Obusier de 105 modèle 1950

After World War I the French Army had large numbers of artillery pieces that could trace their origins back to the turn of the century.

In the years between the two world wars a number of factors conspired to hinder the modernization of French artillery such as limited budgets, competing priorities (fortifications, tanks, navy, and aircraft), large stocks of ammunition, large stocks of spare guns and complacency about the effectiveness of existing weaponry.

In 1946 DEFA (Direction des Études et Fabrications d'Armament) began a design study to build a new 105 mm howitzer for the French Army to replace its assortment of weapons.

[1] The mle 1950 would be a departure from previous designs because it would feature a three outrigger tripod carriage which was more common for anti-aircraft guns than howitzers.

This consisted of a mle 1950 mounted in a large non-traversing armored casemate on an AMX-13 light tank chassis.

The Obusier de 105 modèle 1950 as equipped on the Mk 61 105 mm self-propelled howitzer, where it is the vehicle's primary armament.
The Obusier de 105 modèle 1950 as equipped on the Mk 61 105 mm self-propelled howitzer