4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment
The 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment () is a Ranger-type special forces regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain combat. The regiment is one of four regiments of the Army Special Forces Command. The regiment is a unit of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The 4th Alpini Regiment is one of the most decorated units of the Italian Army, although its two Gold Medals of Military Valour were awarded to the regiment's currently inactive Alpini Battalion "Aosta", respectively  the currently active Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino". History. Formation. The 4th Alpini Regiment was formed on 1 November 1882. It consisted of the three battalions: "Val Pellice", "Val Chisone" and "Val Brenta", named after the valleys from which the battalion's soldiers were recruited. In 1886 the battalions were renamed, taking their new names from the location of their main logistic depot: "Pinerolo", "Aosta" and "Ivrea". In 1888 the "Pinerolo" was subordinated to the 3rd Alpini Regiment and in exchange the "Susa 2°" battalion was transferred from the 3rd to the 4th Alpini. In 1908 the "Susa" returned to  the 3rd Alpini and in the city of Intra the "Pallanza" battalion was raised as substitute, with existing companies from other Alpini battalions. In 1909 the "Pallanza" was renamed "Intra" battalion. Thus the regiment's structure in 1910 was: World War I. During World War I the regiment consisted of 10 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): The "Aosta" Battalion distinguished itself in 1917 during heavy  combat on Monte Vodice and in 1918 on Monte Solarolo. During the war a total of 31,000 men served in the 4th Alpini. 189 Officers and 4,704 soldiers died during combat and 455 Officers and 10,923 soldiers were wounded. Interwar Period. On 10 September 1935, the "1st Alpine Division "Taurinense"" was formed and composed of the 3rd Alpini and 4th Alpini Regiments and the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment. The division participated in 1936 in the Italian conquest of Abyssinia. World War II. In 1940 the regiment as part of the Taurinense division fought in the Italian attack on Greece. After  the German invasion of Yugoslavia the "Taurinense" performed garrison duties in Montenegro were the regiment disbanded after the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies on 8 September 1943. Most of its soldiers joined the Italian Partisan Brigade "Garibaldi", which operated in central Yugoslavia. The reformed 4th Alpini Regiment participated in the liberation of Italy as part of the Partisan Piemonte Mountain Corps. Cold War. After World War II the 4th Alpini Regiment was reformed in 1952 with the battalions "Aosta", "Saluzzo" and "Susa". In 1953 the "Mondovì" battalion was reactivated as fourth battalion of the regiment. The 4th  Alpini was the basis for the newly founded Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". In 1962 the "Mondovì" was transferred to the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to augment the Alpine Brigade "Julia" and in 1963 the "Aosta" battalion was transferred to the Alpine Military School in Aosta. Four years later it was again subordinated to 4th Alpini Regiment. With the Italian Army 1975 reform the battalions came under the direct command of the Taurinense. The "Aosta" battalion was assigned to the Alpine Military School and would have joined the Taurinense only in case of war. The "Aosta" received the regimental colours of  the dissolved 4th Alpini Regiment and carried on its tradition and flag. In the early stages of the Cold War the 4th Alpini Regiment consisted of the following units: Structure. On 25 September 2004, the 4th Alpini Regiment was reformed as 4th Alpini Paratroopers) Regiment in the city of Bolzano. The existing Alpini Paratroopers Battalion "Monte Cervino" entered the regiment. Today the 4th Regiment is one of four special forces regiments of the Italian Army. The Alpini Paratroopers have recently served in Iraq and one company is constantly deployed in Afghanistan. In January 2011 the regiment moved to its new  base in Verona and in 2013 joined the newly formed Army Special Forces Command (COMFOSE). The regiment's structure is as follows: The Command and Logistic Support Company fields the following platoons: C3 Platoon, Transport and Materiel Platoon, Medical Platoon, and Commissariat Platoon. The Operational Support Company consists of a C4 Platoon and a Mobility Support Platoon. Each Ranger company fields three platoons of 36 men. The Maneuver Support Company fields an Anti-tank Platoon with eight Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles launchers, a Heavy Mortar Platoon with three F1 120mm mortars and a Medium Mortar Platoon with  three Expal 81mm mortars. The maneuver support company is equipped with a total of six F1 120mm mortars and six Expal 81mm mortars, allowing the mortar platoons to switch between calibres as needed. Decorations. The 4th Alpini Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Italian Army.