So satisfactory did the production proceed that on December 13, 1917, the first of the 8-inch howitzers was proof-tried with good results. Early in January, 1918, the complete units began to come through at the rate of three a week, increasing to four a week in April and to six a week in May. A subsequent contract with Midvale brought the total number of howitzers ordered from that plant up to 195. These weapons, all of the model known as the Mark VI, were all produced and accepted before the signing of the armistice, 96 of them being shipped overseas, with their full complement of accessories. Each completed unit cost in the neighborhood of $55,000. These weapons throw a 200-pound projectile 11,750 yards. The progress of the war moved so swiftly, however, that there soon was need for artillery units of this same size but with longer range. Accordingly, a new design, known as the Mark VIII½, was brought out, having a range of over 13,000 yards. On October 2, 1918, we placed with the Midvale Co. an order for 100 of these 8-inch howitzers, specifying carriages of the new, heavier type. When we entered the war the Bethlehem Steel Co., at Bethlehem, Pa., was producing for the British Government a howitzer with a bore of 9.2 inches. The Bethlehem Co. expected to complete these British contracts in July, 1917. The 9.2-inch howitzer was approximately the same size as the 240-millimeter howitzer which we were getting ready to put into production. However, in our desire to utilize every bit of the production facilities of the country, we ordered 100 of the 9.2-inch howitzer units from the Bethlehem Steel Co. and placed additional orders for 132 of these units in England. The British concerns delivered 40 howitzers before the armistice was signed. -----------+------------+------------+--------+---------+--------+--------- | | | Number | Number | | Number Mark. | Size. |Contractor. |ordered.|completed| Number |completed | | | |Nov. 11, |floated.| to Apr. | | | | 1918. | |17, 1919. -----------+------------+------------+--------+---------+--------+--------- VI |8-inch |Midvale | 195 | 167 | 96 | 195 | howitzer | Steel Co. | | | | VIII½ | do. | do. | 100 | | | 34 Model 1917 |9.2-inch |Bethlehem | 100 | | | 1 | howitzer | Steel Co. | | | | -----------+------------+------------+--------+---------+--------+--------- [Illustration: THE 9.2-INCH HOWITZER, MODEL 1917. This gun shoots shell weighing 290 pounds 8,690 meters. The weight of the howitzer and carriage is 29,100 pounds.] [Illustration: TWO VIEWS OF THE 240-MILLIMETER HOWITZER, MODEL 1918.] THE 240-MILLIMETER HOWITZERS.