Alpine Brigade "Julia"

The Alpine Brigade "Julia" is a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. Its core units are Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The Brigade carries on the name and traditions of the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia". The division's and brigade's name allude to the Julian Alps in the Friuli region where the division's regiments recruited their troops, and where after World War II the brigade was based. Accordingly, the brigade's coat of arms is modeled after the Friuli region's coat of arms.

The Brigade supplies the headquarters and most units to the Multinational Land Force, also known as the Italian-Hungarian-Slovenian Battlegroup. Component parts from the other two countries are the Slovenian 10th Motorized Battalion and the Hungarian 1st Light Infantry Battalion.

Constitution
The Julia was constituted on 15 October 1949 in the city of Cividale del Friuli. During the Cold War the brigade was the Italian Army's biggest brigade with around 10,000 men and was tasked to defend the Plöcken and Naßfeld passes with Austria in case Warsaw Pact forces would attack through neutral Austria. The brigade covered the left flank of the Italian 5th Army Corps, which was based along the Italian-Yugoslavian border and tasked to prevent an enemy breakthrough into the Northern Italian plain. Initially the brigade was composed as follows:


 * CoA mil ITA alp bde Julia.png Alpine Brigade "Julia", in Cividale del Friuli
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 008.png 8th Alpini Regiment, in Udine
 * Nappina blu - Regimental supports.png Headquarters Platoon
 * Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Feltre" (battalion name transferred to the 7th Alpini Regiment of the Alpine Brigade "Cadore" on 1 June 1956, battalion renamed "Gemona")
 * Nappina rossa.png Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"
 * Nappina verde.png Alpini Battalion "Cividale"
 * Nappina blu.png Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila"
 * Nappina blu - Regimental supports.png 8th Mortar Company
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Belluno", in Belluno (moved to Tolmezzo in 1950)
 * Anti-tank Artillery Group, in Tarvisio (disbanded 1 April 1952)
 * 108th Field Hospital
 * 58th Kitchen Platoon

In the following years the brigade was augmented with further units:


 * Nappina blu - Brigade supports.png Headquarters Platoon (1950)
 * Nappina amarante.png Signal Company "Julia", in Udine (1 June 1950)
 * CoA 3 Artimon Rgt.png 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment, in Udine (1 February 1951) with:
 * Nappina artiglieria - Reparto Comando.png Command Unit, in Udine (1 April 1951)
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Conegliano", in Udine (1 May 1951)
 * Light Anti-aircraft Group "Julia", in Udine (joined the brigade on 1 July 1951, disbanded 12 May 1957)
 * Nappina amarante.png Engineer Company "Julia" (1 April 1951)
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Gemona", in Tai di Cadore (1 April 1951, renamed "Udine" 1 January 1957)
 * Nappina blu - Brigade supports.png Alpini Paratroopers Platoon, in Udine (1953)
 * 11th Frontier Defense Regiment, in Tolmezzo (raised 1 September 1952, joined the brigade in May 1954; renamed 11th Alpini Fortification Regiment on 1 January 1957) with the battalions:
 * XII° Battalion (renamed Nappina rossa.png Alpini Battalion "Val Fella" on 1 July 1963)
 * XIII° Battalion (created in 1959 and renamed Nappina verde.png Alpini Battalion "Val Natisone" on 1 July 1963)
 * XIV Battalion (disbanded in 1962)
 * XV° Battalion (renamed Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Val Tagliamento" on 1 July 1963)
 * XVI° Battalion (disbanded in 1962)
 * Nappina viola.png Services Grouping "Julia" (1955)
 * Light Aircraft Section "Julia" (raised in 1956 as pat of the 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment, transferred to the brigade in 1958)
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Osoppo", in Pontebba (15 October 1961)

On 26 October 1962 the Alpini Battalion "Mondovì" of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" moved to Paluzza in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region to augment the Julia, followed by the Taurinense's Mountain Artillery Group "Pinerolo" on 1 December 1963, which moved to Tolmezzo. With this the Julia reached its peak strength in men, units and equipment. For the next 30 years the Julia remained the biggest brigade of the Italian Army. At the start of 1964 the brigade was composed as follows:


 * CoA mil ITA alp bde Julia.png Alpine Brigade "Julia", in Udine
 * Nappina blu - Brigade supports.png Headquarters and Headquarters Company, in Udine
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 008.png 8th Alpini Regiment, in Tolmezzo
 * Nappina blu - Regimental supports.png Headquarter Company, in Tolmezzo
 * Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Gemona", in Pontebba and Ugovizza
 * Nappina rossa.png Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo", in Venzone and Moggio Udinese
 * Nappina verde.png Alpini Battalion "Cividale", in Chiusaforte
 * Nappina blu.png Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila", in Tarvisio
 * Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Mondovì", in Paluzza, Paularo and Forni Avoltri
 * Nappina blu - Regimental supports.png 8th Mortar Company, in Tolmezzo (disbanded on 31 December 1964)
 * CoA mil ITA btg alpini val tagliamento.png 11th Alpini Fortification Regiment, in Tolmezzo
 * Nappina blu - Regimental supports.png Command Company, in Tolmezzo
 * Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Val Tagliamento", in Tolmezzo and Paluzza
 * Nappina rossa.png Alpini Battalion "Val Fella", in Pontebba and Ugovizza
 * Nappina verde.png Alpini Battalion "Val Natisone", in Stazione Carnia and Cavazzo Carnico (disbanded on 30 June 1964, companies transferred to the Val Tagliamento battalion)
 * CoA 3 Artimon Rgt.png 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment, in Gemona
 * Command and Services Battery, in Gemona
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Belluno", in Tarvisio
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Conegliano", in Gemona
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Udine", in Tolmezzo
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Osoppo", in Pontebba
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Pinerolo", in Tolmezzo and Paularo
 * Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Julia", in L'Aquila and Teramo
 * Nappina viola.png Services Grouping "Julia", in Udine
 * Nappina amarante.png Engineer Company "Julia", in Gemona
 * Nappina amarante.png Signal Company "Julia", in Udine
 * Nappina blu - Brigade supports.png Alpini Paratroopers Platoon, in Udine
 * Light Aviation Unit "Julia", at Udine-Campoformido Air Base

The Alpini Paratroopers Platoon merged with the paratrooper platoons of the other four alpine brigades on 1 April 1964 to form the Alpini Paratroopers Company in Bolzano under direct command of the 4th Army Corps.

1975 Reorganization
With 1975 Italian Army reform the regimental level was abolished and battalions came under direct command of multi-arms brigades. At the same time the army reduced and realigned its forces and therefore the Julia saw major changes to its composition: the 8th Alpini Regiment, 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment, and 11th Alpini Fortification Grouping were disbanded. The Alpini Battalion "Cividale" moved to Tarvisio, while the Alpini battalions "Tolmezzo" and "Gemona" were disbanded with their names transferred to the Alpini Battalion "Mondovì" respectively Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila". The name "Mondovì" was transferred to the Alpini Battalion "Orobica" of the 2nd Alpini Regiment of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense", while the name "L'Aquila" was transferred to the Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Julia", which became an active unit. As new training unit the Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Vicenza" was raised in Tolmezzo, which moved subsequently to Codroipo. The Alpini Battalion "Val Tagliamento" moved to Tolmezzo and received the 269th Company and five reserve companies from the disbanded Alpini Battalion "Val Fella". The Mountain Artillery Group "Belluno" was disbanded and its name transferred to the Mountain Artillery Group "Osoppo", while the Mountain Artillery Group "Pinerolo" was disbanded and its name transferred to the Mountain Artillery Group "Susa" of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". The Mountain Artillery Group "Conegliano" moved to Udine, while the brigade headquarters and the signal company were merged to form the Command and Signal Unit "Julia", and the Services Grouping "Julia" was reorganized as a logistic battalion. An anti-tank company was raised, while the Light Aviation Unit "Julia" was disbanded.

After the reform the brigade's four Alpini battalions had an authorized strength of 950 men, with the exception of the "Val Tagliamento" battalion, which was tasked to man fortifications in the upper Canal valley. The "Val Tagliamento" 16 Alpini companies for an organic strength of almost 2,500 men. The brigade's three artillery groups had an authorized strength of 610 men and fielded 18 M56 105mm pack howitzers each. The new composition was:


 * CoA mil ITA alp bde Julia.png Alpine Brigade "Julia", in Udine
 * Nappina blu - Brigade supports.png Command and Signal Unit "Julia", in Udine
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 008.png Alpini Battalion "Gemona", in Tarvisio
 * Nappina bianca.png Command and Services Company
 * Nappina bianca.png 69th Alpini Company
 * Nappina bianca.png 70th Alpini Company
 * Nappina bianca.png 71st Alpini Company
 * Nappina bianca.png 155th Heavy Mortar Company
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 014.png Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo", in Paluzza
 * Nappina rossa.png Command and Services Company
 * Nappina rossa.png 6th Alpini Company, in Forni Avoltri
 * Nappina rossa.png 12th Alpini Company
 * Nappina rossa.png 72nd Alpini Company
 * Nappina rossa.png 114th Heavy Mortar Company
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 015.png Alpini Battalion "Cividale", in Tarvisio (moved to Chiusaforte in 1979)
 * Nappina verde.png Command and Services Company
 * Nappina verde.png 16th Alpini Company
 * Nappina verde.png 20th Alpini Company
 * Nappina verde.png 76th Alpini Company
 * Nappina verde.png 115th Heavy Mortar Company
 * CoA mil ITA btg alpini L'Aquila.png Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila", in L'Aquila
 * Nappina blu.png Command and Services Company
 * Nappina blu.png 93rd Alpini Company
 * Nappina blu.png 108th Alpini Company
 * Nappina blu.png 143rd Alpini Company
 * Nappina blu.png 119th Heavy Mortar Company
 * CoA mil ITA btg alpini val tagliamento.png Alpini (Fortification) Battalion "Val Tagliamento", in Tolmezzo (Nappina color denotes the original battalion: Nappina bianca.png = Val Tagliamento, Nappina rossa.png = Val Fella, Nappina verde.png = Val Natisone)
 * Nappina bianca.png Command and Services Company
 * Nappina bianca.png 212th Alpini Company (Type A*, Plöcken Pass fortifications)
 * Nappina verde.png 216th Alpini Company (Type B*, Campiolo fortifications)
 * Nappina verde.png 220th Alpini Company (Type C*, Portis fortifications)
 * Nappina rossa.png 269th Alpini Company (Type B, Ugovizza fortifications)
 * Nappina rossa.png 270th Alpini Company (Type C, Malborghetto fortifications)
 * Nappina rossa.png 271st Alpini Company (Type C, Val d'Uque fortifications)
 * Nappina bianca.png 272nd Alpini Company (Type C, Torre Moscarda fortifications)
 * Nappina rossa.png 273rd Alpini Company (Type C, Tratte fortifications)
 * Nappina bianca.png 278th Alpini Company (Type C, Stua di Ramaz fortifications)
 * Nappina verde.png 288th Alpini Company (Type C, Cavazzo fortifications)
 * Nappina bianca.png 306th Alpini Company (Type C, Sella Sompdogna fortifications)
 * Nappina bianca.png 307th Alpini Company (Type C, Sella Nevea fortifications)
 * Nappina bianca.png 308th Alpini Company (Type B, Sella Carnizza fortifications)
 * Nappina rossa.png 312th Alpini Company (Type C, Case Marco fortifications)
 * Nappina rossa.png 313th Alpini Company (Type C, Cereschiatis fortifications)
 * Nappina bianca.png 314th Alpini Company (Type C, Ponte del Cristo fortifications)
 * CoA mil ITA btg alpini vicenza.png Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Vicenza", in Codroipo
 * Nappina rossa.png Command and Services Company
 * Nappina rossa.png 59th Alpini Company
 * Nappina rossa.png 60th Alpini Company
 * Nappina rossa.png 61st Alpini Company, in Teramo
 * Nappina rossa.png 117th Alpini Company
 * CoA mil ITA gr artiglieria belluno.png Mountain Artillery Group "Belluno", in Pontebba (disbanded 31 October 1989)
 * Nappina artiglieria CG.png Command and Services Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 22 btr.png 22nd Mountain Artillery Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 23 btr.png 23rd Mountain Artillery Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 24 btr.png 24th Mountain Artillery Battery
 * CoA 3 Artimon Rgt.png Mountain Artillery Group "Conegliano", in Udine
 * Nappina artiglieria CG.png Command and Services Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 13 btr.png 13th Mountain Artillery Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 14 btr.png 14th Mountain Artillery Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 15 btr.png 15th Mountain Artillery Battery in L'Aquila
 * CoA mil ITA gr artiglieria udine.png Mountain Artillery Group "Udine", in Tolmezzo (renamed Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group "Udine" on 6 December 1991)
 * Nappina artiglieria CG.png Command and Services Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 17 btr.png 17th Mountain Artillery Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 18 btr.png 18th Mountain Artillery Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 34 btr.png 34th Mountain Artillery Battery
 * CoA mil ITA btg log julia.png Julia Logistic Battalion, in Udine
 * Nappina viola.png Command and Services Platoon
 * Nappina viola.png 1st Light Logistic Unit
 * Nappina viola.png 2nd Light Logistic Unit
 * Nappina viola.png 3rd Light Logistic Unit
 * Nappina viola.png Medium Logistic Unit
 * Nappina blu compagnia controcarri.png Anti-tank Company "Julia", in Cavazzo Carnico
 * Nappina amarante.png Engineer Company "Julia", in Gemona


 * undefined
 * undefined
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Strategic plans in case of war
After the 1975 reform the 4th Alpine Army Corps was responsible to defend the Italian border along the main chain of the alps from the Swiss-Austrian-Italian border tripoint in the west to the Italian-Yugoslavian border in the east. In case of war with Yugoslavia the 4th Alpine Army Corps would remain static in its position guarding the left flank of the 5th Army Corps, which would meet the enemy forces in the plains of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The only brigade which would have seen combat in such a case would have been the Julia.

In case of a war with the Warsaw Pact the 4th Alpine Army Corps had two war planes: one in the case the Soviet Southern Group of Forces and Hungarian Army would march through Yugoslavia and the other in case the Warsaw Pact would violate the Austrian neutrality and march through Austria. In case the enemy forces would come through Yugoslavia, the Julia would cover the mountainous left flank of the 5th Army Corps, which with its four armoured and five mechanized brigades would try to wear down the enemy before it could break out into the North Italian Padan plain. The other alpine brigades would remain static.

In the more likely case the Soviet and Hungarian divisions would invade Austria and march through Southern Styria and through the Drava valley in Carinthia the alpine brigades would have been the first front line units of the Italian Army. The Cadore would have defended the Piave valley, the Tridentina the Puster valley, while the Orobica had a special mission and the Taurinense would remain in reserve. In this scenario the Julia was expected to be the first Italian unit to encounter Warsaw Pact forces and to take the brunt of the enemy strength as the brigade was based in the middle of the assumed line of advance of enemy forces. Marching through the Austrian Drava valley Eastern forces were expected to turn left at Villach and try to cross the Alps through the Canal valley, which was garrisoned by the Julia's Gemona battalion at the border in Tarvisio and the Cividale battalion further down the valley in Chiusaforte, with the Gemona battalion being supported by the Belluno artillery group in Pontebba and the Cividale battalion supported by the Conegliano artillery group in Udine. The Gemona was to block the Canal Valley right at the border, while the Cividale was tasked to defend the Naßfeld Pass on the Gemona's left flank. Further West the Tolmezzo battalion was stationed in Paluzza and tasked with defending the Plöcken Pass, as a breakthrough there would have allowed enemy forces to march through the But valley into the rear of the other Julia units. The Tolmezzo battalion was to be supported by the Udine artillery group.

Additionally the Val Tagliamento battalion, the biggest battalion of the Italian Army, based in Tolmezzo near the Southern end of the Canal Valley fielded 16 companies and had an organic strength of over 2,500 men, which were tasked to man the Alpine Wall fortifications in the aforementioned valleys. As an Warsaw Pact attack through the Canal valley was considered to be the most likely scenario the Julia was by far the strongest brigade of the Italian Army with more than 10,000 men.

In case the Julia would have failed to hold the Canal valley the 3rd Missile Brigade "Aquileia" with its MGM-52 Lance surface-to-surface missiles and M115 203mm towed howitzers would have turned the Canal valley into a nuclear wasteland. This mission was taken over in 1985 by the 27th Self-propelled Heavy Artillery Group "Marche", which fielded M110 203mm self-propelled howitzers and had its W33 nuclear shells stored at the "San Bernardo" ammunition depot in Reana del Rojale. The Marche fielded two firing batteries with 4 artillery systems per battery and had 140 (!) nuclear artillery shells to fulfil its task. In the late 1980s the W33 nuclear artillery shells were replaced with fewer but more powerful W79 nuclear artillery shells.

1990s reorganization


On 26 September 1992 the Val Tagliamento battalion was disbanded. In August 1992 the battalions took the names of historical Alpini regiments to carry on the regimental traditions. Each regiment consisted of one of the brigade's Alpini battalions and an additional support company. Furthermore the Anti-tank Company was disbanded and the Command and Signal Unit was merged with the Engineer Company into the Command and Tactical Supports Unit. The new composition was:


 * CoA mil ITA alp bde Julia.png Alpine Brigade "Julia", in Udine
 * Nappina blu - Brigade supports.png Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Julia", in Udine
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 008.png 8th Alpini Regiment Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Gemona", in Tarvisio (moved to Cividale del Friuli in 1997)
 * CoA mil ITA btg alpini L'Aquila.png 9th Alpini Regiment Nappina blu.png Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila", in L'Aquila (transferred to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" on 1 September 1997)
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 014.png 14th Alpini Regiment Nappina rossa.png Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo", in Paluzza (disbanded 14 October 2005)
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 015.png 15th Alpini Regiment Nappina verde.png Alpini Battalion "Cividale", in Chiusaforte (disbanded 11 November 1995)
 * CoA 3 Artimon Rgt.png 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment, in Udine
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Conegliano", in Udine
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group "Udine", in Tolmezzo (disbanded 11 November 1995)
 * CoA 3 Artimon Rgt.png Nappina rossa.png Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Vicenza", in Codroipo (disbanded in 13 September 1996)
 * CoA mil ITA btg log julia.png Nappina viola.png Logistic Battalion "Julia", in Udine (disbanded November 29 January 2002)

With the suppression of the Alpine Brigade "Cadore" on 10 January 1997, the two remaining regiments of that brigade passed to the Julia:
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 007.png 7th Alpini Regiment Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Feltre", in Feltre
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 016.png 16th Alpini Regiment Nappina verde.png Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Belluno", in Belluno (ceded to Alpine Troops Command on 1 January 1998)

With the suppression of the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" on 1 July 2002, the sole remaining regiment of that brigade passed to the Julia:
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 005.png 5th Alpini Regiment Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Morbegno", in Sterzing

Furthermore in 2002 the Julia received the 2nd Alpine Engineer Regiment  Sapper Battalion "Iseo" in Trento from the Alpine Troops Command.

Current structure


The brigade is based in the eastern half of northern Italy and part of the Alpine Troops Command. The headquarter is in the city of Udine. In 2013 the brigade received the reconnaissance Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd) from the Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli". Today the brigade consists of the following units:


 * CoA mil ITA alp bde Julia.png Alpine Brigade "Julia", in Udine
 * CoA mil ITA btg log julia.png Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Julia", in Udine
 * Nappina blu - Brigade supports.png Logistic Support Company
 * Nappina blu - Brigade supports.png Signal Company
 * CoA mil ITA rgt cavalleria 02.png Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd), in Trieste
 * Command and Logistic Support Squadron
 * Armored Squadrons Group
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 005.png 5th Alpini Regiment, in Sterzing
 * Nappina blu - Regimental supports.png Command and Logistic Support Company
 * Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Morbegno"
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 007.png 7th Alpini Regiment, in Belluno
 * Nappina blu - Regimental supports.png Command and Logistic Support Company
 * Nappina bianca.png Alpini Battalion "Feltre"
 * CoA mil ITA rgt alpini 008.png 8th Alpini Regiment, in Venzone
 * Nappina blu - Regimental supports.png Command and Logistic Support Company
 * Nappina rossa.png Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"
 * CoA 3 Artimon Rgt.png 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (Mountain), in Remanzacco
 * Nappina artiglieria CG.png Command and Logistic Support Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria 24 btr.png 24th Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Tactical Liaison Battery
 * Nappina artiglieria.png Mountain Artillery Group "Conegliano"
 * CoA mil ITA rgt genio 02.png 2nd Engineer Regiment, in Trento
 * Nappina amarante.png Command and Logistic Support Company
 * Nappina amarante.png Sapper Battalion "Iseo"
 * CoA mil ITA rgt logistico julia.png Logistic Regiment "Julia", in Merano
 * Nappina viola.png Command and Logistic Support Company
 * Nappina viola.png Logistic Battalion

Equipment
The Alpini regiments are equipped with Bv 206S tracked all-terrain carriers and Lince light multirole vehicles. The maneuver support companies of the Alpini regiments are equipped with 120mm mortars and Spike anti-tank guided missile systems. The cavalry regiment is equipped with Centauro tank destroyers and VTLM Lince vehicles. The brigade's artillery regiment fields 18x FH-70 towed howitzers and an unknown number of M56 105mm pack howitzers in the direct fire role.