1st Carabinieri Paratroopers Regiment "Tuscania"

The 1st Carabinieri Paratroopers Regiment "Tuscania" is a "Tier 2" Special Force unit belonging to the Carabinieri Corps, with a specific vocation for military missions outside the national territory.

Despite its strongly military nature, the regiment maintains the traditional vocation of the Corps, combining a high level of military training with skills in the field of judicial police.

The tasks of the 1st Carabinieri Paratroopers Regiment "Tuscania" can be divided into three main categories:

• Military tasks (typical of paratrooper troops):
  • Preventive occupation and defense of positions.
  • Area interdiction and counter-interdiction (guerrilla and counter-guerrilla).
  • Support to Armed Forces contingents in "out of area" operations, also with Military Police functions.
• Police tasks:
  • Support to the Territorial Corps.
  • Security at diplomatic offices in "at-risk" countries.
  • Escort to prominent personalities.
• Training tasks:
  • Training and education of Corps soldiers destined for special units.

Originally established as a battalion until 1996, since 2002 the "Tuscania" has been part of the 2nd Mobile Carabinieri Brigade, along with other elite units such as the 7th Regiment "Trentino-Alto Adige", the 13th Regiment "Friuli-Venezia Giulia" and the Special Intervention Group (GIS).

Its operational headquarters is located in Livorno, at the "Vannucci" barracks.

Historical Origins

The unit traces its origins to the I CC.RR. Paratroopers Battalion, established in 1940 and employed during World War II on the North African front. The unit distinguished itself in several operations, including the garrison of Lamluda, Derna, and Cyrene, and was involved in fierce battles against British and Libyan forces.

One of the most significant episodes was the battle of Eluet El Asel in December 1941, where the battalion, reinforced by other units, resisted attacks from a British mechanized brigade. Despite heavy losses, the unit managed to retreat but was disbanded in March 1942.

Post-war Evolution

The "Tuscania" was reborn in 1951 in Viterbo as a rapid deployment unit for public order. In the following years, its headquarters moved to Livorno, where it was integrated into the Folgore Paratroopers Brigade. During this period, the unit acquired combat capabilities in addition to traditional police tasks, and in 1963 it was elevated to a battalion.

Over the years, the unit participated in numerous operations, including those to counter separatist terrorism in Alto Adige in the 1960s. The battalion was also involved in rescue operations during the Florence flood in 1966, and in 1975, it officially acquired the name "Tuscania". In 1996, the battalion became a regiment.

International Missions

The "Tuscania" has participated in all major international missions of Italy, including Lebanon, Somalia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In addition to military missions, the regiment has carried out security tasks for Italian embassies in at-risk countries, such as Libya, Somalia, and Afghanistan.

After the attacks in Paris and Brussels in 2015-2016, the "Tuscania" formed the Anti-Terrorism Task Unit (TUAT), in collaboration with the GIS, deployed to protect sensitive locations and during special events in Europe.

Training and Recruitment

To join the "Tuscania", personnel must undergo a rigorous training program. The course, lasting 9 months, includes intensive training in various areas, including combat techniques, survival in hostile environments, parachuting, and shooting with special weapons.

Operational Employment

The regiment is primarily employed in military operations but also performs police tasks. Missions include the preventive occupation of strategic positions, patrols in hostile areas, raids behind enemy lines, and escorting diplomatic personalities in dangerous zones.