Difference between revisions of "Missile Brigade "Aspis" (Italy)"
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{{Infobox military unit | {{Infobox military unit | ||
| − | | unit_name = Missile Brigade "Aspis" | + | | unit_name = Missile Brigade "''Aspis''" |
| image = [[File:Brigata Missili Aspide.png|150px]] | | image = [[File:Brigata Missili Aspide.png|150px]] | ||
| caption = Brigade insignia | | caption = Brigade insignia | ||
Revision as of 18:46, 12 December 2014
| Missile Brigade "Aspis" | |
|---|---|
 Brigade insignia | |
| Active | 1959 - present |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | National Republican Army |
| Type | Missile artillery |
| Role | Nuclear tactical defence |
| Size | 5,000 ca. |
| Part of | 1st Army Corps |
| Head Quarters | "Luciano Capitò" Barracks, Portogruaro, Italy |
| Nickname | Scorpion |
| Patron | Saint Barbara |
| Flash colour | Black |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Brigade General Salvatore Santovito |
| Chief of Staff | Colonel Alberto Adersavo |
The Missile Brigade "Aspis" is a Formation Army National Republican. It depends on the 1st Army Corps and its headquarters is based in Portogruaro at the Barracks "Luciano Capitò". The Brigade was formed in 1959 following the agreement entered into secret October 20th, 1954 between the Italian government and the US government on the tactical nuclear defence in Italy. Dislocated with its units between the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the Brigade had and still has the task of stopping a possible invasion from the "Gorizia threshold" and to garrison the north-eastern part of Italy.
At the time of its establishment, it was only equipped with tactical nuclear weapons, whose activation keys were owned by Italy and United States, while missiles were owned by Italy; nowadays, it is also equipped with both tactical and strategic Italian nuclear weapons; however, the main strategic and deterrent force is a submarine force. The Brigade was engaged in civilian operations, such as the rescue of 1976 earthquake victims in Friuli , the reconstruction of the banks of Progno in Lazise with the 1981 flood and in military interventions.
Although not part of the Special Forces, all personnel assigned to the Brigade has a high level of training.
Order of battle
In 2010, the Brigade has the following order of battle:
- Command Battalion "Aspis"
- Engineer Regiment "Timavo"
- Pioneer Battalion
- Engineer Battalion
- Signals Battalion "Mauria"
- Logistic Battalion
- Target Acquisition Paratroopers Artillery Group "Aspide"
- 1st Missile Infantry Regiment "Aspide" (3 Battalions; 3 Security Companies each)
- 1st Missile Artillery Regiment "Volturno" (3 Artillery Groups; dual use regiment)
- 27th Mobile Heavy Artillery Regiment "Marche" (nuclear weapons and ammunitions capability)
- 1st Heavy Artillery Group "Adige"
- 2nd Heavy Artillery Group "Rovigo"
- 41st Shooting Specialists Artillery Group "Cordenons"
- Medical Battalion
- Light Aviation Group
- Military Police GNR Company
Missile Infantry
The 1st Missile Infantry Regiment "Aspide" is tasked to protect the sites and missions missile launch under the Brigade, the command itself and convoys in transfer. Being storm-troopers, the Fusiliers of the "Aspide" Regiment are also trained in control of the battlefield. Particularly experts in counter-interdiction, soldiers of the 1st "Aspide" are able to respond to offensive raids conducted by other elite units (as raiders, parachutists, etc.) or terrorist attacks.
Target Acquisition Group
The Target Acquisition Paratroopers Artillery Group "Aspide": it is the sister unit of the 185th Reconnaissance and Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore", although it is structured as a Battalion-level unit; the training is conducted at the 185th's head-quarters with the same standards, but with some slightly differences. The "Aspide" Group is designed in order to ensure a close communication with the Missile Brigade, and therefore its operational range is - ordinarily - significantly shorter.
