The 6 inch howitzer was one of two medium guns used by the Australian artillery units between the wars, the other being the 60 pounder. The howitzers came into service with the Australian artillery around 1925 and there were 18 in Australia by 1939. The 2/1st Medium Regiment trained on these guns prior to moving to the Middle East. 20 additional guns were sent from the UK and another 52 brought back from the Middle East.

The 6 inch 26 cwt howitzer is the result of the resign of earlier howitzers to which were added a hydro-pneumatic recoil system and an Asbury breech mechanism.