IS-2

The heavy that taught NATO to fear 122 mm HE.

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Specifications

Crew: 4
Combat weight: 46 t
Engine: 600 hp
hp / tonne: 13.0
Road speed: 37 km/h
Range: 240 km
Main gun: 122 mm D-25T
In service: 1944–1970s

V-2-IS diesel, 600 hp

Armor: 120 mm glacis (later 60° pike on IS-3), 160 mm turret

Secondary: DT, DShK AA

Briefing scores

Relative 1–10 for teaching, not a wargame rating.

Firepower: 8/10
Protection: 8/10
Mobility: 3/10
Awareness: 3/10
Logistics: 5/10

Ammunition natures

APBCHE

History

Successor to the KV. At 122 mm it was a bunker gun that also happened to penetrate a Tiger’s front at combat range. IS-3’s pike nose arrived too late for Europe but shook Western attachés at the 1945 Berlin parade.

Doctrine

Breakthrough heavy: smash prepared positions with 25 kg HE shells, then kill Tigers if they appear. Slow rate of fire (separate-loading ammo) meant it fought in regiments with T-34s covering the flanks.

Strengths

HE against cities and AT guns
Frontal protection
Diesel

Limits

2 rounds/min
Small ammo load
Turret traverse

Related hulls

Tiger I

Germany

T-34-85

Soviet Union

M26 Pershing

United States

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