The concept of the SturmgeschÂtz (StuG), or assault gun, began in 1936 after a request for an armoured vehicle for the artillery that could provide support for the infantry through direct fire against machine-gun nests and bunkers. The first five assault gun batteries (each of six StuG) were available for the battles in France: 640. Sturmbatterie with Infanterieregiment Grossdeutschland, 659. Sturmbatterie with XIII Armeekorps, 660. Sturmbatterie with 3. Infanteriedivision, 665. Sturmbatterie operating against the Maginot Line, and an SS-Sturmbatterie with SS-Standarte LSSAH.