Historic context :

In 1910, the US Army adopted the Ordnance Department '6 inches field howitzer M1908'. It was the only of all the US guns that was equipped with a recoil recuperator system placed above the barrel. Not more than 40 to 100 such weapons (depending on the sources and authors) have been built until1917, when the USA went to war.

Very soon although, this howitzer revealed its major issue : its maximum range (a little more than 6 km) was largely surpassed by all the equivalent existing allied howitzers of the same calibre (British 26cwt : 8700 to 10400 m - French 155C Mle 1917 : 11500m), as well as per the equivalent enemy weapons. As a consequence, all the 6in M1908 were kept on the American continent where they were used exclusively for training purposes. None of them were used in the overseas fights, the US Army logically preferring to purchase the excellent French 155 Schneider 1917, that will remain in service a long time after WW1.

These howitzers were all retired from service during the 1920s.

Technical data :

• Complete description : 6 inches field howitzer model 1908
• Design year : 1908
• Calibre : 152.40 mm
• Weight in firing position : 3350 kg
• Weight for transportation :
• Tube length in calibres : 13.50
• Grooves : 0 unknown
• Projectile weight : 54.4 kg
• Initial speed : 274 m/s
• Fire rate :
• Range : 6130 m
• Elevation range : -5 / +40 degrees
• Direction range : 5 degrees total range