On August 20, 1942 the 63rd Army attacked with 197th, 203rd and 14th Guards Rifle Divisions across the river Don against the Italian Sforzesca Division (XXXV Corps) and successfully gained a short-lived bridgehead across the Don northwest of Kletskaya.

An Italian counterattack by Celere Cavalry Division on August 23 briefly slowed the 63rd Army, but it continued the expansion of its bridgehead with a breakout attack by 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps (which had crossed the Don on August 23) and by the 14th Guards Rifle Division.

On October 29, 1942 the army subordinated to the reconstructed Southwestern Front for the Operation Uranus counter-offensive.

Initially it conducted defensive operations along the Zusha and Neruch Rivers and the region south of Mtsensk.

With Markian Popov's Bryansk Front at the Battle of Kursk it comprised the 5th, 41st, 129th, 250th, 287th, 348th and 397th Rifle Divisions.