The soixante-quinze was an effective anti-tank gun but was heavy and much harder to conceal than the newer, small, high-velocity, small calibre anti-tank weapons.

The chosen weapon was a design of the state-owned arsenal Atelier de Construction de Puteaux workshop (abbreviated to APX) located in Puteaux, Paris, and was named the canon de 47 mm semi-automatique mle 1937.

A similar model designated the canon de 47 mm semi-automatique mle 1939 was also produced.

Both were efficient weapons, especially given the thin armour of contemporary German tanks.

The guns were used in Atlantic Wall fortifications and armed a number of their Panzerjäger self-propelled tank destroyers.