In 1918 the United States began manufacturing tanks for the war effort in Europe, and these tanks naturally required armament. The British were mostly using the Hotchkiss Portative for they new tanks and the French were using the Hotchkiss 1914 heavy machine gun. The initial American weapon of choice for tanks was the Marlin 1917, as straight gas piston conversion of the Colt 1895 design - but the Marlin had substantial flaws and a better gun was desired.