During the final period of the battle for Stalingrad lack of mobile artillery in Soviet army became evident. Development of an armored vehicle armed with 152-mm gun was launched in January of 1943. The vehicle, named SU-152, was ready by the beginning of February and its serial production was launched during spring. SU-152 self-propelled howitzers took part in the Battle of Kursk in 1943 as well as countless other operations on the Eastern front.