Procuring a new piece of artillery can be a difficult process, but one the Australian Army has experienced on several occasions. Consideration turned to procuring a new field artillery weapon during the early 1950s, with Australia actively seeking information on overseas developments from allied nations. Following much deliberation both here and overseas, the United States 105-mm round was adopted as the NATO standard, and suitable artillery weapons in this calibre were sought.

The decision had a direct impact on the purchase of the first line jungle artillery weapon. In August 1958, the British Army informed Australia that they were considering an Italian manufactured light, air portable howitzer: the Model 105/14 built by OTO Melara. A single 105/14 was trialed in the UK during the following September, and further trials were carried out in Malaya during late 1959. One of these guns was also made available for examination in Australia during February 1960, although the type had already been chosen for the AMF earlier that month. The decision was based entirely upon British and other allied reports, together with satisfactory negotiations with the manufacturer. The choice of the 105/14 (Model 56) did not involve any Australian trials.

The pack howitzer, suitably modified, was soon introduced into British service as the L5, with the intention of having at least one field regiment in Far East Land Forces (FARELF) fully operational by the end of 1961. This decision also hastened the weapon’s introduction into service with the Australian Army, as the chosen FARELF regiment, 26 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, contained an Australian artillery battery. Operational requirements dictated that the Regiment deploy with only one type of artillery weapon.

Hence, the first L5 pack howitzers in the Australian Army were supplied from a British order. The recipients were 103 Bty (FARELF), who became the first Australian unit to be equipped with the L5.

Meanwhile, the first twelve guns from the Australian order arrived in early 1961. Following its official introduction into service on 12 May 1961, the first line regiment in Australia to receive the guns was 105 Bty of 4 Field Regiment early in 1962. In all, Australia was to purchase a total of 120 of the Italian pack howitzers. They consisted of the L10A1 ordnance and the L3A1 carriage, and could be disassembled into eleven loads for transportation.

The L5 was deployed operationally in Malaya and Borneo during the confrontation with Indonesia. In September 1965, the increase in Australia’s commitment to South Vietnam included 105 Battery, with its L5 pack howitzers. The weapon was deployed by the Australian artillery in Vietnam until mid-1967, during which time it was used in many notable engagements, including Operation Crimp in the Ho Bo Woods area, and the Battle of Long Tan.

The L5, however, was never designed for sustained fire tasks over prolonged periods. In mid-1967, it was recommended that they be replaced by the more robust towed gun in Australian service, the M2A2.

Although the L5(Aust) has been the subject of some criticism for its lack of robustness, the weapon served the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery well during the operational deployments of the early 1960s. Various investigations into defects concluded that the problems were often the result of placing stresses on the weapon parts for which they were not originally designed. Indeed, the L5 (Aust) was summed up as early as June 1963, when the Australian Army Representative in London wrote “ ... it is necessary to recognise that with this gun, the price of lightness includes the need for careful handling and a high standard of maintenance.”

The L5 Pack Howitzer, shown here in a sandbag gun pit and surrounded by spent cases and excess charge bags