Eritrean National Princely Guard (Italian Empire)

Eritrean National Princely Guard
Guardia Principesca Eritrea
The M.V.S.N. emblem
Active	1968 - present
Branch	National Royal Guard
Role	Defence force, Internal security force
Size	25,000
Part of	Italian National Royal Guard
Headquarters	Asmara
Commanders
Operational Commander	Brigadier General Ulderico Portolini

The Eritrean National Princely Guard is the defence force of the Principality of Eritreaof the Italian Empire; alongside the Italian National Royal Army, it is responsible for the defence of mainland Eritrea. The Principality of Eritrea faces, within the Italian Empire, significant threats: instability in Yemen, crisis in South Sudan, difficulties with the economic development and general lack of internal political stability. In order to address these issues, Eritrea has developed a large defence force.

Despite the Eritrea lack of significant resources, the Eritrean National Princely Guard is a centrepiece in the public life, and has an experienced, trained, professional officer corps, as well a durable capacity to perform engineering tasks such as construction, bridging, and water provision and to provide sustained transportation of personnel and equipment. The logistics capabilities of the Eritrean National Princely Guard allow it to be a fundamental player and stakeholder in the economic development.

Name

In Eritrea, due to the numerous ethnic groups, the official name of the Eritrean National Princely Guard is provided only in Italian language, and it is "Guardia Principesca Eritrea" (literally "Eritrean Princely Guard", G.P.E.); the Italian name is reproduced on vehicles and buildings. Despite the Italian name being the official one, the official name of the Eritrean National Princely Guard is also translated in local languages (e.g. Tigray: ሰራዊት ውግእ ሩፑብሊክ; Arabic: الحرس الأميرية الإريترية, al'Haras al'Amiriat al'Iirytria).

History

The Italian military history of Eritrea dates back to 1885, when Assab was acquired by the Italian Government and then in subsequent decades, when Eritra was formed by carving it out from the Ethiopian Empire. Eritrean units and formations were involved in both the conquest of the Empire and in the African War: the Italian 1st and 2nd Eritrean Divisions were established for this purpose. After their disbandment, Eritrea relied on the slightly increasing recruitment of colonial citizens into the M.V.S.N.

The Eritrean National Republican Guard was established in 1968 in order to provide Eritrea with a fully integrated indigenous force. The organization was developed starting from a variety of sources: elite units in the former Italian Colonial Militia, from Askari units already in service (both from the Italian Africa Police Corps and from the Army) as well as draftees. In 1968, the newly-established Eritrean National Republican Guard deployed:

• 1 Territorial Regiment
• 1 Maritime Artillery Group
• 1 Coastal Artillery Group
• 1 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery

While African Eritrean officers have been in service since 1915 (with Domenico Wolde Selassie Mondelli, due to the laws of that day), the first officers of ethinic Eritrean descent in the then-Eritrean National Republican Guard have served since 1971. The first Commandant without ethnic European orgins was the present-day Lieutenant General of the Prince, Joachim Asewerki (1991-1995).
In 2002 the Principality of Eritrea replaced the Eritrean Autonomous Social Republic, with Duce Italo Debalti as Prince of Eritrea. The Eritrean Republican Guard was therefore renamed in Eritrean Princely Guard, but kept the legacy of the previous version.

Personnel

As of late 2010s, the officer corps consists of an even proportion of Italian and African personnel. Italian officers are mostly Italian Eritreans (i.e. native of Eritrea), while Africans are mainly of Tigray ethnicity. On the other hand, troops and subofficers are mostly Africans, with a carefully balanced proportion among Eritrean ethnicities.

Organization

As of 2015, the Eritrean National Princely Guard consists of 10 Regiments (8 Infantry Regiments and 2 Mechanized Regiments), 1 Commando Regiment and 1 Lieutenant General Brigade. Infantry and Mechanized Regiments are framed under the Operational Command (Comando Operativo, Divisional level), in charge of operations, while the other units are directly attached to either the Commandant of the Eritrean National Princely Guard or the Lieutenant General of the Principality of Eritrea. It is to note that the Eritrean National Princely Guard does not have a proper General Staff capable to military handling the G.P.E. units in combat; General staff duties are subdvided between the Italian National Royal Army - Italian East Africa Command and the General Command of the Eritrean National Princely Guard itself.

Command zones

In Eritrea, indigenous combat forces are divided into 9 infantry and mechanised Regiments, of around 1,500 men each. Among these 9 Regiments, a Central Brigade exists in order to protect the port city of Massaua. Overall, half of the force is headquartered in central Eritrea. The Eritrean National Princely Guard is deployed throughout Eritrea, and the country is divided into four Command zones. The Command zones are:

• Centre (Command Zone 1): includes Amasien and Asmara; Serae; Semhar; Acchellè Guzai provinces;
• South (Command Zone 2): includes Dancalia province;
• Barca (Command Zone 3): includes Barca province;
• North (Command Zone 4): includes Sael and Senit provinces.

Each Command Zone is headed by a Brigadier General. Command Zones act as military territorial commands, arranging for administrative and logistical needs and maintaining links with Legions Group of the Eritrean Militia for Internal Security for joint activities. However, there is no direct command relationship between Legions Group and Command Zones other than the General Command.
Lieutenant General Asewerki routinely shifts zone commanders around, apparently to encourage rivalries between them, distribute profits, and prevent them from building up too close a rapport with the units under their command. Similarly, deputy commanders are reportedly carefully selected for their loyalty to the Lieutenant General, who maintains control over zonal commanders through them.

Centre (Command Zone 1)

• 5th Infantry Regiment: commanded by Colonel Yacobe Daniel Wendimu, headquartered in Cheren;
• 6th Infantry Regiment: commanded by Colonel Dario Pavan, headquartered in Asmara;
  • 1st Independent Artilley Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Asmerom Weldemariam;
  • 3rd Independent Supply Escort Battalion, commanded by Lieutnant Colonel Francesco Cherosini;
• 10th Infantry Regiment: commanded by Colonel Ugo Guidolin, headquartered in Zula;
• Brigade Command: commanded by Brigadier General Iacopo De Nardis, headquartered in Massaua;
  • 3rd Mechanized Regiment, commanded by Colonel Mikele Mariyam Gebre Giyorgis;
  • 7th Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel Michele Adamis;
  • 2nd Independent Artillery Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Gebre Selassie Petros Samuel;
  • 4th Independent Supply Escort Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Benito De Angelis.

South (Command Zone 2)

• 8th Mechanized Regiment: commanded by Colonel Guido Bordetti, headquartered in Assab;
• 9th Infantry Regiment: commanded by Colonel Ghebrechristos Kidus Merhawi, headquartered in Edd.

Barca (Command Zone 3)

• 4th Infantry Regiment: commanded by Colonel Israel Giday Tamru, headquartered in Giamal Biscia;

North (Command Zone 4)

• 2nd Infantry Regiment: commanded by Colonel Alberto Podenti, headquartered in Nacfa.

Units organisation

Units organization is significantly different from the Italian-model organization; the "Eritrean model" centres around small units called Mäsri composed of 10-15 soldiers each. Three Mäsri form a Ganta, equivalent to a Platoon, with a strength of 30-45 Legionnaires. Three Ganta form a Haile (equivalent to a Company), often equipped with heavy weapons on its own. Three Haile form a Battalion, or Bot`oloni, and three Battalions an autonomous Regiment, capable of performing independent operations. Such Regiments are either Infantry and Mechanized units; they have artillery units up to Company level (if the individual Companies do not have their own heavy weapons Platoons) and, generally speaking, they lack of support forces and assets, relying on the Italian National Royal Army.

Coast Guard Brigade

The Coast Guard Brigade (Brigata della Guardia Costiera) is a branch of the Eritrean National Princely Guard. It is responsible for the security of the entire coastline of Eritrea, more than 1,100 km, as well as the Eritrean territorial waters under the overall coordination of the Italian National Royal Navy. The Coast Guard is dependent on the Eritrean National Princely Guard but is integrated with the Italian National Royal Navy. Its duties include securing Eritrean trait of the Red Sea, including the northern protection of Bab-el-Mandeb. The force is relatively small, but heavily armed.

Lieutenant General Brigade

The Lieutenant General Brigade (Brigata Luogotenenziale) is the formation of the G.P.E. tasked with the protection of the Lieutenant General of the Principality of Eritrea and with maintenance of public order across the Principality of Eritrea. The Brigade contains three separate guard units of about 2,000 troops each. These elite solders get extra pay, have modern equipment, and receive specialized training. Most are stationed in or near Asmara. Joachim Asewerki's right-hand man commands the 70-man Lieutenant General's Bodyguard Detachment. As of 2016, Units under the Lieutenant General Brigade are:

• Special Anti-terror Force;
• Mobile Force;
• Military Police Force.

Military Police Forces

The Military Police Forces is composed almost exclusively by the staff coming from the Eritrean Gendarmerie. It depends on the administrative part of the Eritrean Gendarmerie, while for operational use depends on the Eritrean National Princely Guard. The Military Police Forces tasks consist of counter-espionage, sabotage, population monitoring, troop morale monitoring, maintenance of military secrecy, civilian security, fight to subversive activities.

Specialities

The Eritrean National Princely Guard maintains three Arms in order to deal with its duties; some of these specialities date back even before the Italian arrival.

• Arm of Zaptié (Italian: Arma degli Zaptié): Infantry troops, employed in military police and military security tasks; the Lieutenant General Brigade mostly consists of Zaptié Legionnaires. Zaptié is also the term used to refer to soldiers of the Eritrean Gendarmerie.
• Arm of Askaris (Italian: Arma degli Ascari): Line troops, all duties. The 10 line Regiments consists of Askaris.
• Arm of Méharistes (Italian: Arma dei Meharisti): Camel cavalry and border troops, deployed on Eritrea-Sudan frontier.

Equipment

The Eritrean National Princely Guard has dedicated equipment, including heavy combat/fighting equipment, with the exception of the Border Guard.

Air vehicles

The Eritrean National Princely Guard deploys a total of 15 helicopters:

• 3 x Agusta A129 Mangusta attack helicopter;
• 3 x NHIndustries NH90 multirole helicopter;
• 5 x Leonardo B412 patrol helicopter;
• 5 x Leonardo B205 patrol/utility helicopter.

Boats and ships

As of 2015, the Coast Guard Brigade (headquartered in Assab) consists of:

• 1 x Minerva-class corvette (Minerva FE 551);
• 6 x Patrol Boats;
• 5 x Nibbio-class missile boats;
• 3 x Landing Craft Utility Boat;
• 2 x Tank Landing Craft.

Ground vehicles

The Eritrean National Princely Guard uses several types of ground vehicles. All of them are Italian, both imported from Italy and built in Eritrea itself:

• 100 x OF-40 main battle tank;
• 20 x FIAT 3R2 self-propelled 122mm-howitzers;
• 50 x VIC Freccia infantry fighting vehicle;
• VCC Puma armoured fighting vehicle;
• VIC Dardo infantry fighting vehicle;
• VTLM Lince multirole light vehicle;
• VRT Ombra reconnaissance vehicle;
• ACTL Iveco SM44 Heavy Truck 8x8;
• ACTL Iveco SM44 Heavy Truck 6x6;
• Iveco VM 90P multirole light vehicle (General use);
• TT-12 armoured personnel carrier (General use).

Heavy weapons

The Eritrean National Princely Guard makes use of heavy weapons (often deployed at platoon level):

• 120mm Mortar;
• 60mm Mortar;
• Oto Melara Aspide anti-tank system;
• 5 x Oto Melara SLRM multiple launch rocket system;
• 10 x 155/39 mm gun trucks;
• 105/14 howitzer;
• Aspide air defence system.

Personal and unit light/medium weapons

• Beretta AR70/90 assault rifle;
• MG 42/59 medium machine gun;
• Breda MIT11 light machine gun;
• M2 Browning machine gun;
• Beretta FN Minimi machine gun;
• Benelli M3 combat shotgun;
• Benelli M4 shotgun;
• Ultor sniper rifle
• Beretta 92 semiautomatic pistol.

Uniforms and insignia

Eritrean Legionnaires wear their own uniform: light gray jacket and trousers and a light gray cap. The blackshirt and the Fascist Eagle are common among all M.V.S.N. branches. Aside of uniform colours, both the cloths' cuts and rank insignia are the same across the Italian Empire.

• 

  Eritrean G.N.R. Ordinary On Duty Uniform (General officers).

See also

• Italian National Royal Guard (Kingdom of Italy)
• Principality of Eritrea (Kingdom of Italy)
• Eritrean Gendarmerie (Italian Empire)
• Eritrean Militia for Internal Security (Italian Empire)