Montenegrin National Princely Guard (Italian Empire)

Montenegrin National Princely Guard
Crnogorska Princeva Nacionalna Garda Црногорска Национална Кнежевски Гарда
The M.V.S.N. emblem
Active	2000 - present
Country	Principality of Montenegro
Allegiance	Italian Empire
Branch	National Royal Guard
Role	Defence force
Size	5,950
Part of	National Royal Guard
Headquarters	Podgorizza
Commanders
Current commander	Brig. Gen. Lorenzo Angelucci

The Montenegrin National Princely Guard (Montenegrin: Crnogorska Princeva Nacionalna Garda, C.P.N.G. or simply Princeva Nacionalna Garda, P.N.G.; Serbian: Црногорска Национална Кнежевски Гарда, Ц.Н.К.Г., or simply Национална Кнежевски Гарда, Н.К.Г.) is the Montenegrin branch of the National Royal Guard. It consists of an army, navy and air force. There has been no conscription in Montenegro; the military is a fully professional standing army.

The P.N.G./Н.К.Г. currently maintains a force of 5,950 active duty members. The bulk of its equipment and forces were inherited from the military of Yigoslavia, with substantial additions of Italian equipment.

History

The Montenegrin National Princely Guard is the very newest branch of the G.N.R., being established in 2000, after the annexation of Montenegro to the Italian Empire. Differently from other G.N.R. branches, the P.N.G./Н.К.Г. does not depend on the Montenegrin M.V.S.N., due to the more combatant role. The P.N.G./Н.К.Г. is manned by Montenegrin fascist volunteers, but for the major part is officered by Italian G.N.R. officers and subofficers. In 2006 the P.N.G./Н.К.Г. participated to the security operations on Bosnian-Montenegrin border. The current commander is Brigadier General Lorenzo Angelucci.

Organization

The P.N.G./Н.К.Г. is structured like a large Brigade, fulfilling also some Army roles. As of 2015, the P.N.G./Н.К.Г. has the following structure:

• General Staff
• Command Battalion "Montenegro"
• Honour Battalion "Sekula Drljević"
• 1st Mountain Infantry Battalion "Mihailo Ivanović"
• 2nd Mountain Infantry Battalion "Novica Radović"
• 3rd Counter-Terrorism Infantry Battalion "Gavro Vuković"
• 4th Tactical Support Battalion (Reconnaissance, Fire Support, Military Police Companies) "Dimitrije Ljotić"
• 5th Support Battalion (Engineer, Signal, NBCW Companies) "Kosta Mušicki"
• 6th Air-defence Group "Radomir Vešović"
• 1st Air Cavalry Regiment (Multirole Helicopter Squadrons Group, Technical Support Squadrons Group) "Lazo Kostić"
• Coastal Guard
• Training Centre
• Logistic Centre
• Medical Centre

1st Mountain Infantry Battalion "Mihailo Ivanović"

The 1st Mountain Infantry Battalion "Mihailo Ivanović" is the P.N.G./Н.К.Г. unit tasked with securing the Montenegro-Serbia mountainous border. The unit was the first P.N.G./Н.К.Г. unit ever established in 2002 by grouping Fascist volounteers and already established militias. The Battalion is headquartered in the Serbian-speaking city of Berane. As of 2015, the order of battle is:

• 1st Infantry Battalion "Mihailo Ivanović"
  • 1st Mountain Infantry Company
  • 2nd Mountain Infantry Company
  • 3rd Mountain Infantry Company
  • 4th Mountain Infantry Company
  • 1st Mountain Fire Support Company
  • 1st Mountain Engineer Company
  • 1st Mountain Signal Platoon
  • 1st NBC Defence Platoon
  • 1st Service Squad

2nd Mountain Infantry Battalion "Novica Radović"

The 2nd Light Infantry Battalion "Novica Radović" is the P.N.G./Н.К.Г. unit tasked with guarding the mountainous interior of the Principality of Montenegro, as well as providing assistance to the 1st Battalion in guarding Montenegrin-Serbian border. The 2nd Battalion is headquartered in Šavnik and was established in 2002, following the worsening of security situation in Montenegro and the proclamation of the Principality. As of 2015, the order of battle is:

• 2nd Mountain Infantry Battalion "Novica Radović"
  • 5th Mountain Infantry Company
  • 6th Mountain Infantry Company
  • 7th Mountain Infantry Company
  • 8th Mountain Infantry Company
  • 2nd Mountain Fire Support Company
  • 2nd Mountain Engineer Company
  • 2nd Mountain Signal Platoon
  • 2nd NBC Defence Platoon
  • 2nd Service Squad

3rd Counter-Terrorism Infantry Battalion "Gavro Vuković"

The 3rd Counter-Terrorism Infantry Battalion "Gavro Vuković" is the P.N.G./Н.К.Г. unit tasked with providing counter-insurgency and counter-guerilla warfare activities. The 3rd Battalion is based in Podgorizza and was established in 2002, following the worsening of security situation in Montenegro and the proclamation of the Principality. As of 2015, the order of battle is:

• 3rd Counter-Terrorism Infantry Battalion "Gavro Vuković"
  • 9th Infantry (Security) Company (based in Nikšić)
  • 10th Infantry (Security) Company
  • 11th Infantry (Intervention) Company (based in Nikšić)
  • 12th Infantry (Intervention) Company
  • 3rd Fire Support Company
  • 3rd Engineer Company
  • 3rd Signal Platoon
  • 3rd NBC Defence Platoon
  • 3rd Service Squad

Maritime Regiment

The Maritime Regiment is the P.N.G./Н.К.Г. unit tasked with providing operational resources to control and protect Montenegrin territorial sea. As of 2016, the order of battle is:

• Naval Surface Forces
  • Patrol Boat 33
  • Patrol Boat 34
  • Rescue Detachment
• Coastal Surveillance Detachment
• Marine Company

Operations

While depending on the Lieutenant General of the Principality of Montenegro and being under the military command of the Italian National Royal Army, the Montenegrin National Princely Guard also maintains close relations with the Montenegrin Ministry of Interior; the General Commander of the Montenegrin National Princely Guard answers before the Minister for the accomplishment of protection missions. Moreover, the C.P.N.G./Ц.Н.К.Г. cooperates with the Montenegrin Police during the process of personality preservation, as well as with the local government authorities outside Tirana. For the collection of data and information, the C.P.N.G./Ц.Н.К.Г. also cooperates with the О.Б.C.П./O.B.S.Pa.

Uniforms and insignia

Montenegrin G.N.R. Legionnaires wear their own uniform: bottle green jacket and trousers and a matching cap; in some occasions, a traditional hat is worn. 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.

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

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  Monetenegrin G.N.R. Ordinary On Duty Uniform (General officers, variant).

See also

• Italian National Royal Guard (Kingdom of Italy)
• Montenegrin Police (Italian Empire)