The 220 mm howitzers were a compromise design for their time, with decent capability to destroy fortifications and yet still mobile.

The howitzer used only an immobile, fully-traversable siege mount which had to be offloaded from the transport platform into a shallow (0.5 m deep) pit before firing.

Although the exact development schedule is unknown, the first contract to deliver 12 artillery pieces was signed with the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1928.

At least 14 Škoda 220 mm howitzers were captured by German forces from Poland in September 1939 and re-designated 22 cm Mörser 538(p).

Finally, 7 howitzers were captured by the Soviet Union from Poland and were re-used against Finland during the Winter War.