from the late 1920s the red army sought to upgrade its first world war era artillery pieces. in january 1927 the main artillery directorate (grau) initiated development of a new 122 mm gun for corps artillery. the development was initially entrusted to grau design bureau (led by f. f. lender until its death in september 1927), and from june 1929 - to the design bureau of all-union ordnance trust, with assistance from grau designers.