Alpine Brigade Tridentina

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Brigata Alpina Tridentina


caption= Coat of Arms of the Alpine Brigade Tridentina
dates= 1 May 1951 - 31 December 2002
country= Italy
branch= Italian Army
type= Alpini
role= Mountain Infantry
size=
command_structure=IV Army Corps
1951 - today
garrison= Brixen

The Alpini Brigade Tridentina was a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units were the Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The Tridentina Alpine Brigade carried on the colours and traditions of the WWII era 2nd Alpine Division Tridentina.

The brigade was based in the eastern half of the Italian province of Bolzano-Bozen. The headquarter was in the city of Brixen. It was disbanded in 2002.

Constitution

The Tridentina was constituted on May 1st, 1951 in the city of Brixen. The brigade’s name "Tridentina" alludes to old name of the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region in northern Italy were the brigade was based and from where it drew the majority of its recruits.The brigade’s strength was around 4200 men and initially it was composed of the: [ [http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/unita_sez/unita_div_trid_sto.asp Esercito Italiano: Il Comando Divisione "Tridentina" ] ]
* "' with the battalions
** Bolzano
** Trento
** Bassano
** Edolo (ceded to the reformed 5th Alpini Regiment on January 1, 1953)
* "' with the groups
** Bergamo (renamed "Vicenza" in 1952)
** Verona
** Asiago
* Logistic battalion (from 1956 onwards)
* Engineer company
* Signals Company
* HQ Support Platoon

In 1953 the 21st Alpini Regiment was attached to the Brigade. The regiment was dissolved in June 1964 with the exception of the Alpini battalion "Val Brenta".

1975 Reorganization

In 1975 the Verona mountain artillery group was dissolved and the regimental level abolished. The remaining units came under direct control of the Tridentina Brigade. The new composition was: [ [http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/unita_sez/unita_div_trid_sto2.asp Esercito Italiano: Il Comando Divisione "Tridentina" ] ]
*
*
* Val Brenta Alpini battalion in Bruneck (reduced to reserve status in 1986)
* Bolzano Alpini battalion in Brixen (Reserve)
*
* Asiago mountain artillery group in Toblach
* Command and Signals battalion in Brixen
*
* Anti-tank company in Bruneck
* Engineer company in Brixen

1990ties Reorganization

In 1991 the reserve battalions "Val Brenta" and "Bolzano" and mountain artillery group "Asiago" were dissolved. The mountain artillery group "Vicenza" passed to the direct command of the IV Alpine Army Corps. With the suppression of the Alpine Brigade Orobica in 1991, that Brigades remaining units (Alpini Battalions "Morbegno" and "Edolo", the Artillery group "Bergamo", the "Orobica" Logistics battalion and the Anti-tank company) passed to the Alpine Brigade Tridentina. In August 1992 the battalions took the names of historical Alpini regiments to carry on the regimental traditions. The Anti-tank company was dissolved. Each regiment consisted of one of the brigades Alpini battalions and an additional support company. The new composition was: [ [http://www.esercito.difesa.it/root/unita_sez/unita_div_trid_sto2.asp Esercito Italiano: Il Comando Divisione "Tridentina" ] ]

*
*
*
* in 1998)
* "' ("Bergamo" artillery group) in Merano
* Command and Signals battalion in Brixen
* Tridentina Logistics battalion in Brixen

Today

In 2001 the 11th Alpini Regiment and 5th Mountain Artillery Regiment were dissolved. During 2002 the following units of the Brigade passed to other commands:
*
*

The brigade and its last units were dissolved on December, 31st 2002. On the next day the Tridentina Division Command was activated in Bolzano which carries on the traditions of the 2nd Alpine Division Tridentina and the Alpine Brigade Tridentina.

Sources