n the early 1960s the British Army began searching for a modern design field gun to replace its aging, but still reliable, 25-Pounder gun, which had given such creditable service during WWII. At the time NATO, to which Britain was a member state, was standardizing on 105mm as the preferred caliber for its close-support artillery. Because no British company had any plans to develop a field gun of 105mm caliber and wanting to keep pace with NATO developments, the British Army approached the Italian defense manufacturer of OtO Melara. At the time the company was producing a very practical pack howitzer known as the Model 1956 105/14. It was of the required caliber, Italy was a member of NATO and,
