 Their largest gun (as opposed to howitzer) was the 5.5 inch (140 mm) Medium, with a range of about 15,000–16,000 yards (12,800-14,600 meters).Since about the start of World War II, the term has been applied to long-range artillery pieces that fire at a relatively low angle, as opposed to howitzers which can fire at higher angles.Field guns also lack a specialized purpose, such as anti-tank or coastal artillery.