| Page Created |
| December 14th, 2024 |
| Last Updated |
| December 15th, 2024 |
| Italy |
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| Additional Information |
| Unit Order of Battle Commanders Operations Equipment Multimedia Sources Biographies |
| Operations |
| North Africa |
| January 16th, 1943 |
| Algiers, Algeria |
| X Arditi Reggimento |
| A small patrol from the 101ª Compagnia Paracadutisti, two officers, two Non-Commisioned Officers, and seven soldiers, jumps into the Algiers region to demolish a strategic railway bridge at Eddous. They successfully reach their objective and sabotage it. However, their escape plan involves travelling roughly 800 kilometres back to Axis-held territory on foot. The following day, low on ammunition, they clash with French colonial troops and have no choice but to surrender. Despite partial success, subsequent sabotage missions mounted by the X Arditi Reggimento elsewhere in Allied-controlled North Africa yield no tangible results. |
| January and April 1943 |
| Algeria |
| X Arditi Reggimento |
| Five airborne insertions take place in Algeria, each undertaken by 5 small Arditi teams of around ten men of 101ª Compagnia Paracadutisti. These units such as those involved in the attempted strike on the bridge at Beni Mansur. Inexperience, flawed intelligence, and forewarning on the part of the Allies, often thanks to ULTRA intercepts, undermine these missions. Arditi taken prisoner later recall Allied officers telling them, “We were expecting you.” |
| February 1943 |
| Algeria |
| X Arditi Reggimento |
| In February 1943, the submarines Volframio and Malachite set sail to deploy patrols from the 102ª Nuotatori Compagnia into Algeria, tasked with sabotaging strategically important railway bridges. Adverse sea conditions prevent the Volframio’s team from landing, while the patrol deployed from the Malachite becomes disoriented due to navigation errors and is subsequently captured. |
| February 19th, 1943 – February 23rd, 1943 |
| Tunisia |
| X Arditi Reggimento |
| The 103ª Compagnia Camionettisti, equipped with eight SPA-Viberti AS42 vehicles, joins the Raggruppamento Sahariano “Mannerini” under the 1ª Armata italiana during the Tunisian Campaign. Operating in harsh conditions, it carries out long-range reconnaissance patrols, desert raids, and at times serves as a standard motorised infantry unit until the eventual collapse of the Axis forces in Tunisia. |
| February, 1943 – July 1943 |
| Tunisia |
| X Arditi Reggimento |
| Acting as the reconnaissance element for the 101ª Divisione Motorizzata “Trieste,” the 103ª Compagnia adapts to terrain markedly different from the familiar Deserto Occidentale. It faces heavy combat at Mareth, Wadi Akarit, and Enfidaville, ultimately surrendering alongside other Asse forces in May. Despite this, two detachments from the 103ª Compagnia manage to return in July. |
| June 13th, 1943 |
| Operation African Airfields |
| Battaglione Arditi Distruttori della Regia Aeronautica, X Arditi Reggimento |
| Operation African Airfields sets its sights on nine principal Allied air bases spread across Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. 8 parties of Battaglione Arditi Distruttori della Regia Aeronautica and 3 of the X Arditi Reggimento, around 120 men in total, parachute into North Africa. However, their Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 Marsupiale aircraft fail to deliver them to the correct drop zones, leaving the paratroopers scattered several kilometres off-target. Allied patrols soon intercept most of the groups after they land. None of the Arditi succeed in reaching their objectives, and all are captured. The sole exception is a pair of paratroopers from the Regia Aeronautica who manage to infiltrate Benina airfield near Benghazi, where they destroy 25 Allied aircraft. |
| Meditereanean |
| July 1943 |
| Sicily |
| Battaglione Arditi Distruttori della Regia Aeronautica, X Arditi Reggimento |
| Nine drops, consisting of 4 parties of Battaglione Arditi Distruttori della Regia Aeronautica and 5 parties of the X Arditi Reggimento, on sicilian targets, behind the Allied lines after the Allied invasion of the island |
| July 1943 |
| Sicily |
| Fallschirmjäger, X Arditi Reggimento |
| In the fighting around the Primosole Bridge, Major Vito Marcianò’s II Battaglione Speciale Arditi arrives with machineguns and mortars and Italian 29th Artillery Group (Battalion) lend direct support to the 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division. Advancing swiftly in their SPA-Viberti AS.42 vehicles, they launch a counter-attack against British airborne troops, managing to push them back temporarily. However, enemy mortar fire soon knocks out most of the Italian vehicles, curtailing their advance. Even so, their intervention helps the German forces hold onto the bridge for a short period. |
| July 30th, 1943 – August 1st , 1943 |
| Sicily, 4ª Pattuglia, 112ª Nuotatori Compagnia, X Arditi Reggimento |
| X Arditi Reggimento |
| During the evening, the 4ª Pattuglia of the 112ª Nuotatori Compagnia, led by Lieutenant Cesare Artoni, lands approximately 5 kilometres from Augusta using M.A.S. motor boats. Despite losing some equipment at sea, the patrol advances inland and briefly takes shelter at Artoni’s family home. They then proceed to their objective, an extensive Allied depot stocked with materiel and fuel, successfully planting explosives before departing aboard a small, abandoned boat. By about 01:30 on August 1st , 1943, they hear the distant sound of their charges detonating. Later that morning, while making their way along the coastline, British forces open fire on them. Forced to abandon their boat, the patrol members swim for several hours until they reach positions held by an Italian Coastal Battalion, demonstrating remarkable endurance under intense conditions. |