Fruit of the Commandant Fillioux works, began before the war in the Ateliers de Bourges, that high power gun was mounted on a two-trails scissor-like carriage allowing high elevation and direction angles. Its weight, largely higher than the 155 L Schneider mle 17 gun, and its manufacturing complexity nearly killed the project when it was presented in the end of 1916, but its potential for a mechanical towing and its high directional range saved it, so it was delivered to the front from 1917.

The Canon de 155 mm GPF Mle 1917 ('GPF' = 'Grande Puissance Filloux' - High Power Filloux) is a gun of exception, with its modern twin-trails carriage and its variable recoil (depending on the gun elevation), that combined gave very long ranges over 15 km, ideal for counter-battery and harassment fire.

It was adopted in 1917 by the US Army because of its efficacity and simplicity, so an important part of the French industry capacity was derivated to its production. The automobile plants of Renault participated as contractors, but all teh guns were assembled in Puteaux). 224 such guns were in service in the French Army in November 1918. It was engaged in the French Army in 1940, then was used by Nazi Germany, to finally come back in a modified version to participate to the Europe invasion with the US troops.

Main characteristics :

• Weight in firing position : 11200 kg
• Calibre : 155 mm
• Tube length : 38.2 calibres
• Projectile weight : 43.1 kg
• Initial speed : 717 m/s
• Maximum range : 16300 m
• Elevation range : 0 / +35 degrees
• Direction range : 60 degrees