IS-2 obr. 1944 is a Soviet Tank unit in Steel Division II.
Background[ | ]
An evolution of the Kliment Voroshilov tank, the Iosif Stalin series of tanks was born at the SKB-2 design bureau at the Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant. The capture of a Tiger tank in early 1943 showed the need for a tank capable of fighting Germany's big cat on even footing. The SKB-2 bureau devised the KV-85, a KV-1 with an 85mm tank gun, to bolster the firepower of Soviet tank units in the summer of 1943 while they worked on a new design.
The first generation IS tank, IS-85 was born out of a cancelled KV-13 prototype, featuring a superior armor layout, better reliability, and a large, three-man turret accommodating the 85mm gun. Pressed into service in October 1943, production lasted until January 1944. By then, the T-34 armed with the same gun was commonplace, and Soviet engineers focused on upgunning the existing tank. The new IS-122 entered service in January 1944, armed with a 122mm gun that could destroy any German tank from well outside their firing range.
The end result was a tank lighter than the Tiger and almost equal to the Panther, at 46 tons, with thicker armor than either of the big cats, and a decisive advantage in firepower. It was also a potent tool for breakthroughs, as its 122mm gun was incredibly effective against fortifications and soft targets. A total of 3 854 IS tanks were manufactured before production terminated in 1945.
The 1944 variant introduced late in the year added a number of changes to the design, most notably a simplified, single cast front glacis with an incredible protection of 120mm steel angled at 60 degrees. The A-19 gun was replaced with the D-25T model, improving the rate of fire and fire control.
Strategy[ | ]
- The IS-2 is a monstrosity that gives the Tiger II a run for its money. Costing 35 points less, it has a gun that's slightly weaker and armor that's slightly thinner than that on the Tiger, but makes up for it with availability and sheer resilience at pretty much any range. It eats lesser tanks for breakfast and unlike the Tiger II, losing one doesn't drastically change the battle: You'll usually always have a backup available. The only real weakness of the IS-2 is its speed. It is very vulnerable to bombers, particularly ones with AP cluster bombs (hi, Ju 87), and doesn't enjoy artillery barrages. The best way to deal with one is to flank it or panic it with artillery, then close in for the kill or surrender.