While the 1st Carabinieri Mobile Brigade was established in its present form on 1 February 2001, together with
Carabinieri Mobile Units Division, it can track its origins in the first formation grouping all Carabinieri units tasked with mobile, riot control and combat duties: the
11th Carabinieri Mechanized Brigade, established in 1963.
1963-2001: 11th Carabinieri Brigade Following the 1960 Genoa clashes, a reform project for the Mobile Battalions was envisioned, but later abandoned. Both the organization and the equipment (which included old
Sherman tanks) were found to be obsolete either inadequate to emergency tasks.p. 48 In 1963, with the 1960s Army and Carabinieri reorganization, Overall, the XI Carabinieri Mechanized Brigade consisted of about 5,000 men with 80 tracked vehicles, 200 other military vehicles, 130
M47 tanks and a
paratroopers battalion. the Battalions Groups were renamed Carabinieri Regiments, and were given the conceptual role of a resolution unit in both riot and tactical tasks; • 1st Carabinieri Regiment (HQ Milan): commanding I, II, III and IV Battalions; • 2nd Carabinieri Regiment (HQ Rome): commanding V, VI, VIII and IX Battalions; • 3rd Carabinieri Regiment (HQ Naples): commanding X, XI and XII Battalions; • 4th Mounted Carabinieri Regiment (HQ Rome) with 2 Squadrons Groups (Battalion-level units) and 1 Armoured-motorized Squadron; It was therefore a robust tactical complex. The Carabinieri Battalions had to be used only when the police and the local organization of the Carabinieri they had found insufficient, in order not to deprive the General Command of a valuable combat tool.p. 187 the security operations were also supported by several Trucked Units. Both VII and XIII Battalions were to be always maintained at their full wartime force. The XI Brigade was subordinated, on 7 March 1965, to the Inspectorate of Mechanized and Special Units, which included not only the XI Mechanized Brigade, but also all other tactical Carabinieri units: the Carabinieri Paratroopers Battalion, the Territorial Squadrons Groups of Milan, Cagliari and Palermo, the Trucked Units, as well as the naval service. Two years later, on 10 March 1967, the post was modified in "Inspectorate of Mechanized Units", being disbanded in May 1967. Between 1967 and 1968 it was set up the Inspectorate of Mechanized and Training Units (led by a
Divisional general), with responsibility on the X Carabinieri Brigade (including schools) and XI Carabinieri Mechanized Brigade. In 1971 it was established the Inspectorate Schools and Special Carabinieri Units; it controlled the X Brigade (dedicated to training) and XI Brigade.
Operations During the
Years of Lead and the subsequent period, however, most of the Battalions reduced their military training in order to deal with riot control activities. 7th and 13th Battalions maintained instead their military capabilities and were transferred under direct Army operational control. the 11th Carabinieri Battalion "Puglia" was raised to Regimental status on 18 September 2017. integrated with personnel drawn from the more military-oriented 2nd Carabinieri Mobile Brigade. Critics of the CCIR frequently point out the
militarization of police brought by the establishment of such units. On 14 July 2007, 13 Italian Carabineri, GOMPI Mobile and prison police were convicted for abuse of authority, abuse of office and uniform. Other charges included abuse and negligence. == Mission ==