Dubat (Arabic: العمائم البيضاء(دُوب عد); ḍubbāṭ: English: White turban) was the designation given to members of the semi-regular armed bands employed by the Italian "Royal Corps of Colonial Troops" (Regio Corpo di Truppe Coloniali in Italian) in Italian Somaliland from 1924 to 1941. The word dubat was derived from a Somali phrase meaning "white turban". Origin and duties Dubats were local soldiers from Italian Somaliland that were employed in Italian military service after World War I. First raised in July 1924 by Colonel Camillo Bechis, they mainly served as frontier guards and light infantry, developing a reputation as effective fighters. Dubats were maintained as permanent units and were better trained and armed than the tribal banda irregulars raised as temporary auxiliaries when needed by the Italian authorities in Somalia and other colonies. Dubats were concentrated along the British Somaliland, Ethiopian and East Africa Protectorate frontiers. Camel mounted detachments (recul) were also employed for patrol work in the Ogaden region. Attire, weaponry and ranks From their establishment, Dubats wore the white futa, a traditional Somali sarong-like garment. They also wore smaller lengths of futa cloth as turbans (dub), tightly wrapped around their heads. The term dubat (literally "white turban") was derived from this headdress. During 1935–36, a khaki version of the futa and turban, including a saharianna tunic, was adopted for service wear. The Somali non-commissioned officers ranks were distinguished by neck lanyards with end tassels as follows: "capo comandante" (commander) - green, "capo" (sergeant) - red, "sotto-capo" (corporal) - black. Commissioned officers of the Dubats were all Italians. They were usually seconded from the six regular Arab-Somali battalions of the Royal Corps of Colonial Troops, recruited in the territories of present-day Somalia and Yemen. Dubats were armed with either Carcano M1891 or Mannlicher M1895 rifles. They also carried curved traditional Somali daggers called billao. Campaigns During 1925–27, three thousand Dubats saw service in the Campaign of the Sultanates, involving the occupation of the autonomous regions of Obbia, where the Sultan Yusuf Ali Kenadid ruled over the Sultanate of Hobyo, and Migiurtinia (1923–27), where Boqor Osman Mahamud ruled the Sultanate. During their raids the Dubats reached Ras Hafun. During late 1927, Dubats were used to raid across the border into Ethiopia, where clan militiamen from Migiurtinia had regrouped in Gorrahei. The use of Dubat irregulars for these intrusions enabled the Italians to avoid diplomatic complications with Ethiopia. The four original bands