Oto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. It was founded in 1905 as Vickers Terni. During World War I, 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, mostly heavy guns for battleships were produced. In 1953 the company took the name Oto Melara. Before Italy joined NATO, Oto Melara produced civil products, like tractors and looms, but quickly returned to the production of weapons. Oto Melara's best-known weapons after World War II are the mountain pack howitzer Model 56, which is in service throughout the world, and the 76/62 ship gun, which has been adopted by 53 navies and is installed on over 1,000 naval vessels. Today Oto Melara's land defence operations are part of the Finmeccanica consortium.