The Wehrmacht had recognized early on that the rapid advances of the mechanised/motorised Divisions within their blitzkrieg strategy meant that the artillery could not follow quickly enough to directly support the Infantry. Therefore, a solution was sought to move the heavy artillery to more mobile systems such as tracked vehicles. Initial test systems based on Panzer I and II tanks (like 15-cm-sIG 33 (Sf) auf Pz. I B or 15-cm-sIG 33 (Sf) auf Pz. II, also called "Bison") showed that this was possible, but still far from mature.

At a conference with Hitler on September 20, 1942, it was urgently argued that the troops fighting in Stalingrad needed a well armoured vehicle, capable of destroying a house with just a few shots. It was explained that it was necessary to produce several of these vehicles within 14 days. If a 15 cm s.IG 33 could not be mounted on a Panzer III or IV, it should be mounted on a StuG.

Based on this weapon and existing repair chassis from assault guns of all types built up to that point, Alkett reported that it would be able to build six vehicles within 15 days. Ultimately, the Army Weapons Office recorded the arrival of twelve s.I.G. 33s on Fgst. Pz.Kpfw. III (Sfl.) in October (1st batch) and twelve additional vehicles in November (2nd batch). It was noted that this was a trial series of 24 vehicles on used chassis.



The first twelve vehicles were then sent to the Battle of Stalingrad as requested. Around October 28, 1942, the first six arrived in Chir. Six vehicles each were then sent to Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 177 and Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 244 with the request to engage in combat as soon as possible. On November 7 or 8, it was reported that the vehicles had been delivered without the required 14 Z telescopic sights. As early as November 11, 1942, two vehicles were destroyed by direct hits east of the “Geschützfabrik” in Stalingrad. All other vehicles of the first series were also lost in and around Stalingrad.

The twelve vehicles of the second production batch were first assigned to the Sturm-Infanteriegeschütz-Batterie/Lehr-Bataillon XVII. They were occasionally subordinate to the 22nd Panzer Division. Finally, a unit of seven vehicles was assigned as an assault infantry gun battery to Panzer Regiment 21 of the 23. Panzer-Division. The last vehicle was reported lost by the 23rd PD in October 1943.

Much knowledge about the usefulness and requirements of such a vehicle was gained through its use and was applied in the development of the Sturmpanzer IV.

Rare Sturminfanteriegeschütze StuIG 33 B of the 23. Panzer-Division advance in the Kursk area. USSR, 1943