OTO Melara was a

subsidiary A subsidiary, subsidiary company, or daughter company is a company (law), company completely or partially owned or controlled by another company, called the parent company or holding company, which has legal and financial control over the subsidia ...

of the Italian company Finmeccanica, today Leonardo, active in the defence sector, with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. From 1 January 2016, the activities of OTO Melara merged into Leonardo's Defence Systems Division, within the Electronics, Defence and Security Systems Sector.

History

Italian Army - 4th Tank Regiment - Ariete tanks during an exercise at Capo Teulada October 2022

Pre–World War I

It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of

Vickers Vickers was a British engineering company that existed from 1828 until 1999. It was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by Edward Vickers and his father-in-law, and soon became famous for casting church bells. The company went public in 18 ...

and Terni Steelworks, Cantiere navale fratelli Orlando and Cantieri navali Odero. Investment was also provided by Giuseppe Orlando and Attilio Odero. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Vickers Terni produced many weapons with calibre 40 mm and upwards. In 1929 the company was renamed Odero Terni Orlando with the abbreviation OTO. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, mostly heavy guns for battleships were produced.

Post–World War II

In 1953 the company took the name OTO Melara. Before Italy joined

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

, OTO Melara produced civil products, like tractors and looms, but quickly returned to the production of weapons. On 1 December 2001, the naval artillery division of OTO Melara merged with that of Breda Meccanica Bresciana to form Otobreda. The combined entity produces the DARDO CIWS, Otobreda 76 mm and Otobreda 127/54 Compact naval guns. OTO Melara's land defence operations are part of the Leonardo conglomerate.

Main products

Vehicles manufactured

* Ariete Main Battle Tank * OF-40 Main Battle Tank * B1 Centauro Wheeled Tank Destroyer * Dardo

Infantry Fighting Vehicle An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle and armoured personnel carrier used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct fire, direct-fire suppo ...

* VBM Freccia 8×8 Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle * Puma 6×6 and Puma 4×4 Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier * Palmaria self-propelled artillery * Otomatic anti-aircraft tank ( SPAAG)

Weapons manufactured

* OTO Melara Mod 56 105mm/L14 Pack Howitzer * OTO Marlin 40 *OTO Breda 120/44 (for the Ariete tank) *Hitfact turret (3-operators turret) **Hitfact mk1 ***OTO Breda 105/52 **Hitfact mk2 ***OTO Breda 105/52 ***OTO Breda 120/45 * Hitfist two-man turret armed with a 25mm or 30mm automatic cannon and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun (plus two TOW launchers as option) * Hitfist OWS Remotely operated turret armed with a 25mm or 30mm automatic cannon and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun (plus two TOW launchers as option) * Hitrole Remote Weapon Station for 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher *Small calibre naval turrets 12.7mm LIONFISH * Otobreda 127/54 Compact naval gun *

Otobreda 127/64 The OTO 127/64 LW (light-weight) Gun assembly is a rapid-fire gun mount suitable for installation on large and medium size ships. It also has a version for coastal defense, intended for surface fire and naval gunfire support as main role and a ...

Lightweight naval gun * 76/62mm Allargato * Otobreda 76 mm naval gun * Otomat Anti-ship missile * Skyguard "Aspide" Anti-Air missile system * SIDAM 25 anti-aircraft gun * DARDO CIWS a twin 40mm naval gun mounting * MSS-1.2 Anti tank guided missile * GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb under license from Boeing

Ammunition manufactured

* - 76/127/155mm In the last decade the company has produced between 900 and 1000 GBU-31 and GBU-32 JDAMs on license. At the moment it is working on the production of 500 GBU-39s for the Aeronautica Militare. The naval defence operations produce a wide range of automatic naval artillery, rocket and missile launchers and remote controlled small calibre defence cannons.

References

External links

Leonardo official website
* * http://bp1.blogger.com/_Ov8q5T5kYx8/RzS3XXESUiI/AAAAAAAAABA/CcB0TEuLu7Y/s1600-h/otomelara12.7mm.jpg {{Leonardo-Finmeccanica Defence companies of Italy Firearm manufacturers of Italy Brescia La Spezia Manufacturing companies established in 1905 Italian companies established in 1905 Italian brands Leonardo S.p.A.