{"id":325,"date":"2023-12-08T17:34:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T17:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/?page_id=325"},"modified":"2025-04-02T09:54:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T08:54:00","slug":"9-reggimento-col-moschin-la-punta-di-diamante","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/brigatafolgore.net\/en\/9-moschin-regiment-the-spearhead\/","title":{"rendered":"9th Col Moschin Regiment: the spearhead"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 9th Parachute Assault Regiment 'Col Moschin'<\/strong> is the department of raiders<\/strong> of the Italian Army, from 20 September 1954<\/strong> forerunner of the Italian special forces<\/strong>. Renowned for its ability to intervene in complex operational contexts, the 24 June 1995<\/strong>, within the framework of the restructuring of the Italian Army, went from battalion to regiment.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"9th<\/picture>
2018, raiders of the 9th Rgt. Col Moschin in the international exercise \u201cIRON 18\u201d. Copyright  Italian Army<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Framed in the Army Special Forces Command (COMFOSE)<\/a>, holds the flag of the IX Assault Department<\/a>, from which it inherited the year of its constitution (1918<\/strong>), the name of the place of an epic action (Col Moschin<\/strong>) and insignia (black flames of the Arditi<\/strong>), re-adopted in the 2006<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heir of the Arditi<\/a>, assault troops of the Royal Army formed during the First World War and considered by many historians as the first to truly embody the modern concept of special forces<\/strong>, the 9th \u201cCol Moschin\u201d has unique features, even within COMFOSE itself, compared to the 4th Rgt Alpini Parachutists<\/a> and the 185th RAO Regiment<\/a>among the many tasks it performs, typical of special forces, It is the only unit within the Armed Forces capable of officially carrying out hostage-freeing activities on behalf of the Italian State<\/strong>as well as being the only Italian department, military or otherwise, to perform launches at very high altitude with an oxygen cylinder<\/strong> (up to an altitude of 11,000 metres). In addition, he is qualified and counter-terrorism operations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2016, it has also operated at the request of the AISE intelligence services for individual confidential missions abroad, carrying out special operations in extremely delicate contexts, always maintaining the highest degree of confidentiality and professionalism that has always characterized the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Regiment's base is in Livorno at the "Vannucci" barracks<\/strong>. There is also the Base Addestramento Incursori (BAI), also known as the \u201csea base\u201d, located in the San Rossore regional park, near the mouth of the Arno River. Once part of the former presidential estate, this structure is used both for training and for planning the department's operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It performs highly strategic tasks of politico-military significance for the security and defence of the nation<\/strong> and high-risk operations<\/strong> for the protection of national interests<\/strong>  in each operational context, specially designated, planned and organised using techniques and methods unconventional<\/strong>. The raiders<\/strong> members are trained to perform combat missions<\/strong> with action live<\/strong> e indirect<\/strong>, even in particularly hostile environments and contexts and at great distance from friendly units<\/strong>usually in scenarios asymmetrical<\/strong>operating on the basis of small groups<\/strong> o \"detachments<\/strong>\".<\/pre>\n\n\n
\n
\"9th<\/picture>
A rare image: the public service cameras immortalize the raiders of the 9th Rgt. Col Moschin<\/em> upon returning from Sudan after the evacuation of Italian citizens in April 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
For more than 20 years, it has been continuously engaged in theatres of operation, deploying both units entirely trained by its own personnel and elements integrated into task force structures for the inter-agency special operations<\/strong>as well as being deployed in multiple military assistance operations to local forces in countries designated by the political-military leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has also operated, from the post-war period to the present day, in all the missions to evacuate compatriots in the most turbulent areas of the planet, almost always solo<\/strong>, with the sole assistance of the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the mission ISAF<\/strong> in Afghanistan, at least since June 2006 to 2016<\/strong>, was the beating heart of the Task Force 45<\/a> providing the framework for all task group<\/em>and having under exclusive operational command, all special forces units of the Italian armed forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It unquestionably represents the spearhead of the Italian Army<\/strong>training among the strictest, toughest and most selective in the Italian armed forces, such as to obtain the raider qualification<\/strong> only after a long process of about two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only department to participate in all the missions in which the Italian Army was involved<\/strong>It is also the first in the armed forces to be composed exclusively of professional soldiers, since 1953 (only conscripts could join the support companies). For more than half a century it has been framed in the Folgore Parachute Brigade<\/a>, where, until 2000<\/strong> selects \u201cvaluable\u201d students from the troops (always upon voluntary request of the Paratrooper). The selections will be opened to the rest of the Armed Forces, as far as the troops in permanent service are concerned, at the beginning of the new millennium<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent years, thanks to a special procedure, they can gain access by qualifying as Incursor<\/em>, also military personnel not on permanent service<\/strong>. Leave \u201cMamma Folgore\u201d, as the Brigade was romantically called by the old raiders, in 2014<\/strong>to transit, as mentioned, in the COMFOSE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
World War I<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The history of the Regiment can be associated with that of some Arditi units of the First World War, in particular the IX Assault Department. The Arditi imposed themselves on the military scene, earning an impressive reputation thanks to their acts of heroism and the violence of their actions. The Arditi were specialists in assaults with the throwing of hand grenades and in fighting with bladed weapons in enemy trenches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The IX Department, in particular, distinguished itself on Mount Grappa, where the 15 June 1918<\/strong> urgently went up with 600 daring men led by Major Giovanni Messe to recover the lost lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At 22<\/strong>, Valle San Lorenzo, Col Fagheron and Col Fenilon were recaptured. That left the Col Moschin. At 7:10<\/strong> On the morning of June 16, 1918, the Arditi of Messe (despite the fact that the Italian artillery had not yet extended its fire as ordered) set out to attack the Col Moschin (municipality of Solagna).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After 10 minutes<\/strong>, the summit was retaken, however, taking numerous prisoners (more than 300) and taking many machine guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few days later he took part in the conquest of Asolone (municipality of Pove), which cost the IX an enormous tribute in blood and was only temporary, because an enemy counterattack got the better of his exhausted forces. In a few hours the IX lost almost 50% of its forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
World War II<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
During the Second World War, the 20 July 1942<\/strong>, an Arditi Regiment was formed in Santa Severa, which a few months later was named the 10th Arditi Regiment. The unit, with a blue flame insignia, operated under the command of the Operations Office of the General Staff of the Royal Army. Employed in operations behind enemy lines in Tunisia, Algeria, and in Sicily invaded by the Allies, the 8 September 1943<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
War of Liberation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The I Battalion, also known as the \u201cBoschetti\u201d Arditi Battalion from the name of its commander, originally made up of three companies numbered 101st, 102nd and 103rd (paratroopers, swimmers then \u201clanding\u201d and trucks then \u201cterrestrial\u201d), deployed in Sardinia in January 1943, after the proclamation of the armistice of 8 September 1943<\/strong> remained stationed on the island as a mobile reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Renamed IX Assault Department, it was reorganized in 1944 into a landing company, a land company and a special company (102nd, 123rd and 110th) becoming part of the 20 March 1944<\/strong> in the 1st Motorised Regiment in the process of being transformed into the Italian Liberation Corps, framed by the 27 June<\/strong> also the Volunteer Squadron "Guide" which represented the Cavalry Corps in the Italian Liberation Corps. The IX Assault Unit "Arditi" is engaged in the Marche in June. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After 18 days<\/strong> of fierce fighting along the \u201cEdith\u201d defensive line erected along the Musone river from Loreto, Osimo and Filottrano by the Nazi-fascist occupation forces, not without countless attempts to cross it by Polish liberation troops, the CIL and the Majella Division with considerable losses, the 18 June 1944<\/strong> the IX Department itself was employed and succeeded in breaking through near Casenuove di Osimo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This courageous feat allowed first and foremost the liberation of Ancona, logistically decisive for the early breakthrough of the Gothic Line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The IX assault unit was assigned to the II Brigade of the CIL and was then incorporated into the 24 September 1944<\/strong> The CIL was disbanded, with the name of III Battalion \u201cCol Moschin\u201d in the 68th Infantry Regiment of the \u201cLegnano\u201d Combat Group, participating in the War of Liberation. The 9th Parachute Assault Regiment \u201cCol Moschin\u201d inherited its traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Post-war<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"9th<\/picture>
Army Corps Gen. Marco Bertolini was the historic face of the 9th for nearly half a century.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Dissolved on 1 August 1946<\/strong>, is reconstituted as Parachute Saboteurs Company<\/strong> at the infantry school in Cesano on 20 April 1953<\/strong>. The 1 June 1957<\/strong> becomes Parachute Saboteurs Department<\/strong> assigned to the Military Parachuting Centre<\/strong> in Livorno, and later in Pisa. He became Parachute Saboteurs Battalion<\/strong> 25 September 1961<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the 10 May 1963 <\/strong>assumes training, logistical and administrative autonomy by being attached to the Command Parachute Brigade 'Folgore<\/a>. 26 September 1975<\/strong> takes the name of 9th Parachute Assault Battalion \u201cCol Moschin\u201d<\/strong>. In the'October 1976<\/strong> the battalion was presented with the war flag of the X Armed Regiment<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that time, in the absence of a specific command dedicated to Special Forces operations (such as the COFS<\/a>established in 2004, or the COMFOSE<\/a>, created in 2014), the department was under direct supervision of the Army General Staff (SME), through the Operations Office of the III Department, directly monitoring its equipment and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
30 December 1985<\/strong> the Special Operations Groups (GOS)<\/strong> by order of the then Minister of Defense Spadolini, and a quota of the "Col Moschin" and one of the COMSUBIN Navy<\/a>for SISMI operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1995<\/strong> from battalion to regiment and takes the name of 9th Parachute Assault Regiment \u201cCol Moschin\u201d<\/strong>, with the 1st Incursor Battalion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2014<\/strong> the regiment leaves the Folgore Brigade to join the newly formed Army Special Forces Command (COMFOSE)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In April 2019<\/strong> the grey-green beret is handed over, replacing the amaranth beret, which is in addition to the specific beret frieze, the black insignia and the patent badge with gladius, all symbols and friezes of the Arditi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Operations Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The unit has been the protagonist of numerous special and anti-terrorist operations around the world and is the only one to have participated in all the military missions abroad of the Italian Army from the post-war period to today. Below is a brief mention of the known operations, but it goes without saying, given the nature of the unit, that many are not made public and covered by military and state secrecy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
We are the last resort, and as such, we must be used wisely. After us, there is no other organization that can take over. We cannot fail. We are a solution device.<\/p>\nPar. Gen. Incursor Nicola Zanelli<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Lebanon, 1983: <\/strong>On March 15, a patrol of the San Marco Battalion was ambushed near the Sabra camp. Four marines were wounded, one seriously. That same night, Brigadier General Franco Angioni led a counterattack to intercept the attackers. During the clash, three raiders were wounded and the action was suspended. The next day, the Israeli army command sent a message of admiration for the courage shown by the Italian raiders in fighting at night: \u201cTell your commander that you are admired, because in the Middle East no one fights at night.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Achille Lauro, 1985:<\/strong> On October 7, the day of the hijacking of the Achille Lauro, 60 Col Moschin raiders arrive at the military base of Akrotiri, in Cyprus, ready to intervene in a hostage-clearing operation, planned together with UNIS of COMSUBIN. However, the situation is resolved with a diplomatic approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somalia, 1992-1993:<\/strong> On December 13, 1992, during Operation Restore Hope, a C-130 Hercules of the 46th Air Brigade took a team of raiders from the 9th Regiment \u201cCol Moschin\u201d to Mogadishu, who occupied the Italian embassy building, abandoned since the beginning of the civil war in 1991. On June 5, 1993, about 20 raiders intervened to save a group of Pakistani peacekeepers who had fallen into an ambush near Radio Mogadishu. Four weeks later, during the Battle of the Pasta Factory<\/a>, the Colour Sergeant Major Stefano Paolicchi<\/strong>, effective to the unit, will be the first casualty of the battle during a first attempt, at 9.30 in the morning, to regain control of the neighborhood armed hand. There will also be several raiders wounded during the battle. The unit will fight on July 2, 1993 without stopping, incessantly, house by house, alley by alley, flushing out Somali snipers throughout the neighborhood of Aliwa, from the early hours of the morning until the order to retreat, which came around 13:00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rwanda, 1994:<\/strong> The raiders participate in the evacuation of Italian civilians during the Rwandan civil war. Despite the tragedy surrounding the country, the operators will be able to evacuate all the compatriots using civilian vehicles requisitioned at Kigali airport. The operation Hippocampus<\/em> in Rwanda is considered one of the most difficult operations in which the 9th Col Moschin took part<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the mission ISAF<\/strong> in Afghanistan, from 2006 to 2014, he commanded the Task Force 45<\/a> (the largest deployment of special forces ever deployed by Italy since the post-war period) and provides the framework to all the task group<\/em>. During these years, the unit took part in dozens and dozens of direct and indirect combat missions in Afghan territory. <\/pre>\n\n\n
\n
\"9th<\/picture>
A raider of the 9th Rgt Col Moschin in Iraq, in the early 2000s escorting political and military personalities<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
Afghanistan, 2007:<\/strong> In September, Col Moschin raiders participate in a blitz with the British SBS to free two SISMI agents kidnapped in Farah province<\/strong>. After a firefight in the prison camp where the Italian operators eliminate all the hostile forces present, it is reported that the kidnappers are moving by land. The English locate the kidnappers' car and engage in a firefight. During the clash, Agent Lorenzo D'Auria, Paratrooper Marshal, is accidentally hit by British friendly fire<\/strong>. Once the engagement was concluded, the hostages were then found in the trunk of the car, blindfolded and wounded. D'Auria, seriously hit in the head, was transferred to the hospital, but would die days later from his wounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Afghanistan, 2010:<\/strong> on 17 September 2010 he lost in combat the Lieutenant Raider Alessandro Romani<\/strong>. Together with the operational detachment of which he is commander, Romani is helicoptered to the area of Bakwah<\/strong>, province of Herat,<\/strong> to capture Afghan terrorists identified by a UAV Predator<\/strong> while placing a bomb under a road bridge. Wounded in the shoulder in the ensuing firefight, he dies a few hours later in hospital Role 2<\/strong> of Farah from cardiovascular arrest due to his injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iraq, 2015:<\/strong> Thirty Col Moschin raiders operate against ISIS in Taqaddum, between Fallujah and Ramadi, in collaboration with American special forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Libya:<\/strong> At least 40 raiders are sent to train and assist the NTC rebels, as well as to coordinate NATO air strikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Italy, 2023:<\/strong> A contingent of 43 raiders intervenes in Emilia Romagna following a flood, demonstrating the versatility and rapid response of Italian special forces even in non-war contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sudan, 2023<\/strong>: the unit is once again called to evacuate Italian civilians abroad in a country ravaged by civil war, this time in Sudan<\/strong>. In April 2023, the raiders will evacuate all Italian citizens scattered in and around the Sudanese capital within 48 hours. According to the Incursor Gen. Giuseppe Faraglia<\/strong>, who coordinated the operation for the COVI (Joint Force Operational Command)<\/strong> the operators acted at night, finding themselves in a complex and extremely dangerous situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
News<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"9th<\/picture>
Claudio Spinelli, a retired raider, recounted his experience with the 9\u00a8Rgt Col Moschin in Afghanistan with the book Maybe Special, 100 Days in Hell<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
The regiment, framed in the Army Special Forces Command<\/a>, for the operational activity depends on the COFS, the Joint Special Forces Operations Command<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the new reorganisation, the regiment is arranged into three battalions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n