25 pdr in Modena, Italy
 

This twenty-five pounder is on display at the Panini Motor Museum in Modena, Italy. The museum is located on a working farm. It is dedicated to sports, GT and racing cars, primarily Maseratis, with some farm tractors and this 25 pdr on display, as well. The photo was taken in 2010 when I was in Modena to tour the Maserati factory and the Panini museum. I was very surprised to come across the gun. Sorry, not other photos of the gun that might help you identify manufacturer or unit.

"A perenne memoria della stupidita umana"

"In eternal memory of human stupidity"

MCMXCII 1992

I wonder where it was up until 1992?

The Italian Army fitted new 105 mm guns to the mounts of their Sexton SPGs. Looks they did the same to their 25-pdr field guns.

Ref. http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=20181

The shields don't look like 25 pdr either.

I'm not knowledgeable about 25 pdrs (or much else that gets discussed on this forum :confused) but I recall the gun having a single trail and having the general appearance of a 25 pdr. I agree the shield looks "unusual" based on photos or other examples I have seen. Similarly, in the photo, the barrel appears longer than photos or other examples I have seen.

I only looked at the gun in passing as my main interests in the Panini collection were the Maseratis. I could contact the museum to ask about the gun but, given the message attached to it, I speculate they would have little interest in its history.

FWIW, for those on the forum who might be interested in Italian sports and racing cars, the collection is a "must see" if you're traveling in the area. :)

Did some searching and it looks like this is the Obice da 105/22 mod. 14/61, an Italian 105-mm gun which can be easily mistaken for a 25-pdr as one can see from the attached picture.

Nice find Jon, thanks for sharing and I'll keep the museum in mind to see the sports cars :thup:

Attachment 84192

Thanks Hanno! Jon