Motciclisti Platoon (IT727) Moto Guzzi Alce At the start of 1942, each Bersaglieri regiment and reconnaissance battalion had a Compagnia Motociclisti. The Bersaglieri Motociclisti rode the legendary Moto Guzzi Alce (pronounced al-cheh), or Elk, introduced in 1938 for military use as reconnaissance and convoy escort.

It featured a handlebar-mounting for the squad’s Breda 30 light machine-gun. Obviously this machine gun could only be operated when the motorcycle was stationary! The Moto Guzzi Alce was produced between 1939-1945 and 6390 were built. The engine was a singe cylinder, 4-stroke, 498cc engine generating 13hp.

Officially each Squad or Section has one motorcycle with a sidecar for two of the soldiers and one motorcycle each for the rest. Most units were short of motorcycles and doubled up with two men on each motorcycle and many did without sidecars.

In Flames Of War Adding Motorcycles to a team allows it to move as a Jeep team until it dismounts. Once it dismounts the motorcycles are removed and the team becomes a normal team. Rifle and Rifle/MG teams can fire their weapons while mounted with the normal penalty for moving.

HMG teams can fire as Rifle/MG teams while mounted. Use the IT722 for dismounted Motociclisti. Designed by Evan Allen    Painted by Jeremy Painter