To speed the process of filling this shortcoming, the U.S. Army decided to adopt a foreign design from its Allies for manufacturing in the U.S., and set up a commission for this purpose.

The Schneider 280 mm piece predated World War I and was originally designed and produced under a contract from the Imperial Russian Army.

When firing its first proof shot, it exploded, and production was halted while the U.S. Army and Schneider investigated the reason behind the failure and redesigned the weapon.

Only one of the regiments was ordered into active military service during World War II as a segregated 8-inch howitzer unit; it was thereafter broken up into battalions.

In 1923, twelve of these weapons were on a ship bound for the Philippines when the Washington Naval Treaty went into effect, prohibiting additional fortifications in the Pacific.

There was also a fifth large load for the erection of the frame and other items needed to assemble the four main cannon components from their specialized transport wagons.