1877 (or more promptly known as the 155 L de Bange) was the French artillery piece that debuted the 155 mm (6.1 in) caliber, which is still in widespread use across the world today.

This brake was a separate piece of equipment that anchored the cannon's carriage to the firing platform and returned it into position after about 110 cm (43 in) of recoil.

Most were placed in France's numerous fortresses of the time (part of the Séré de Rivières system), most notably at Toul, Belfort, and Verdun.

Besides the technical obsolesce issue, the French army's doctrine at the time emphasizing mobility—"75 for everything" had become its universal mantra for field artillery.

On 2 August 1914, the French army had 1,392 pieces of 155 L de Bange, either in depots or in fixed positions; not a single one was part of the equipment of a mobile unit.

[2] The first engagement of the 155 L de Bange was probably by the 8th Foot Artillery Regiment firing from place fortifiée d'Épinal during the Battle of the Mortagne on August 27.

In October 1914, a program was started to fit the 155 L de Bange wheels with a system of metallic soles and gutters that articulated together.

[1] A significant improvement in combat capabilities was achieved by boosting the powder charge of the 155 L de Bange, a measure made possible by the strong construction of the gun.

[1] The introduction of quick-firing, replacement materiel for the 155 L de Bange, which was initiated by the First Stage of the Realization of the Heavy Field Artillery Program of May 30, 1916 was still not finished in November 1918.

The field artillery of each French army corps still had a battalion of 155 L de Bange model 1877 guns late into the war.

In the Soviet army organization, the 155 L de Bange pieces and other heavy guns were part of a central reserve called яжёлая артиллерия особого назначения [ru] (TAON).

)[9][10][11][12] Some 305 155 L de Bange artillery pieces still equipped French forts as of 10 May 1940; of these, 168 were deployed in the Maginot Line and 137 in the smaller works in the South-East.