Quote:
Originally Posted by Olefin
So it looks like the Folgore was re-tasked from a Parachute Division to a mechanized one after aircraft were grounded from lack of aviation gas
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It's an interesting observation. During the Cold War, there were two units called "Folgore".
The first one was the Divisione Meccanizzata "Folgore", a mechanized division stationed in Treviso and disbanded on 31 October 1986. This is the OOB:
Folgore Mechanized Division in Treviso
- Gorizia Mechanized Brigade in Gorizia
- Trieste Mechanized Brigade in Bologna
- Vittorio Veneto Armoured Brigade in Villa Opicina
- Amphibious Troops Command in Lido di Venezia
- Folgore Command Battalion in Treviso
- 12th Reconnaissance Squadron "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" in Gorizia
- 28th Infantry (Training) Battalion Pavia in Pesaro
- 33rd Fortress Infantry Battalion Ardenza in Fogliano Redipuglia
- 53rd Fortress Infantry Battalion Umbria in Pavia di Udine
- 33rd Heavy Field Artillery Group Terni in Treviso
- 184th Gruppo Artiglieria Pesante Campale Filottrano in Padua
- Folgore Artillery Specialists Battalion (Counter-battery radars and drones) in Treviso
- 184th Engineer Battalion Santerno in Villa Vicentina
- 47th Reconnaissance Helicopter Squadron Levrieri in Treviso
- 184th Signal Battalion Cansiglio in Treviso
- Folgore Logistic Battalion in Treviso
- Folgore Carabinieri Company in Treviso
The second one is the more famous airborne brigade (here in Italy the Folgore is an elite unit universally recognized). The Folgore Parachute Brigade was formed on 1 January 1963 and is still active. The OOB during the 80s is the one I posted before.
Maybe the authors made some confusion even if, in my opinion, the idea of a forced-ground Folgore Parachute Brigade is interesting.
Just a clarification. In Italy there are no Divisions since a lot of time so speaking of Ariete Armored Division or Mantova Mechanized Division is not correct even in the Twilight world. Only Brigades/Brigate, as you can see.