Royal Carabinieri Air Service (Kingdom of Italy): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name =Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers
| unit_name =Royal Carabinieri Air Service
| native_name =Reparto Speciale Paracadutisti di Pubblica Sicurezza
| native_name =Servizio Aereo dei Carabinieri Reali
| image =File:RSPPS Scudo.png
| image =File:Servizio Aereo CCRR.png
| image_size =
| image_size =150px
| alt =150px
| alt =
| caption =Coat of arms of the Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers
| caption =Coat of arms of the Royal Carabinieri Air Service
| dates =1955-present
| dates = 1971 - present
| disbanded =
| disbanded =
| country =[[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] Kingdom of Italy
| country = [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]]
| countries =
| allegiance =
| allegiance =
| branch = [[File:Cipierre.png|20px]] [[Royal Police Corps (Kingdom of Italy)|Royal Police Corps]]
| branch =[[File:Stemma CC.png|23px]] [[Royal Carabinieri]]
| type =Paratroopers
| type =
| role =Riot control; counter-insurgency
| role = Air police service
| size =800 troops ca.
| size =4,700
| command_structure = [[File:Reparto Celere - RSI - Insegna.png|20px]] C.P.R. Mobile Forces
| command_structure =[[File:Comando Operazioni CCRR.png|23px]] [[Royal Carabinieri Operations Command (Kingdom of Italy)|Royal Carabinieri Operations Command]]
| garrison =Italo Balbo Police Barracks, Pavia
| garrison = Pratica di Mare Airport
| garrison_label =
| garrison_label =
| nickname =''Parà Blu''<br>(Blue Paras)
| nickname =
| patron =
| patron =
| motto =''Primi ad Arrivare, Ultimi a Cedere''<br>(First to arrive, Last to give in)
| motto =
| colors = <!-- or | colours = -->
| colors = <!-- or | colours = -->
| colors_label = <!-- or | colours_label = -->
| colors_label = <!-- or | colours_label = -->
| march =''Marciando nella Terra Nemica''
| march =
| mascot =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| equipment_label =
| battles =Somalia 1974<br>Lebanon 1982
| battles =
| decorations =[[File:Valor militare gold medal BAR.svg|100px]]
| battles_label =
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| battle_honours_label =
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| website =
| website =
<!-- Commanders -->
<!-- Commanders -->
| current_commander =Colonel Francesco Polito
| current_commander =Brigade General Pietro Boninfante
| commander1 =
| commander1 =
| commander1_label =
| commander1_label =
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| notable_commanders =
| notable_commanders =
<!-- Insignia -->
<!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol =[[File:Basco amaranto.gif]]
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label =Beret
| identification_symbol_label =
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
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| identification_symbol_5 =
| identification_symbol_5 =
| identification_symbol_5_label =
| identification_symbol_5_label =
| identification_symbol_6 =
| identification_symbol_6_label =
<!-- Aircraft -->
<!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_attack =
| aircraft_attack =
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| aircraft_helicopter_multirole =
| aircraft_helicopter_multirole =
| aircraft_helicopter_observation =
| aircraft_helicopter_observation =
| aircraft_helicopter_transport =
| aircraft_helicopter_trainer =
| aircraft_helicopter_trainer =
| aircraft_helicopter_utility =
| aircraft_helicopter_utility =
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| aircraft_general =
| aircraft_general =
}}
}}
The '''Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers''' (Italian: ''Reparto Speciale Paracadutisti di Pubblica Sicurezza'', R.S.P.P.S.) is the elite [[Royal Police Corps (Kingdom of Italy)|Royal Police Corps]] paratroopers unit, tasked with the execution of rapid response and difficult public order services.
The Royal Carabinieri Air Service (Italian: ''Servizio Aereo dei Reali Carabinieri'', S.A.R.C.) is the Royal Carabinieri command which provides air support to all operations of the Royal Carabinieri (both police-related and tactical ones).


The Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers consists of two battalions of operational rapid deployment, made up of men of great courage, significant ability, resistant to fatigue and of proven loyalty to Fascism. The Special Unit is head-quartered in Pavia.<br>
== Mission ==
Air power is functional for man-hunting, mopping-up, blocking, searching for fugitives, escapees, robbers, kidnappers, and missing persons, allowing the identification of locations and objectives of interest, allowing pollution control and execution of control over compliance with special laws. In public order services, air power allows the sighting and signaling of mass movements or groups on the ground, allows video shooting, contributes to safety stock and road traffic control. Helicopters provide the element through which the areas affected by major disasters are surveyed, including search and rescue on land or water surfaces (in cooperation or not with other relief units) and interventions in favor of populations affected by natural disasters or other special circumstances. The operational transport of dogs, divers, paratroopers, other units, special purpose units, personnel of the Arma for service reasons and rescue teams is also carried out by helicopter, as well as that of various materials, medicines, food and supplies in general. Finally, air power is essential in special police operations, in objective re-acquisition operations, in hostage release operations, in operations aimed at preventing the commission of offenses, as well as in high-risk capture operations and in stocks of personalities. of importance.


Officially, the Special Unit is a 24/24-hour standing force ready to receive information and resolve cases related to security, order and legitimate demands of the people.
Operational activities of the Aircraft Group consist of aerial reconnaissance missions, air support and medical aid. The mission is intended to support the needs of Territorial and Special Units.  


The Special Task Force has been accused of various human rights abuses including extrajudicial killings and involvement in the disappearance of individuals.
Among the tasks assigned are the control of the road arteries, the air rescue and recovery activities at sea or in the mountains and the control of the national territory to ensure public order and safety.


The physical and technical-professional training is intense and exhausting and esprit de corps is very high; the Paratroopers Companies have environmental specializations, as well as the "Paratrooper Explorer" military qualification.
The air component integrates with the ground units, for which it ensures a wide range of interventions: from the aid for the identification of fleeing cars or people in difficulty to the transport of special units and counter-guerrilla battalions, to the monitoring of services of public order through the transmission of images with the shooting systems supplied, to the support of the specialized departments of the Royal Carabinieri in the fight against environmental crimes and in any other possible activity.


== History ==
The Air Service also supports the units of the Paratroopers in the aviation activity of maintaining operational capacity and carries out support and transport services in training and operational activities.
The Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers traces its own origins from the immediate aftermaths of the African War (1950-1952), being established in 1955.


=== Origins ===
Purposes of the services provided are aimed at avoiding the exploitation of state-owned areas, at the correct conduct of commercial activities, against human trafficking, illegal immigration and international drug trafficking.
After the African War (1950-1952), the Italian Armed Forces and Italy itself went through a convulsive period, full of tensions and dangers for internal security.


Some regions were reservoirs of weapons and subversive and dissident fascist movements and outright militias (stemmed from the M.V.S.N.) that made themselves abusers and violence of all kinds, and the police, under staff and still suffering from the institutional trauma and the war trials could do very little, without uniform uniforms and without means. , with semi-destroyed archives, often arriving themselves to be attacked and disarmed.
== Training ==
The Air Service counts on 1708 units of flight personnel (one third of which pilots and the remainder specialists).


The Fascist leadership deemed necessary to set up an operational unit of rapid employment, made up of men of great courage, considerable ability, resistant to the efforts and proven loyalty to the Italian Social Republic. Lieutenant General Graziano Matteucci, the first head of the Republican Police Corps, remembered the El Alamein epic and with a happy intuition, at the beginning of 1955, he decided to set up a "Special Unit" (''Reparto Speciale''), contacting the former paratroopers and offering them enlistment in this new special unit, getting an enthusiastic response.<br>
The specialized military are divided into:
The Unit was initially based in Aversa (near Naples) and immediately began a hard training away from prying eyes and ears. The classification was likewise secured by parachuting officers who were veterans of war. The Command was assigned to Major Mario Gajeri. The Unit was thus formed:
* pilots,
* 1st P.S. Paratroopers Company, equipped with light weapons, consisting of machine guns and submachine guns;
* specialists,
* 2nd Motor-armoured Company, that had 9 armoured cars and a platoon of motorcycle paratroopers armed with submachine guns;
* system operators.
* Command Company, that gathered offices and logistic and technical services.
The training process for specialized soldiers also starts with their incorporation into the Royal Carabinieri, continues with a psychophysical selection of candidates.
Such configuration lasted until mid-1970s.
The region where the most frequent were the violence and the aggressions to the citizens and the Police forces, with relevant problems of public order turned out to be Tuscany and the Decio Canzio Barracks was available in Scandicci (near Florence), the Unit was transferred sanctioning is official constitution on 29 September 1955.


On 1 February 1958 the Unit assumed the name of IV Special Celere Unit (''IV Reparto Speciale Celere'') and its Paratroopers Company was dismounted; on 1 February 1965 the name was reverted back to Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers, the Paratroopers Company was brought back on the planes and the unit was transferred in Pavia.
The basic preparation of candidate helicopter pilots is carried out at the 72nd Wing of the Air Force in Frosinone where the pilot's license for a military helicopter is obtained. For fixed-wing aircraft, training starts from Latina, at the 70th wing of the Air Force and at the Air Force Academy of Pozzuoli.


=== Years of Lead ===
As for the specialists, they are trained at the Royal Palace of Caserta at the Subofficers School of the Air Force.
The Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers has been engaged in numerous operations both in metropolitan Italy and overseas or in various theaters of external operations. Thus, for example, it was involved in the maintenance of public order alongside other Celere units during the episode of the Varese nuclear power plant (1978-1981), during the Years of Lead, and in [[Somali Social Republic (Kingdom of Italy)|Somalia]], where it actively participated in the implementation and the smooth conduct of the referendum that brought the corporatist reforms on 27 June 1974.<br>
In 1975 the Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers was upgraded to a Grouping (''Raggruppamento'', Regiment-level unit). The organization of the new Special Grouping of Public Security Paratroopers (''Raggruppamento Speciale Paracadutisti di Pubblica Sicurezza'') was:
* Command Company;
* 1st P.S. Paratroopers Unit (''1° Reparto Paracadutisti di P.S.'');
** 1st P.S. Paratroopers Company;
** 2nd P.S. Paratroopers Company;
** 3rd P.S. Paratroopers Company;
* 2nd P.S. Mechanized Unit (''2° Reparto Meccanizzato di P.S.'');
** 4th Motorized Riflemen Company;
** 5th Motorized Riflemen Company;
** 6th Motor-armoured Company.
The new organization was designed in order to provide a reliable maneuver mass outside the then-National Republican Guard and under the direct control of the Interior Ministry.


=== 1980s onwards ===
The training continues at the Training Centre in Pratica di Mare. The training expands, develops and improves continuously with different courses to be done in the appropriate centres.
With the police reforms of the 1980s, the unit retained its paratrooper status and its particularities: separate recruitment, maroon beret, etc, but its missions shifted to support of special operations. In 1983, the Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers received among its main attributions the support and the support of the special intervention units.


Between the late 1980s and early 1990s the Special Grouping of Public Security Paratroopers was considered among the units most loyal to the ruling establishment; with the rise to power of Italo Debalti the Grouping was reduced in size. Over the years, this mission lost relative importance and the unit was also required to develop special know-how in the areas of security-protection and intelligence-gathering for the benefit of other units of the security establishment.
== Organization ==
 
The Air Service includes all Carabinieri, aircraft, equipment, technical support and logistic facilities, whose primary function is to complement and enhance preventive action and control of land developed by the departments operating on the ground. The Air Service is led by a Brigade General and is divided into:
== Mission ==
Its missions are generally large-scale operations against terrorism and organized crime. It was also used for maintaining public order, for searches for persons in difficult environments, and for reinforcing the security of French diplomatic missions abroad. One of the unit's platoons specialised in VIP protection.


Missions entrusted to the Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers are of two broad types:
* Air Service Command with administrative, training, supervisory, logistical and technical advice tasks; the Command directly supports subordinate units:
* Military duties (typical of paratroopers):
** Training Centre;
** Preventive occupation and defence of positions;
** Logistics Group;
** Guerrilla warfare and counterinsurgency;
* 29 Flight Units, homogeneously decentralized on national territory in order to ensure a timely intervention;
** Support to contingents of the C.P.R. or Carabinieri in operations abroad;
* 3 Tactical Flight Units, in order to support CC.RR. Paratroopers.
** Entry force;
Flight Units operate according the technical directives issued by the Air Service Command and according the operational requirements of the various territorial commands. All Flight Units are connected to the "Situation Room" of the Command through a dedicated communication network on a national scale, which monitors the movement of individual aircraft and allows their management.  
** Quick reaction force;
* Police duties:
** Support to territorial units of the Carabinieri;
** Riot control (particularly difficult or complex situations);
** Security at diplomatic missions in "at risk" countries;
** VIP escort;
The Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers is a crowning units for special operations (Italian: ''Unità di coronamento per le operazioni speciali''), i.e. is tasked with protection and belting of special forces, as well as operational support to Special Forces units. The Special Unit is also used in areas throughout the country, which are, due to morphological and social characteristics, difficult to control even by the Carabinieri counter-insurgency units.  


The Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers is also charged of carrying out special, both protective and security, missions, both at home and abroad (in the Italian Empire), especially for overcoming heavy resistance and destroying discovered terrorist, criminal, and rebellious groups. Although the main task is to crack down guerrillas or dangerous criminals, they can be used to support the Imperial Guard in performing politically motivated arrests.
=== Air Group "''NORD''" ===
 
The Air Group "''NORD''" is based in Milan and directs all Flight Units deployed in Northern Italy.
== Organization ==
* 1st Flight Unit Volpiano (TO)  
The Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers is considered an enhanced "''Unit''" (Italian: ''Reparto'', Battalion-level military element in [[Royal Police Corps (Kingdom of Italy)#Police units nomenclature|Royal Police Corps parlance]]); the R.S.P.P.S. differs from ordinary ''Reparti'' because it contains a strong ''Reparto'' on its own and adds some support units and it is commanded by a full Colonel (currently Colonel Francesco Polito). The R.S.P.P.S., since 1993, has maintained a nearly constant structure. As of 2015, it consists of:
* 2nd Flight Unit Bergamo-Orio al Serio
* Command Office: Commander support;
* 3rd Flight Unit Milano-Malpensa
* Training Unit;
* 4th Flight Unit Bolzano
* Command and Services Company: logistics support;
* 5th Flight Unit Venezia-Tessera
* Paratroopers Unit "''Audacia''" (''Reparto Paracadutisti'', Battalion-level):
* 6th Flight Unit Belluno
** Command Platoon;
* 7th Flight Unit Villanova d'Albenga (SV)
** Public Security Paratroopers Company "''Grifoni''";
* 8th Flight Unit Genoa
** Public Security Paratroopers Company "''Draghi''";
* 9th Flight Unit Rimini
** Public Security Paratroopers Company "''Aquile''";
* 10th Flight Unit Forlì
** Public Security Mechanized Company "''Tori''";
* 11th Flight Unit Bologna
** Public Security Motorcyclist Paratroopers Platoon
* 12th Flight Unit Venegono Superiore (VA)
** Support Platoon.
* 32nd Tactical Flight Unit Pavia: support to CC.RR. Paratroopers
The Paratroopers Companies are equipped with light weapons and mortars.


=== Public Security Paratroopers Company ===  
=== Air Group "''CENTRO''" ===
The Special Unit of Public Security Paratroopers (''Compagnia Paracadutisti di P.S.'') deploys three Public Security Paratroopers Companies almost identical in their organization and makeup.
The Air Group "''CENTRO''" is based in Pratica di Mare and directs all Flight Units deployed in Central Italy, including Sardinia and Corsica.
The Company's combat mission is to close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuvre in order to destroy or capture him or repel is assaoults by fire, close range combat and counter-attack. The Paratroopers Company provides a base of fire and maneuvre element, closes with the enemy to destroy or capture him, seizes and holds terrain, maneuvres in all types of terrain and under all climatic conditions, capitalizes on all forms of mobility, conducts parachute assaults, and conducts combat operations under limited visibility conditions. Each Company is 169-troops strong and consists of:
* 13th Flight Unit Pratica di Mare
* 1 Command and Services Platoon
* 14th Flight Unit Rome
* 3 Paratroopers Platoons
* 15th Flight Unit Pescara
* 1 Mortars Platoon
* 16th Reparto volo-Aeroporto di Oristano-Fenosu
* 1 Anti-tank Platoon
* 17th Flight Unit Cagliari-Elmas
The Command and Services Platoon consists of the Command Squad, consisting in turn of the Company Comamander, a Captain, the Deputy Commander, a Lieutenant, and of an experienced Chief Marshal of P.S. or Marshal Major of Public Security, and of the Services Squad, consisting of an experienced Chief Marshal of P.S., a radio operator and two messengers and drivers (usually Agents or Appointees).<br>
* 18th Flight Unit Olbia-Venafiorita (SS)
Each Paratroopers Platoon consists of a Command Squad, consisting in turn of the Company Comamander, a Lieutenant, and of the Deputy Commander, an experienced Chief Marshal of P.S. or Marshal Major of Public Security, a radio operator and two messengers and drivers (usually Agents or Appointees) and 3 Assault Squads, each consisting of 13 troops, a Sergeant (''Brigadiere'') and 12 Agents or Appointees.<br>
* 19th Flight Unit Firenze
The Mortars Platoon consists of a Command Squad, consisting in turn of the Company Comamander, a Lieutenant, and of the Deputy Commander, an experienced Chief Marshal of P.S. or Marshal Major of Public Security, a Target management squad, consisting of a Marshal and 5 Sergeants and Appointees, and of three Mortars Squads, each consisting of a mortar and of three troops.<br>
* 20th Flight Unit Pisa-SanGiusto
The Anti-tank platoon consists of a Command Squad, consisting in turn of the Company Comamander, a Lieutenant, and of the Deputy Commander, an experienced Chief Marshal of P.S. or Marshal Major of Public Security, and of 3 Recoilless light guns Squads (6 troops and 3 guns each).
* 21st Flight Unit Rieti
* 30th Tactical Flight Unit Pisa: support to CC.RR. Paratroopers


=== Public Security Mechanized Company ===
=== Air Group "''SUD''" ===
The Public Security Mechanized Company is comprised of three Mechanized Platoons with each platoon having 4 Dardo and 3 Infantry Squads. There are also two additional Dardo in the Company (one for the Commander and one for the Deputy Commander). A Mechanized Company can place 14 Dardo and 9 10-troops strong Infantry Squads on the battlefield, for a total of 110 troops.<br>
The Air Group "''SUD''" is based in Naples and directs all Flight Units deployed in Southern Italy, including Sicily.
Along with the Dardo, the company also possesses two Fiat VM 90 Torpedo Protetto wheeled vehicles in the Company Headquarters. One is for use for the Company Commander, while the other one is normally shared by the Deputy Commander and by senior Subofficers for use in making logistical runs to the rear. The company also has two Iveco ACTL 6x6 cargo trucks utilized in its supply section. Besides the organic vehicles in the company, the Commander may receive other vehicles and personnel to accomplish his purpose and task.
* 22nd Flight Unit Catania-Fontanarossa
* 23rd Flight Unit Palermo-Boccadifalco
* 24th Flight Unit Napoli-Capodichino
* 25th Flight Unit Salerno-Pontecagnano
* 26th Flight Unit Bari-Palese
* 27th Flight Unit Vibo Valentia
* 28th Flight Unit Lamezia Terme
* 29th Flight Unit Reggio Calabria
* 31st Tactical Flight Unit Naples: support to CC.RR. Paratroopers


=== Public Security Motorcyclist Paratroopers Platoon ===
== Air fleet ==
The Public Security Motorcyclist Paratroopers Platoon is the Special Unit's mobile tactical element with tasks of exploration, avant-garde, flanking and rearguard. The Platoon consists of a Squad Command (an expert Subofficer, a radio operator and two messengers), three Squads each consisting of 13 motorcycle paratroopers and two machine guns for a total of 43 troops.  
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 0em 0em 0em; text-align: left; background: #f8f8f8;"
Tasks assigned to the Platoon include:
|-style="background:#aacccc; font-weight: bold;"
* Exploration;
|Model
* Preventive occupation of localities or road nodes;
|Origin
* Exploitation of success and pursuit;
|Type
* Retreat protection;
|Version
* Unit securiy during march;
|Quantity
* Tactical support.
|Image
|-
!colspan="7"|Aircraft
|-
| [[wikipedia:ATR 42|Alenia ATR-42MP]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Regional airliner ||  || 5 ||
|-
| [[wikipedia:ATR 72|Alenia ATR 72MP]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Maritime patrol aircraft ||  || 5 ||
|-
| [[wikipedia:Partenavia P.68|Partenavia P.68]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Light transport  ||  || 18 ||
|-
| Piaggio P180 Avanti || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Executive transport aircraft  || P-180 Avanti II || 7||[[File:Carabinieri Piaggio P-180 Avanti Olivati-1.jpg|150px|center]]
|-
!colspan="7"|Helicopters
|-
| [[wikipedia:A109N|Agusta A109]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Utility helicopter ||  || 71 || [[File:Agusta-Westland AW-109N Nexus, Italy - Arma dei Carabinieri JP7482156.jpg|center|150px]]
|-
| [[wikipedia:AgustaWestland AW139|Agusta A139]] ||[[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] ||Utility helicopter || UH-139D || 31 ||
|-
| [[wikipedia:AgustaWestland AW169|Aermacchi E169]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Medium utility helicopter || AW169M || 13 ||
|-
| [[wikipedia:Bell 206|Aermacchi EMR206]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Utility helicopter ||  || 28 ||
|-
| [[wikipedia:Bell 212|Agusta EMR212]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Utility helicopter ||  || 23 ||
|-
| [[wikipedia:Bell 412|Agusta M412]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Medium utility helicopter || AB-412 (9)<hr/>AB-412HP (12)<hr/>AB-412SP (9) || 38 || [[File:Agusta-Bell AB-412HP, Italy - Arma dei Carabinieri JP6869867.jpg|150px|center]]
|-
| [[wikipedia:MD Helicopters MD 500|Breda Nardi ELO 500]] || [[File:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] [[Kingdom of Italy]] || Light observation helicopter || NH 500 || 22 || [[File:Breda Nardi NH-500 helicopter of the Carabinieri, Italy.jpg|150px|center]]
|-
|}


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Royal Police Corps (Kingdom of Italy)]]
* [[Royal Carabinieri]]


[[Category:Law enforcement in the Kingdom of Italy]][[Category:Military of the Kingdom of Italy]]
[[Category:Royal Carabinieri (Kingdom of Italy)|A]]

Latest revision as of 08:50, 21 September 2022

Royal Carabinieri Air Service
Servizio Aereo dei Carabinieri Reali
Servizio Aereo CCRR.png
Coat of arms of the Royal Carabinieri Air Service
Active1971 - present
CountryFlag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy
BranchStemma CC.png Royal Carabinieri
RoleAir police service
Size4,700
Part ofComando Operazioni CCRR.png Royal Carabinieri Operations Command
Garrison/HQPratica di Mare Airport
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigade General Pietro Boninfante

The Royal Carabinieri Air Service (Italian: Servizio Aereo dei Reali Carabinieri, S.A.R.C.) is the Royal Carabinieri command which provides air support to all operations of the Royal Carabinieri (both police-related and tactical ones).

Mission

Air power is functional for man-hunting, mopping-up, blocking, searching for fugitives, escapees, robbers, kidnappers, and missing persons, allowing the identification of locations and objectives of interest, allowing pollution control and execution of control over compliance with special laws. In public order services, air power allows the sighting and signaling of mass movements or groups on the ground, allows video shooting, contributes to safety stock and road traffic control. Helicopters provide the element through which the areas affected by major disasters are surveyed, including search and rescue on land or water surfaces (in cooperation or not with other relief units) and interventions in favor of populations affected by natural disasters or other special circumstances. The operational transport of dogs, divers, paratroopers, other units, special purpose units, personnel of the Arma for service reasons and rescue teams is also carried out by helicopter, as well as that of various materials, medicines, food and supplies in general. Finally, air power is essential in special police operations, in objective re-acquisition operations, in hostage release operations, in operations aimed at preventing the commission of offenses, as well as in high-risk capture operations and in stocks of personalities. of importance.

Operational activities of the Aircraft Group consist of aerial reconnaissance missions, air support and medical aid. The mission is intended to support the needs of Territorial and Special Units.

Among the tasks assigned are the control of the road arteries, the air rescue and recovery activities at sea or in the mountains and the control of the national territory to ensure public order and safety.

The air component integrates with the ground units, for which it ensures a wide range of interventions: from the aid for the identification of fleeing cars or people in difficulty to the transport of special units and counter-guerrilla battalions, to the monitoring of services of public order through the transmission of images with the shooting systems supplied, to the support of the specialized departments of the Royal Carabinieri in the fight against environmental crimes and in any other possible activity.

The Air Service also supports the units of the Paratroopers in the aviation activity of maintaining operational capacity and carries out support and transport services in training and operational activities.

Purposes of the services provided are aimed at avoiding the exploitation of state-owned areas, at the correct conduct of commercial activities, against human trafficking, illegal immigration and international drug trafficking.

Training

The Air Service counts on 1708 units of flight personnel (one third of which pilots and the remainder specialists).

The specialized military are divided into:

  • pilots,
  • specialists,
  • system operators.

The training process for specialized soldiers also starts with their incorporation into the Royal Carabinieri, continues with a psychophysical selection of candidates.

The basic preparation of candidate helicopter pilots is carried out at the 72nd Wing of the Air Force in Frosinone where the pilot's license for a military helicopter is obtained. For fixed-wing aircraft, training starts from Latina, at the 70th wing of the Air Force and at the Air Force Academy of Pozzuoli.

As for the specialists, they are trained at the Royal Palace of Caserta at the Subofficers School of the Air Force.

The training continues at the Training Centre in Pratica di Mare. The training expands, develops and improves continuously with different courses to be done in the appropriate centres.

Organization

The Air Service includes all Carabinieri, aircraft, equipment, technical support and logistic facilities, whose primary function is to complement and enhance preventive action and control of land developed by the departments operating on the ground. The Air Service is led by a Brigade General and is divided into:

  • Air Service Command with administrative, training, supervisory, logistical and technical advice tasks; the Command directly supports subordinate units:
    • Training Centre;
    • Logistics Group;
  • 29 Flight Units, homogeneously decentralized on national territory in order to ensure a timely intervention;
  • 3 Tactical Flight Units, in order to support CC.RR. Paratroopers.

Flight Units operate according the technical directives issued by the Air Service Command and according the operational requirements of the various territorial commands. All Flight Units are connected to the "Situation Room" of the Command through a dedicated communication network on a national scale, which monitors the movement of individual aircraft and allows their management.

Air Group "NORD"

The Air Group "NORD" is based in Milan and directs all Flight Units deployed in Northern Italy.

  • 1st Flight Unit Volpiano (TO)
  • 2nd Flight Unit Bergamo-Orio al Serio
  • 3rd Flight Unit Milano-Malpensa
  • 4th Flight Unit Bolzano
  • 5th Flight Unit Venezia-Tessera
  • 6th Flight Unit Belluno
  • 7th Flight Unit Villanova d'Albenga (SV)
  • 8th Flight Unit Genoa
  • 9th Flight Unit Rimini
  • 10th Flight Unit Forlì
  • 11th Flight Unit Bologna
  • 12th Flight Unit Venegono Superiore (VA)
  • 32nd Tactical Flight Unit Pavia: support to CC.RR. Paratroopers

Air Group "CENTRO"

The Air Group "CENTRO" is based in Pratica di Mare and directs all Flight Units deployed in Central Italy, including Sardinia and Corsica.

  • 13th Flight Unit Pratica di Mare
  • 14th Flight Unit Rome
  • 15th Flight Unit Pescara
  • 16th Reparto volo-Aeroporto di Oristano-Fenosu
  • 17th Flight Unit Cagliari-Elmas
  • 18th Flight Unit Olbia-Venafiorita (SS)
  • 19th Flight Unit Firenze
  • 20th Flight Unit Pisa-SanGiusto
  • 21st Flight Unit Rieti
  • 30th Tactical Flight Unit Pisa: support to CC.RR. Paratroopers

Air Group "SUD"

The Air Group "SUD" is based in Naples and directs all Flight Units deployed in Southern Italy, including Sicily.

  • 22nd Flight Unit Catania-Fontanarossa
  • 23rd Flight Unit Palermo-Boccadifalco
  • 24th Flight Unit Napoli-Capodichino
  • 25th Flight Unit Salerno-Pontecagnano
  • 26th Flight Unit Bari-Palese
  • 27th Flight Unit Vibo Valentia
  • 28th Flight Unit Lamezia Terme
  • 29th Flight Unit Reggio Calabria
  • 31st Tactical Flight Unit Naples: support to CC.RR. Paratroopers

Air fleet

Model Origin Type Version Quantity Image
Aircraft
Alenia ATR-42MP Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Regional airliner 5
Alenia ATR 72MP Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Maritime patrol aircraft 5
Partenavia P.68 Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Light transport 18
Piaggio P180 Avanti Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Executive transport aircraft P-180 Avanti II 7
Carabinieri Piaggio P-180 Avanti Olivati-1.jpg
Helicopters
Agusta A109 Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Utility helicopter 71
Agusta-Westland AW-109N Nexus, Italy - Arma dei Carabinieri JP7482156.jpg
Agusta A139 Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Utility helicopter UH-139D 31
Aermacchi E169 Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Medium utility helicopter AW169M 13
Aermacchi EMR206 Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Utility helicopter 28
Agusta EMR212 Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Utility helicopter 23
Agusta M412 Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Medium utility helicopter AB-412 (9)
AB-412HP (12)
AB-412SP (9)		 38
Agusta-Bell AB-412HP, Italy - Arma dei Carabinieri JP6869867.jpg
Breda Nardi ELO 500 Flag of Italy.svg Kingdom of Italy Light observation helicopter NH 500 22
Breda Nardi NH-500 helicopter of the Carabinieri, Italy.jpg

See also

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