Updating the Front: Italian Army Lists for Chain of Command v2

After Rich published the "CoCulator" for Chain of Command v2 in the Lard Magazine 2025 and explained the philosophy behind it, I’ve spent the last few weeks busy updating our Italian army lists for our Mediterranean theater games to the new edition.

In addition to the official National Characteristic "GRUPPO MITRAGLIATORI," we have decided to keep and adapt a few rules to ensure the Italians feel right on the tabletop:

• "SAVOIA!": An adapted version of the German hand grenade rule.

• "Avanti!": A special rule exclusively for the Bersaglieri, designed to represent their legendary speed and aggressive mobility.

Max and I have playtested these National Characteristics, and they’ve proven to be a great addition—they add flavor and tactical depth without disrupting the game balance.

You can always find the latest version of the lists via the links below - you need to click on the provided links below the pictures to open the corresponding PDFs!

• Divisione Livorno, Divisione Superga and Divisione Friuli:

Download the PDF at:
Army List Italian Divisione Livorno CoC v2 Download




• Fucilieri:

Download the PDF at:

Army List Italian Fucileri CoC v2 Download

• Bersaglieri:

Download the PDF at:

Army List Italian Bersaglieri CoC v2 Download

If you spot any errors or have suggestions, please leave a comment—I’ll review them and make corrections as soon as possible.

As the research I did for the v1 Lists and the used sources are still viable please have a look at these sides on my Blog:

• https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/03/italian-bersaglieri-platoons-coc-army.html
• https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/01/project-livorno-chain-of-command-army.html
• https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/02/project-italy-ww2-chain-of-command-army.html

The lists for our "US Boys" and the Wehrmacht will follow in due time.

CoC v2 lists simply require more effort, especially given the new color-coded layout for support options, which is quite time-consuming to implement.

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US Armoured Rifle Infantry Platoon: CoC Army List for the operations in the Mediterranean 1942-1943

This list has been compiled for the combat operations in the Mediterranean region in mind, i.e. ‘Operation Torch’ and the subsequent fighting in Tunisia until the surrender of the Germans and Italians, ‘Operation Husky’ and the conquest of Sicily, up to the landing on the Italian mainland.

It ends with the year 1943.

This CoC Army List for a Rifle Platoon of the Armoured Divisions is based on original sources like the ToE T/O 7-27 and documents like FM 17 - 71 which describe how an Armoured platoon acts in battle, be it in attack, defence, or on the march, etc.

Here, for example, it is also stated that at least the drivers usually stick to their half-tracks, in defence in any case. It also states that in such cases the co-driver mans the machine gun.

Accordingly, my version of the list for a US Armoured platoon includes neither the driver nor the co-driver.

The options include the support units that are possible and typical for the period and the Mediterranean region.

For the complete list just click on the picture of the list above.

Suggestions, comments and corrections are always welcome of course.

Used and recommended sources:

• FM 17-40 Armored Infantry Company
• FM 17-42 Armored Infantry Battalion
• FM 17-71 Armoured Command Crew Drill for Half-Track Vehicles
• T/O&E 17-37 Detailed Organization American Armored Division Reconnaissance Company for Armored Regiment or Armored Reconnaissance Battalio
• T/O&E 7-27 RIFLE COMPANY, ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION
• CORG-M-198. The Evolution of the Armored Infantry Rifle Squad
• CMH Pub 2-1 THE ORGANIZATION OF GROUND COMBAT TROOPS; Kent Roberts Greenfield, Robert R. Palmer  and Bell I. Wiley
• World War II US Armored Infantry Tactics; Gordon L. Rottman, Elite 176, Osprey Publishing

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US Parachute Infantry Platoon: CoC Army List for the operations in the Mediterranean 1942-1943

The standard Platoon of US Parachute Infantry, as it was used during ‘Operation Torch’, ‘Operation Husky’ and after the landing on the Italian mainland too.

They belonged to the 82nd Airborne Division and were organised into two squads which would only change with ‘Operation Market Garden’ (from then on, they switched to 3 squads per platoon)

I have included the option to play them as Elite, even if the first missions were not brilliant, especially during ‘Operation Torch’ as most of the paratroopers were simply captured by the Vichy French and some even by the Spanish in Spanish Marocco (they were released just months later).

This changed completely with ‘Husky’, where the paratroopers, although mostly scattered and fighting in small groups, fought hard battles against the Axis forces.

The list itself matches that of the US Parachute Infantry from the rulebook, but the options are adapted to the time period and the mediterranean theatre of operations of course.

For the complete list just click on the picture of the list above.

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Italian Fucilieri Platoon outside Africa Settentrionale (North Africa): CoC Army List for the operations in the Mediterranean 1942-1943

After my CoC Army List for the different structured platoons of the "Livorno", "Superga" (and later "Friuli") was ready it's now time for an Army List for the remaining Metropolitan (in Italy itself, or stationed in Albania, Greece and so on) divisions.

This includes the fanteria costiera (Coastal Divisions) and camicie nere (Blackshirt).

In contrast to the organisation of the British, Americans and Germans, it is much more difficult and time-consuming to obtain reliable information for Italian army units, the sources I have used are listed at the end of this post.

In 1943 there was a reorganisation of many of the infantry divisions outside Africa Settentrionale (North Africa) but without touching the structure of the infantry platoons itself - they stayed with two squads per platoon.

But as now there were much more SMGs available, the fucilieri were issued 3 SMG per squad - one for the leader and two for the riflemen.

For the information regarding the historical support weapons used please look at:

https://utgaards-blog.blogspot.com/2025/01/project-livorno-chain-of-command-army.html

For the complete list just click on the picture of the list above.

Used and recommended sources

"LE SQUADRE DELLA FANTERIA"; Scuola di applicazione di fanteria", Turin 1943

Official document of the infantry schools dating from 1943, containing the structure and deployment of an infantry squad.

„Tactical Structure in World War II. Italy. Infantry“; Leland Ness, 2 May 2023

Firstly he used original Italian sources that were captured by Germany 1943 and in turn captured by the Americans who microfilmed the sources before being returned to Italy.

And secondly he visited the Ufficio Storico, the Italian Army's historical office located in Rome.

For up-to-date information regarding the weapons of the Regio Esercito I strongly recommend:

„Le armi della fanteria italiana“; Filippo Cappellano and Nicola Pignato.

Colonel Dr. Filippo Cappellano is the chief of the Italian Army Historical Branch (Ufficio Storico SME) and his detailed description of the Brixia M35 mortar, its handling technical data, but also information on its tactical use in combat was very enlightening.

A good starting point too is the handbook based on the gathered informations by the US Military, dating from August 1943, which is freely available as PDF:

"TME30-420. Handbook on the Italian Forces."

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