Roleexport tracked field artillery
Main weapon / system155 mm L39 howitzer
Platform / layoutexport tracked chassis derived from Italian armored-vehicle technology with turreted gun system
MediaPrimary image integrated
Development and design
Developed by OTO Melara, Palmaria used a 155 mm gun in a fully traversing turret and was marketed as a complete self-propelled artillery package. The turret concept was also adapted in related export programs. 1, 2
Operational use
The system found export customers rather than becoming the standard Italian Army howitzer, and its combat history is tied mainly to foreign operators. 1, 2
Role and significance
Palmaria is significant as an example of the competitive 1980s export artillery market, when manufacturers offered complete tracked SPH families outside the dominant U.S., Soviet, and German lineages. 1, 2
Sources and further reading
Representative source set used for this profile. Primary image source and reuse terms are listed with the image.