5th Alpini Regiment The 5th Alpini Regiment ( ) is a light infantry regiment of the Italian Army , specializing in Mountain Combat . The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army , that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II . History . Formation . The 5th Alpini Regiment was formed on November 1 , 1882 . It consisted of three Battalions : Val Dora , Moncenisio and Valtellina , named after the valleys and localities from which their soldiers were recruited . In 1886 the Battalions were renamed , taking their new names from the location of their main logistic depot : Morbegno , Tirano , Edolo and the newly formed Vestone . World War I . During World War I the regiment consisted of 16 battalions and saw heavy fighting in the Alps against Austria ' s Kaiserjäger and Germany ’ s Alpenkorps . The battalions of the regiment in these days were ( pre - war raised units in bold , followed by their first and second line reserve battalions ) : Interwar period . On September 10 , 1935 the 2nd Alpine Division “ Tridentina ” was formed and composed of the 5th Alpini and 6th Alpini Regiment s and the 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment . World War II . In September 1942 the “ Tridentina ” division under the command of General Luigi Reverberi was sent together with the Alpini divisions Julia and Cuneense and other Italian units to the Soviet Union to form the ARMIR ( Armata Italiana in Russia or Italian Army in Russia ) and fight alongside the Germans against the Red Army . Taking up positions along the Don River the Italian units covered part of the left flank of the German Sixth Army , which spearheaded the German summer offensive of 1942 into the city of Stalingrad . After successfully encircling the German Sixth army in Stalingrad the Red Army ’ s attention turned to the Italian units along the Don . On January 14 , 1943 the Soviet offensive Operation Little Saturn began and the three Alpini division found themselves quickly encircled by the rapidly advancing armoured Soviet Forces . After 12 days of heavy fighting the Julia and Cuneense divisions were completely annihilated . The remnants of the Tridentina were able to break the Soviet encirclement in the epic and desperate Battle of Nikolayevka on January 26 , 1943 allowing the 4250 survivors ( out of 15000 troops deployed ) to reach German lines . The few survivors of the 5th regiment were repatriated and after the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies on September 8 , 1943 the regiment dissolved in the vicinity of the Italian city of Brixen . The Cold War . After World War II the 5th Alpini regiment was reformed on January 1 , 1953 in the city of Meran with the battalions Tirano , and Edolo and became the sole Alpini regiment in the newly formed Alpine Brigade Orobica . When Italy dissolved the regimantal level in 1975 the battalions came under the direct command of the Orobica Brigade and a third battalion Morbegno was formed . The traditions and regimental colours of the 5th Alpini were given to the Morbegno battalion , which carried them until the 5th Alpini regiment was reformed on August 8 , 1992 . Today . Today the 5th Regiment consists of the “ Morbegno ” battalion , the regimental command and a logistic support company . The regiment is based in Sterzing in the province of South Tyrol , making it the north most based regiment of the Italian Army and is part of the Alpine Brigade Julia . Equipment . The Alpini companies are equipped with Bv 206S tracked all - terrain carriers , Puma 6x6 wheeled armored personnel carriers and Lince light multirole vehicles . The mortar company is equipped with 120mm mortars , while the anti - tank company fields Spike anti - tank guided missile systems .