These included: During the late 1920s it was realized that the Canon de 75 antiaérien mle 1913-1917 were outmoded as an anti-aircraft weapon and development of a new gun barrel was begun in 1928.

However the priority for armaments at that time was the construction of the Maginot Line fortifications and work progressed at a slow pace.

This slow pace and lack of funds meant all three anti-aircraft versions of the mle 1897 were still in use in large numbers when World War II began in 1939.

These guns had a secondary anti-tank role when fitted with a 6X scope, despite a lack of armor-piercing ammunition.

Large numbers of 75 mm guns were captured by Germany after the French defeat in 1940.