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The Italian Special Forces include special forces units from several branches of the Italian Armed Forces:^[1] the Esercito Italiano (Army), the Marina Militare (Navy), the Aeronautica Militare (Air force) and the Arma dei Carabinieri (Gendarmerie).

Italian Armed Forces special units are divided into Special Forces (TIER 1)^{[citation needed]} and Special Operations Forces (TIER 2). The Comando operativo interforze delle forze speciali (Joint Special Forces Operations Headquarters) is responsible for operations carried out in response to Defense requirements.^[2]

Italian Army special units

Special Forces (Tier 1)

9th Paratroopers Assault Regiment "Col Moschin", is a force trained for special operations in various environments. They carry the legacy of the Arditi units of the Italian Army, which operated on the Italian-Austrian Front during World War I.

Special Forces (Tier 2)

4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment, is a Ranger type infantry alpini regiment, specializing in mountain combat, and a special force trained for special operations in all kinds of environments, with special skills in skiing and climbing and resistance to cold, stress and fatigue. The 4th is best suited for high-altitude operations. Its operational battalion carries the legacy of the Alpine Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino", an elite battalion of the Alpini Corps, that distinguished itself during World War I and World War II.
185th Paratroopers Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore" (abbreviated as 185th RRAO) is a unit of the Italian Army, included in the special forces since 2018, made up of specifically selected and trained personnel, particularly trained and equipped to lead the entire spectrum of the typical tasks of the "Special Operations", particularly specialized in the conduct of Special Reconnaissance and Terminal Guidance Operations.

Italian Navy special units

Special Forces (Tier 1)

The Italian Navy special forces unit is the Divers and Raiders Grouping "Teseo Tesei" (Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori Teseo Tesei - COMSUBIN). Specifically the 250-350 men of the Operational Raiders Group are the special forces section of the elite unit.

GOI (Gruppo Operativo Incursori) - is the branch with raiders; they are trained for naval/land operation are also trained for special operations in all kinds of environments like British SBS, forward air controller, counter terrorism ...(but are also used on the mountains of Afghanistan in operation ISAF), are also equipped with special weapons over/under water vehicles for silent insertions.
GOS (Gruppo Operativo Subacquei) - is the diver's branch for rescue tasks and damage inspection / repair of vessels and/or submarines. They're even specialized as underwater E.O.D.^[3]

COMSUBIN's origins lie with the famous Italian special units "X MAS" (Italian acronym for Anti Submarine Motorboats). The name referred to an early vehicle employed by the units, an explosive-laden crewless motorboat ("barchino") which was aimed and launched against enemy submersibles (keep in mind that until well after World War II subs were essentially surface ships with the capability of temporarily diving underwater for attacks). After World War I much study and development went into underwater raid techniques but the unit's name was never altered, leading to the false impression that Italian seafaring commandos were still relegated to anti-submarine warfare only. Instead many flotillas were armed and equipped to direct raids on enemy ships using explosive head-charges in guided torpedoes with 2-man crews (Siluri a Lenta Corsa or S.L.C.), with hand explosive charges (by frogmen) or with small, fast, self-explosive boats (S.M.A.).

Special Operations Forces (Tier 2)

Sometimes called upon to intervene for special operations the Special Company of the 1° San Marco Marine Regiment.

Also the raiders approached the target by means of submarines with special tanks installed on the external bridge containing the special vehicles (S.L.C.).

Reparto Eliassalto REA (Heliborne Assault Unit) - special helicopters unit trained to support, supply, infiltrate/exfiltrate SF amphibious units in enemy territory.

Italian Air Force special units

Special Forces (Tier 1)

17º Stormo Incursori the raiders corp of Italian Air Force. Its primary missions: raids on aeronautical compounds, forward air control, combat controlling, and combat search and rescue. Its origins are in the A.D.R.A Arditi Distruttori Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force Brave Destroyers), a corp of World War II. They were used in not-well-known missions against bridges and allied airfields in North Africa after the fall of Tunisia.^[4] The only well-known mission reported the destruction with explosive charges of 25 B-24s & other airplanes and the killing of some bomber crew members.

Special Operations Forces (Tier 2)

9º Stormo Francesco Baracca - a special helicopters unit trained to support, supply, infiltrate/exfiltrate SF and SOF units in enemy territory.

Carabinieri Corps special units

Special Forces (Tier 1)

The Carabinieri is a corp of Gendarmerie with both (civil and military) law-and-order police duties, military police, and military peacekeeping and war-fighting capabilities.

The Carabinieri has its own special forces in the form of the Gruppo di Intervento Speciale or the Special Intervention Group. The GIS features some one hundred or so troops specially trained in counter-terrorism operations with a special emphasis on marksmanship.

Special Operation Forces (Tier 2)

The special unit SOF is the "1st Company" of the 1st Carabinieri Airborne Regiment Tuscania. It is a regiment of paratroopers for military police and anti-terrorism. The usual roles:

military, common with all other airborne/special operation forces troops;
law-enforcement, supporting the Carabinieri law-enforcement units in dangerous areas (homeland security e.g. mafia-controlled zones, violent criminal confrontations and any operation in which, translating from the official Carabinieri website, "extremely violent firearm clashes are foreseen") and VIP escort and security service.

References

^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2013-03-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Joint Special Forces Operations Headquarters - Difesa.it".
^ "Il Gruppo Operativo Subacquei - Marina Militare".
^ Arditi attack on Benghazi in June 1943

[1] "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2013-03-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[2] "Joint Special Forces Operations Headquarters - Difesa.it".

[3] "Il Gruppo Operativo Subacquei - Marina Militare".

[4] Arditi attack on Benghazi in June 1943

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+{{Short description|Special forces units of the Italian Military}}
 {{refimprove|date=January 2018}}
+The '''Italian Special Forces''' include [[Special Forces|special forces]] units from several branches of the [[Italian Armed Forces]]:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cca.analisidifesa.it/downloads/8542322026_it.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216080804/http://cca.analisidifesa.it/downloads/8542322026_it.pdf |archive-date=2012-02-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  the ''[[Italian Army|Esercito Italiano]]'' ([[Army]]), the ''[[Marina Militare]]'' ([[Navy]]), the ''[[Aeronautica Militare]]'' ([[Air force]]) and the ''Arma dei [[Carabinieri]]'' ([[Gendarmerie]]).
-[[File:9° Reggimento D'assalto Paracadutisti "Col Moschin".jpg|thumb| Assault Paratroopers of the ''Col Moschin'']]
-The '''Italian Special Forces''' include [[Special Forces|special forces]] units from several branches of the [[Italian Armed Forces]]:<ref>http://cca.analisidifesa.it/downloads/8542322026_it.pdf</ref>  the ''[[Italian Army|Esercito Italiano]]'' ([[Army]]), the ''[[Marina Militare]]'' ([[Navy]]), the ''[[Aeronautica Militare]]'' ([[Air force]]) and the ''Arma dei [[Carabinieri]]'' (Carabineers).
+Italian Armed Forces special units are divided into Special Forces (TIER 1){{cn|date=February 2021}} and Special Operations Forces (TIER 2).  The ''Comando operativo interforze delle forze speciali'' (Joint Special Forces Operations Headquarters) is responsible for operations carried out in response to Defense requirements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.difesa.it/EN/SMD/COFS/Pagine/default.aspx|title = Joint Special Forces Operations Headquarters - Difesa.it}}</ref>
-Italian Armed Forces special units are divided into Special Forces ([[Tier One (military)|TIER 1]]) and Special Operations Forces (TIER 2), and the ''Comando operativo interforze delle forze speciali'' (Joint Special Forces Operations Headquarters) is responsible for the operations carried out in response to Defense requirements<ref>http://www.difesa.it/EN/SMD/COFS/Pagine/default.aspx</ref>.
 ==Italian Army special units==
 [[File:Italian Army Special Forces helicopter extraction.png|thumb|right|Italian soldiers of the [[4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment]] with [[Beretta ARX 160|ARX 160A2]] rifles awaiting helicopter extraction]]
-===Special Forces===
-* '''[[9th Parachute Assault Regiment]]''' '''"Col Moschin"''', a [[Special Air Service|SAS]]-like force trained for special operations in all kinds of environments. They are the legacy of the ''[[Arditi]]'' ("The Daring") units that operated on the [[Italian Front (World War I)|Italian-Austrian Front]] during [[World War I]].
-* '''[[4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment]]''', a [[United States Army Rangers|Ranger]] type [[infantry]] [[alpini]] regiment, specializing in [[Mountain warfare|mountain combat]], and special force trained for special operations in all kinds of environments, with special skills in skiing and climbing and resistance to cold, stress and fatigue. The 4th is best suited for high-altitude operations. It inherits the name from the ''[[Monte Cervino Battalion|Battaglione Alpini Sciatori "Monte Cervino"]]'' (Alpine Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino"), an elite battalion of the [[Alpini]] Corps, that distinguished itself during World War I and World War II.
-* '''[[185th Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore"|185th Target Paratroopers Acquisition Regiment "Folgore"]]"''' (''185° Reggimento paracadutisti Acquisizione Obiettivi "Folgore"'' ), a paratroopers regiment for special operations. They are the legacy of the [[185th Paratroopers Division Folgore]]. Its mission is to find and mark enemy objectives for bombers or artillery units. The regiment is divided into four batteries (BAOs), trained to operate in different environments:
-** 1st "Draghi" (Dragons) - desert environment;
-** 2nd "Aquile" (Eagles) - mountainous and Arctic environment;
-** 3rd "Diavoli" (Devils) - amphibious environment;
-** 4th for "special reconnaissance" and surveillance.
-:Every BAO is composed of several DAOs ''Distaccamenti Acquisizione Obbiettivi'' (detachments of eight men each). For every BAO there is a minimum of two DAOs specialized in amphibious ops, two in forward air control and one in advanced parachute usage.
-===Special Operations Forces===
+===Special Forces (Tier 1)===
+{{Refimprove section|small=yes|date=February 2021}}
-*'''[[3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment]] "[[Aldebaran]]"''' - [[Special Operations]] [[Army Aviation|Aviation]] Regiment
+* [[9th Paratroopers Assault Regiment "Col Moschin"]], is a force trained for special operations in various environments. They carry the legacy of the ''[[Arditi]]'' units of the Italian Army, which operated on the [[Italian Front (World War I)|Italian-Austrian Front]] during [[World War I]].
-*'''[[:it:11%C2%BA Reggimento trasmissioni|11th Regimento Trasmissioni]]''' - [[Military Communications]] Regiment
-*'''[[:it:28%C2%BA Reggimento %22Pavia%22|28th Regimento Pavia]]'''- [[Psychological warfare|Psychological Operations]] Regiment
+=== Special Forces (Tier 2)===
-==Italian Navy special units==
+* [[4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment]], is a [[United States Army Rangers|Ranger]] type [[infantry]] [[alpini]] regiment, specializing in [[Mountain warfare|mountain combat]], and a special force trained for special operations in all kinds of environments, with special skills in skiing and climbing and resistance to cold, stress and fatigue. The 4th is best suited for high-altitude operations. Its operational battalion carries the legacy of the ''[[Monte Cervino Battalion|Alpine Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino"]]'', an elite battalion of the [[Alpini]] Corps, that distinguished itself during World War I and World War II.
-===Special Forces===
+* [[185th Paratroopers Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore"]] (abbreviated as 185th RRAO) is a unit of the Italian Army, included in the special forces since 2018, made up of specifically selected and trained personnel, particularly trained and equipped to lead the entire spectrum of the typical tasks of the "Special Operations", particularly specialized in the conduct of Special Reconnaissance and Terminal Guidance Operations.
+==Italian Navy special units ==
-The [[Marina Militare|Italian Navy]] special forces unit is the '''[[Italian commando frogmen]] COMSUBIN''' (''Raggruppamento Subacquei ed Incursori "Teseo Tesei"'') - the Raiders & Divers Group.  Specifically the 250-350 men of the Operational Raiders Group are the special forces section of the elite unit.
+[[File:US Navy 100528-N-7364R-011 Italian navy visit, board, search and seizure team members secure the flight deck after fast-roping onto the Military Sealift Command container and roll-on-roll-off ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3.jpg|thumb|Frogmen of the [[Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori Teseo Tesei|COMSUBIN]]]]
+===Special Forces (Tier 1)===
+The [[Marina Militare|Italian Navy]] special forces unit is the Divers and Raiders Grouping "Teseo Tesei" (''[[Comando Raggruppamento Subacquei e Incursori Teseo Tesei]]'' - COMSUBIN).  Specifically the 250-350 men of the Operational Raiders Group are the special forces section of the elite unit.
 *'''GOI''' (''Gruppo Operativo Incursori'') - is the branch with raiders; they are trained for naval/land operation are also trained for special operations in all kinds of environments like British SBS, forward air controller, counter terrorism ...(but are also used on the mountains of Afghanistan in operation ISAF), are also equipped with special weapons over/under water vehicles for silent insertions.
-*'''GOS''' (''Gruppo Operativo Subacquei'') - is the diver's branch for rescue tasks and damage inspection / repair of vessels and/or submarines.
+*'''GOS''' (''Gruppo Operativo Subacquei'') - is the diver's branch for rescue tasks and damage inspection / repair of vessels and/or submarines. They're even specialized as underwater E.O.D.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marina.difesa.it/il-tuo-futuro-e-il-mare/formazione-in-marina/formazione_specialistica/ilgos/Pagine/GOSgalleria.aspx|title = Il Gruppo Operativo Subacquei - Marina Militare}}</ref>
 COMSUBIN's origins lie with the famous Italian special units "'''[[X MAS]]'''" (Italian acronym for ''Anti Submarine Motorboats'').  The name referred to an early vehicle employed by the units, an explosive-laden crewless motorboat ("barchino") which was aimed and launched against enemy submersibles (keep in mind that until well after World War II subs were essentially surface ships with the capability of temporarily diving underwater for attacks). After World War I much study and development went into underwater raid techniques but the unit's name was never altered, leading to the false impression that Italian seafaring commandos were still relegated to anti-submarine warfare only.
 Instead many flotillas were armed and equipped to direct raids on enemy ships using explosive head-charges in guided torpedoes with 2-man crews (''Siluri a Lenta Corsa'' or S.L.C.), with hand explosive charges (by frogmen) or with small, fast, self-explosive boats (S.M.A.).
+===Special Operations Forces (Tier 2)===
-COMSUBIN GOI personnel are largely drawn from the ranks of the Navy's [[San Marco Marine Brigade]].
-===Special Operations Forces===
 *Sometimes called upon to intervene for special operations the [[Company (military unit)|Special Company]] of the '''[[San Marco Regiment|1° San Marco Marine Regiment]]'''.
 Also the raiders approached the target by means of submarines with special tanks installed on the external bridge containing the special vehicles (S.L.C.).
-* '''[[Reparto Eliassalto]]''' (Heliborne Assault Unit) - special helicopters unit trained to support, supply, infiltrate/exfiltrate SF amphibious units in enemy territory.
+* '''[[Reparto Eliassalto]] REA''' (Heliborne Assault Unit) - special helicopters unit trained to support, supply, infiltrate/exfiltrate SF amphibious units in enemy territory.
 ==Italian Air Force special units==
-===Special Forces===
+===Special Forces (Tier 1)===
-* '''[[17º Stormo Incursori]]''' the raiders corp of Italian Air Force. Its primary missions: raids on aeronautical compounds, forward air control, combat controlling, and combat search and rescue. Its origins are in the ''A.D.R.A Arditi Distruttori Regia Aeronautica'' (Royal Air Force Brave Destroyers), a corp of World War II. They were used in not-well-known missions against bridges and allied airfields in North Africa after the fall of Tunisia<ref>[https://bjuniornewblog.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-june1943-italian-arditi-attack-on_22.html Arditi attack on Benghazi in June 1943]</ref>. The only well-known mission reported the destruction with explosive charges of 25 B-24s & other airplanes and the killing of some bomber crew members.
+* '''[[17º Stormo Incursori]]''' the raiders corp of Italian Air Force. Its primary missions: raids on aeronautical compounds, forward air control, combat controlling, and combat search and rescue. Its origins are in the ''A.D.R.A Arditi Distruttori Regia Aeronautica'' (Royal Air Force Brave Destroyers), a corp of World War II. They were used in not-well-known missions against bridges and allied airfields in North Africa after the fall of Tunisia.<ref>[https://bjuniornewblog.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-june1943-italian-arditi-attack-on_22.html Arditi attack on Benghazi in June 1943]</ref> The only well-known mission reported the destruction with explosive charges of 25 B-24s & other airplanes and the killing of some bomber crew members.
-===Special Operations Forces===
+===Special Operations Forces (Tier 2)===
 *'''[[9º Stormo Francesco Baracca]]''' - a special helicopters unit trained to support, supply, infiltrate/exfiltrate SF and SOF units in enemy territory.
 ==Carabinieri Corps special units==
-===Special Forces===
+===Special Forces (Tier 1)===
-The [[Carabinieri]] is a [[Gendarmerie]] (military police) with both (civil and military) law-and-order police duties and military peacekeeping and war-fighting capabilities.
+The [[Carabinieri]] is a corp of [[Gendarmerie]] with both (civil and military) law-and-order police duties, military police, and military peacekeeping and war-fighting capabilities.
 *The Carabinieri has its own special forces in the form of the '''[[Gruppo di Intervento Speciale]]''' or the Special Intervention Group.  The '''GIS''' features some one hundred or so troops specially trained in counter-terrorism operations with a special emphasis on marksmanship.
-===Special Operation Forces===
+===Special Operation Forces (Tier 2)===
-The special unit SOF is the '''[[Carabinieri Regiment "Tuscania"|1° Reggimento Carabinieri Paracadutisti "Tuscania"]]''' (1st Carabinieri Airborne Regiment Tuscania). It is a regiment of paratroopers for military police/anti-terrorism. The usual roles:
+The special unit SOF is the "1st Company" of the '''[[Carabinieri Regiment "Tuscania"|1st Carabinieri Airborne Regiment Tuscania]]'''. It is a regiment of paratroopers for military police and anti-terrorism. The usual roles:
 *military, common with all other airborne/special operation forces troops;
-*law-enforcement, supporting the Carabinieri law-enforcement units in dangerous areas (homeland security e.g. mafia-controlled zones, violent criminal confrontations and any operation in which, translating from the official Carabinieri website, "extremely violent firearm clashes are foreseen") and VIP escort and security service;
+*law-enforcement, supporting the Carabinieri law-enforcement units in dangerous areas (homeland security e.g. mafia-controlled zones, violent criminal confrontations and any operation in which, translating from the official Carabinieri website, "extremely violent firearm clashes are foreseen") and VIP escort and security service.
+== See also ==
+* [[Joint Operational Command of the Special Forces (Italy)]]
 == References ==