In 1910, the US Army adopted the Ordnance Department '6 inches field howitzer M1908'. It was the only of all the US guns to be equipped with a recuperator above the barrel, and not more than 40 to 100 guns (depending on the authors) had been built in 1917, when the USA went to war.

At that time, it was quickly understood that their maximum range (a littel over 6 km) was surpassed by all the equivalent existing allied howitzers of the same calibre (British 26cwt : 8700 to 10400 m - French 155C Mle 1917 : 11500m). As a consequence, all the 6in M1908 were kept on the American soil where they were used exclusively for training purposes. None of them were used in the fights, the US Army preferring to purchase the excellent French 155 Schneider 1917.

These howitzers were retired during the 1920s.

Main characteristics :

• Weight in firing position : 3350 kg
• Calibre : 152.4 mm
• Tube length : 13.5 calibres
• Projectile weight : 54.4 kg
• Initial velocity : 274 m/s
• Maximum range : 6130 m
• Elevation range : -5 / +40 degrees
• Elavation range : 5 degrees range