The 155 mm howitzer Model 50 was developed in France immediately after the Second World War and was also manufactured in Sweden by the now BAE Systems Bofors for the Swedish Army, which called it the 15.5 cm Field Howitzer Fr. The French call the weapon the OB 155-50 BF.

The 155 mm Model 50 was used widely by the Israel Defence Force but has been withdrawn in favour of self-propelled artillery pieces such as the US-supplied 155 mm M109. The Israel Defence Force also used a self-propelled version of the Model 50, which is based on a modified Sherman chassis. It is possible that up to 120 of these may still be held in reserve.

In the French Army the Model 50 has now been replaced by the Nexter Systems 155 mm towed gun TR and replaced in the Swedish Army by the now BAE Systems Bofors FH-77B. A number of these weapons were captured by the Israel Defence Force from the PLO during the fighting in Lebanon in the summer of 1982.

More recently, some of these weapons have been observed to be operational in Ecuador, although their exact source is not known.

According to the United Nations, between 1992 and 2006 France exported 18 of these systems to Morocco, all of these were delivered in 1997. These were from French Army stocks rather than new-build weapons.

The 155 mm barrel, with the breech ring, slides in the cradle during recoil and the breech ring is secured to the piston rod of the recoil buffer and to the recuperating rod. The recoil length varies automatically with elevation. The barrel, breech ring and cradle, which together form the elevating mass, are secured to the upper mounting by cradle trunnions. The elevating mass moves vertically in relation to the upper mounting when the elevating device is turned. The upper mounting rests on the lower carriage and turns horizontally in relation to it when the traversing device is turned. On the bottom of the lower mounting there is a pivot plate. The trails are pivoted on the sides of the lower carriage. Secured to each trail is a wheel bar, which in turn holds two pneumatic puncture-proof tyres.

The 155 mm howitzer Model 50 has a split trail carriage and, on the right trail, there is an unlimbering eye which during transport is hooked to the corresponding hook on the towing vehicle. During transport, the elevating mass is locked to the trails by a device in the rear part of the cradle. The weapon is fitted with a compressed air braking system, which is operated from the towing vehicle.

In the firing position the 155 mm howitzer Model 50 rests on the pivot plate and the outer end of the trails. The trails, when opened out, are secured to the ground by pickets. The pivot plate is pivoted in two directions at right angles to each other and thus can be placed so that the carriage remains horizontal regardless of the ground angle.

The 155 mm howitzer Model 50 fires an HE projectile weighing 43 kg with a maximum muzzle velocity of 650 m/s.