On 7 April 1939 the XIV Battalion landed in Durrës in Albania as part of the Italian invasion of Albania. Meanwhile on 20 April 1939 the regiment joined the newly raised 131st Armored Division "Centauro". On 28 October of the same year the division was transferred to Albania for the Greco-Italian War. In December 1942 the 5th Bersaglieri Regiment was transferred to Tunisia for the Tunisian campaign. Regiment and battalion fought at the battles of Kasserine Pass, Mareth Line, and El Guettar. The remnants of regiment and battalion surrendered with the rest of Army Group Africa on 13 May 1943.