. Five day later, on 31 December 1952, the Group "Bergamo" was renamed Mountain Artillery Group "Vicenza". The next day, on 1 January 1953, batteries of the disbanded Group "Bergamo" were renumbered 19th, 20th, and 21st, while the 32nd Battery retained its number. On 1 July 1953 the 5th Mountain Artillery Regiment was reformed in
Meran Merano (, ; ) or Meran () is a (municipality) in South Tyrol, Northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier Va ...
and on 13 August 1953 the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment ceded the 32nd Battery, which had been part of the Group "Bergamo", to the 5th Mountain Artillery Regiment to help reform the Group "Bergamo", which was reformed on 10 September 1953. On 1 September of the same year the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment transferred its recruits training group to the 5th Mountain Artillery Regiment. Initially only the Group "Bergamo" consisted of batteries with traditional mountain battery numbers, but on 15 March 1955 the army's General Staff ordered that also the groups with 100/17 mod. 14 howitzers and M30 107mm mortars should receive traditional mountain battery numbers. Consequently, all the batteries of the regiment were renumbered and afterwards the regiment consisted of the following groups and batteries: * 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment, in
Bolzano Bolzano ( ; ; or ) is the capital city of South Tyrol (officially the province of Bolzano), Northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third largest in historical Tyrol. The ...
** Command Unit ** Mountain Artillery Group "Vicenza", in
Bruneck Bruneck (; or Ladin language, Ladin: ''Bornech'' or ''Burnech''; or ''Brunopolis'') is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italy, Italian province of South Tyrol. Geography Bruneck rises up in the middle of a wide valley (perhaps a ...
*** Command Unit *** 19th, 20th, and 21st batteries with 75/13 mod. 15 mountain guns ** Mountain Artillery Group "Asiago", in
Toblach Toblach (; ) is a ''comune''/''Gemeinde'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in Northern Italy, located in the Puster Valley about northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria. Geography As of November 30, 2010, it had a population ...
*** Command Unit *** 28th and 29th batteries with M30 107mm mortars ** Mountain Artillery Group "Verona", in
Brixen Brixen (; , ; or , ) is a town and communes of Italy, commune in South Tyrol, northern Italy, located about north of Bolzano. Geography Brixen is the third-largest city and oldest town in the province, with a population of nearly twenty-three t ...
*** Command Unit *** 75th and 76th batteries with 100/17 mod. 14 howitzers ** Light Anti-aircraft Group, in Bolzano *** Command Unit *** 1st, 2nd, and 3rd batteries with 40/56 anti-aircraft autocannons On 1 January 1956 the Light Anti-aircraft Group was transferred to the 4th Heavy Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment and in April of the same year the two batteries of the Group "Asiago" were equipped with Brandt AM-50 120mm mortars. On 1 July 1956 the regiment formed a Light Aircraft Section with L-21B artillery observation planes, which in 1958 was transferred to the brigade command. On 25 February 1959 the regiment formed the 30th Battery for the Group "Asiago" and on 1 April of the same year the Group "Vicenza" was equipped with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers. Also during the same year the Group "Verona" moved from Brixen to Bolzano. In 1960 the regiment's groups were reorganized and the Brandt AM-50 120mm mortars of the Group "Asiago" were distributed among the regiment's three groups, with each group fielding after 1 June 1960 two batteries with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers and one mortar battery with Brandt AM-50 120mm mortars. Afterwards the regiment consisted of the following units: * 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment, in
Bolzano Bolzano ( ; ; or ) is the capital city of South Tyrol (officially the province of Bolzano), Northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third largest in historical Tyrol. The ...
** Command Unit ** Mountain Artillery Group "Vicenza", in
Bruneck Bruneck (; or Ladin language, Ladin: ''Bornech'' or ''Burnech''; or ''Brunopolis'') is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italy, Italian province of South Tyrol. Geography Bruneck rises up in the middle of a wide valley (perhaps a ...
*** Command Unit *** 19th Battery, with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers *** 20th Battery, with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers *** 21st Battery, with Brandt AM-50 120mm mortars ** Mountain Artillery Group "Asiago", in
Toblach Toblach (; ) is a ''comune''/''Gemeinde'' (municipality) in South Tyrol in Northern Italy, located in the Puster Valley about northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria. Geography As of November 30, 2010, it had a population ...
*** Command Unit *** 28th Battery, with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers *** 29th Battery, with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers *** 30th Battery, with Brandt AM-50 120mm mortars ** Mountain Artillery Group "Verona", in
Bolzano Bolzano ( ; ; or ) is the capital city of South Tyrol (officially the province of Bolzano), Northern Italy. With a population of 108,245, Bolzano is also by far the largest city in South Tyrol and the third largest in historical Tyrol. The ...
*** Command Unit *** 75th Battery, with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers *** 76th Battery, with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers *** 77th Battery, with Brandt AM-50 120mm mortars On 1 April 1970 all the mountain groups' mortar batteries were equipped with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers. During the 1975 army reform the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions and groups were granted for the first time their own flags. On 15 September 1975 the Group "Verona" was disbanded. On 30 September 1975 the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment was disbanded and the next day its remaining two groups became autonomous units and were assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina". The groups consisted of a command, a command and services battery, and three batteries with 105/14 mod. 56 pack howitzers, with one of the batteries being mule-carried. At the time each of the two groups fielded 610 men (35 officers, 55 non-commissioned officers, and 520 soldiers). On 12 November 1976 the
President of the Italian Republic The president of Italy, officially titled President of the Italian Republic (), is the head of state of Italy. In that role, the president represents national unity and guarantees that Italian politics comply with the Constitution. The presid ...
Giovanni Leone Giovanni Leone (; 3 November 1908 – 9 November 2001) was an Italian politician, jurist and university professor who was President of Italy from 1971 to 1978. A founding member of Christian Democracy (Italy), Christian Democracy (DC), Leone br ...
issued decree 846, which assigned the flag and traditions of the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment to the Mountain Artillery Group "Vicenza", and granted the Mountain Artillery Group "Asiago" a new flag. On 28 September 1982 the Group "Vicenza" was equipped with M114 155mm howitzers and in 1983 the group moved from Bruneck to
Elvas Elvas (), officially the City of Elvas (), is a Portuguese municipality, former episcopal city and frontier fortress of easternmost central Portugal, located in the district of Portalegre in Alentejo. It is situated about east of Lisbon, and ab ...
in the base, which had been vacated by the disbanding of the 1st Heavy Artillery Group "Adige". The same year the Group "Vicenza" formed a light anti-aircraft battery, which was equipped with M55 Quadmounts.


Recent times

On 2 April 1991 the batteries of the Mountain Artillery Group "Vicenza" in Elvas were disbanded and the flag of the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment was transferred to
Trento Trento ( or ; Ladin language, Ladin and ; ; ; ; ; ), also known in English as Trent, is a city on the Adige, Adige River in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. It is the capital of the Trentino, autonomous province of Trento. In the 16th ...
, where it supplanted the flag of the 184th Heavy Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Filottrano", which one week later, on 9 April 1991, arrived in Gradisca d'Isonzo, where it supplanted the next day the flag of the 46th Self-propelled Field Artillery Group "Trento", whose flag was subsequently transferred on 5 June of the same year to the Shrine of the Flags in the
Vittoriano The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument (), also known as the Vittoriano or for synecdoche Altare della Patria ("Altar of the Fatherland"), is a large national monument built between 1885 and 1935 to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king ...
in Rome. Through the move the Group "Vicenza", which was now equipped with
FH-70 The FH70 (field howitzer for the 1970s) is a towed 155 mm howitzer used by several nations. History In 1963, NATO agreed a NATO Basic Military Requirement 39 for close support artillery, either towed or tracked. Subsequently, Germany and UK ...
155mm howitzers, became a support unit of the
4th Alpine Army Corps The Comando Truppe Alpine (Alpine Troops Command) or COMTA (formerly also COMALP) commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called ''Alpini'' (singular: ''Alpino'') and various support and training units. It is the successor to the ''4º ...
and was renamed Heavy Field Artillery Group "Vicenza". The same year, on 8 June, the Group "Asiago" was disbanded, followed on 27 July the Alpine Brigade "Orobica". Three days later, on 30 July 1991, the disbanded brigade's artillery group, the Mountain Artillery Group "Bergamo", joined the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina". After the Group "Asiago" had been disbanded, the Group "Vicenza", to carry on the traditions of the Mountain Artillery Group "Asiago", gave the number 28th to its Light Anti-aircraft Battery. On 3 September 1992 the Heavy Field Artillery Group "Vicenza" lost its autonomy and the next day the group entered the reformed 2nd Heavy Field Artillery Regiment "Vicenza". On 1 January 1996 the regiment was renamed 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment. The regiment consisted now of the following units: * 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment, in
Trento Trento ( or ; Ladin language, Ladin and ; ; ; ; ; ), also known in English as Trent, is a city on the Adige, Adige River in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. It is the capital of the Trentino, autonomous province of Trento. In the 16th ...
** Command and Services Battery ** 28th Light Anti-aircraft Battery, with
Stinger A stinger (or sting) is a sharp organ found in various animals (typically insects and other arthropods) capable of injecting venom, usually by piercing the epidermis of another animal. An insect sting is complicated by its introduction of ve ...
man-portable air-defense system Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS or MPADS) are portable Shoulder-launched missile, shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles. They are guided missile, guided weapons and are a threat to low-flying aircraft, especially helicopters and ...
s ** Group "Vicenza" *** 19th Battery, with
FH-70 The FH70 (field howitzer for the 1970s) is a towed 155 mm howitzer used by several nations. History In 1963, NATO agreed a NATO Basic Military Requirement 39 for close support artillery, either towed or tracked. Subsequently, Germany and UK ...
155mm howitzers *** 20th Battery, with FH-70 155mm howitzers *** 21st Battery, with FH-70 mod. 56 155mm howitzers *** 45th Fire and Technical Support Battery On 1 January 1997 the regiment was assigned to the army's Artillery Grouping. On 1 January 2002 the regiment was renamed 2nd Field Artillery Regiment "Vicenza" and the same year the regiment disbanded the 28th Light Anti-aircraft Battery, while the 21st Battery was reorganized as 21st Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Tactical Liaison Battery. The regiment consisted now of the following units: * 2nd Field Artillery Regiment "Vicenza", in
Trento Trento ( or ; Ladin language, Ladin and ; ; ; ; ; ), also known in English as Trent, is a city on the Adige, Adige River in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol in Italy. It is the capital of the Trentino, autonomous province of Trento. In the 16th ...
** Command and Services Battery ** 21st Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Tactical Liaison Battery ** 1st Group *** 19th Battery, with
FH-70 The FH70 (field howitzer for the 1970s) is a towed 155 mm howitzer used by several nations. History In 1963, NATO agreed a NATO Basic Military Requirement 39 for close support artillery, either towed or tracked. Subsequently, Germany and UK ...
155mm howitzers *** 20th Battery, with FH-70 155mm howitzers *** 45th Fire and Technical Support Battery The regiment was disbanded on 25 June 2015 and the flag of the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment was transferred to the shrine of the Flags in the
Vittoriano The Victor Emmanuel II National Monument (), also known as the Vittoriano or for synecdoche Altare della Patria ("Altar of the Fatherland"), is a large national monument built between 1885 and 1935 to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king ...
in Rome.


References


External links


Italian Army Website: 2° Reggimento Artiglieria Terrestre "Vicenza"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mountain 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment Alpini regiments of Italy Artillery Regiments of Italy Regiments of Italy in World War I Regiments of Italy in World War II