The need for a 8 inches howitzer had been detected by Great Britain before the war. But it is only in 1914 that this calibre was introduced in the British weapons, by shortening and reboring to 8 inches existing 6 tubes. Numerous carriages versions gave birth to different marks.

In 1916, Vickers proposed a new 8 howitzer, keeping the good ballistic properties of its predecessors, but with a more sophisticated recoil system, and a lighter weight. This BL 8 inches Mk VI howitzer, quickly associated with a prefabricated platform for use on unstable grounds, was followed successively by the BL 8 inches Mk VII, with an elongated tube for longer ranges, and theBL 8 inches Mk VIII with thicker tube walls.

678 such howitzers were put into service during WW1. Some Mk VII survived into the WW2, sometimes modified in 7.2 inches howitzers.

Main characteristics :

Weight in firing position : 8867 kg (Mk VI) - 9017 kg (Mk VII-VIII)
Calibre : 203.2 mm (8 in.)
Tube length : 16 calibres (Mk VI) - 18.5 calibres (Mk VII-VIII)
PProjectile weight : 90.7 kg
Initial velocity : 396 m/s (Mk VI) - 457 m/s (Mk VII-VIII)
Maximum range : 9840 m (Mk VI)- 11250 m (Mk VII-VIII)
Elevation range : -0 / + 50 degrees (Mk VI) - +45 degrees (Mk VII-VIII)
Direction range : 8 degrees