During the fighting in Russia, the weight (4,310 pounds 1955 kg in transit) of the standard light field howitzer (leFH 18) had proven troublesome, resulting in many guns being abandoned. Requirements for a lighter version were issued, and in 1942, the leFH 18/40 was introduced. This variation mounted the more powerful leFH 18M with muzzle brake on the same carriage as the PaK 40 anti-tank gun, but with larger wheels.