8 Bersaglieri Reggimento

[David W]

Can any one tell me if the II Battaglione of 8 Bersaglieri Reggimento was "Autoportato" or "Motorciclisti" please?

And do you have a date of arrival for them in N. Africa in 1942 (May I think)

Thanks Dave.

[DrG]

David W, are you sure it was the II? AFAIK, it was part of the 2nd Bersaglieri Rgt., not of the 8th. The 8th reached Libya on 24 Jan. 1941 and was made of the III, V and XII btg.

[David W]

Well, as sure as you ever can be in these matters! lol

I assumed that it was a replacement Battalion, because of the capture or destruction of one of the three battalions you mentioned. But I stress that is only supposition on my behalf & has no factual backbone.

[USAF1986]

Hello! To add to the confusion, Ian W. Walker gives the following snapshot OOBs for the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment, a component of the 132nd Ariete Armored Division, in his book Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts: Mussolini’s Elite Armored Divisions in North Africa (The Crowood Press, Ltd., Marlborough, United Kingdom, 2003).

Best regards,
Shawn

April 1941
8th Bersaglieri Regiment
5 and 12 Motorized Bersaglieri Battalions
3 Motorcycle Bersaglieri Battalion

November 1941
8th Bersaglieri Regiment
5 and 12 Motorized Bersaglieri Battalions
3 Motorcycle Bersaglieri Battalion

May 1942
8th Bersaglieri Regiment
2, 5 and 12 Motorized Bersaglieri Battalions

July 1942
8th Bersaglieri Regiment
2, 5 and 12 Motorized Bersaglieri Battalions

October 1942
8th Bersaglieri Regiment
2, 5 and 12 Motorized Bersaglieri Battalions

[David W]

Far from it USAF, you may have solved it. It looks like the II Battalion replaced the III Battalion, which may have been destroyed or captured. Presumably it is a "Motorciclisti" Battalion like the third.

[DrG]

USAF1986, thank you for the info! I didn't know that change of batallion in May 1942; on the other hand, the 8th Bersaglieri Rgt. was re-created on 1 Dec. 1942, because of the losses at el Alamein, with the X, XII and LVII battalions.