Oto Melara Mod 56

The Oto Melara Mod 56 is a lightweight, 105 mm pack howitzer designed for mountain and airborne troops. It is highly versatile, capable of being towed by light vehicles, air-dropped, or disassembled into 12 parts for man-packing.

Developed in the 1950s by Italian manufacturer Oto Melara to equip the Italian Army's elite Alpini mountain brigades, this pack howitzer officially entered service in 1957. It saw extensive combat use worldwide, notably deployed by the British Army during the Aden Emergency and the Borneo Confrontation, as well as by Argentine forces during the 1982 Falklands War. Renowned for its adaptability, the Mod 56 became a massive export success, serving with over 30 nations, and it remains in active service with several militaries today as a legendary benchmark in light artillery design.