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By the time 1943 was through the RedArmy had gained the strategic initiativefrom the Germans and was startingthe series of advances that took it toBerlin in 1945. Along the way theSoviets attempted to maintain an overalltank design supremacy over theirenemies and on the whole succeeded.This was as true for the heavy tanks asit was for the T-34 series, and the KV-1was progressively developed until by1943 the KV-85 with its 85-mm (3.34-in)gun and reshaped turret was in service.But by gradually reworking thetransmission, reshaping and redesigningthe hull and suspension, a new lowerand lighter tank design wasevolved. The new design was namedthe IS-1 (IS for losef Stalin).The IS-1 retained the 85-mm (3.34-in) gun of the KV-85, and was in itsearliest forms known as the IS-85, but itwas felt that the new design couldaccommodate a more powerfulweapon. Trials were carried out with anew 100-mm (3.94-in) gun (IS-100variant) and a long 122-mm (4.8-in)gun, the 100-mm (3.94-in) gun provingto be the better armour-penetrationweapon. However, the 122-mm (4.8-in)gun was almost as effective and alsohad the explosive power to blow off anenemy tank turret even if it could notpenetrate its armour. To cap things inthe 122-mm (4.8-in) gun's favour,potential numbers were availablewhile the 100-mm (3.94-in) gun was stillnot in full production.So the IS tank was fitted with the long122-mm (4.8-in) gun and this becamethe IS-2, which had a number of otherimprovements. The first examplesappeared in 1944 and remained in productionand service until the war ended,It was a massive vehicle, its sizeemphasized by the long gun barrel.The tmret and hull were more thanamply supplied with armour (maximumof 132 mm/5.2 in), but the RedArmy tank crews placed greater importanceon the tank-killing power ofthe 122-mm (4.8-in) gun. This gun had aslow rate of fire and used separateammunition, which further slowed theloading time (the A-19 was originallydesigned as a naval gun), and theammunition was so large that only 28rounds could be carried inside thetank. The secondary armament comprisedone 12.7-mm (0,5-in) and one7.62-mm (0,3-in) machine-gun. Laterversions introduced a modified firecontrolsystem and a revised breech toincrease the speed of loading. Otherchanges were introduced at the sametime, but more were to come.Good as the IS-2 was, it was felt that itcould still be improved. The result wasthe IS-3 which retained the 122-mm(4.8-in) gun but in a drastically revisedwell-rounded turret behind a new andheavily sloped bow shape combinedWhen the Red Army finally reachedBerlin in May 1945 IS-2 tanks were atthe head of the armoured forces; thisexample is seen near the Reichstag.Note the great length of the 122-mm(4.8-in) gun and the well-shapedturret and front glacis plate thatcould deflect armour-piercingprojectiles.with the usual armour. Only a few IS-3swere completed before the war ended,but the type went on to worryWestern military thinkers for manyyears afterwards as it remained themost powerful tank in the world forwell over a decade (it is still employedin some Soviet-influenced nations).SpecificationIS-2Crew: 4Weight: 46 tonnesPowerplant: one V-2-IS (V-2K) V-12diesel developing 447 kW (600 hp)Dimensions: length 9.9 m (32 ft 5.8 in);The IS-2 was in troduced in to servicewith the Red Army during 1944 andwas the most powerful of all theSoviet heavy tanks. 11 mounted a long122-mm (4.8-in) gun in a wellprotectedcast turret, and carried acrew of four. Ammunition stowagewas limited to 28 rounds.width 3.09 m (10 ft 1.6 in); height 2.73 m(8 ft 11.5 in)Performance: maximum road speed37 km/h (23 mph); maximum roadrange 240 km ( 149 miles); fording notknown; gradient 36°; vertical obstacle1.0 m (3 ft 3 in); trench 2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
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