IS-2
For the Soviet Premium counterpart of this tank, see IS-2 (Soviet Premium Tank)
IS-2
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[Client Values; Actual values in
1,450,000  Cost |
| 1230296 HP Hit Points |
| 45.75/46.122.66/49 t Weight Limit |
- Commander (Radio Operator)
- Gunner
- Driver
- Loader
| 520580 hp Engine Power |
| 37/14 km/h Speed Limit |
| 3638 deg/s Traverse |
| 11.3725.6 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
| NoNo Pivot |
| // mm Hull Armor |
| 100/90/90100/90/90 mm Turret Armor |
AP/APCR/HE
AP/HEAT/HE Shells |
252/4400/252
1025/5600/608 Shell Cost |
| 250/250/330390/390/530 HP Damage |
| 175/235/50175/250/61 mm Penetration |
|
6.45 r/m ▲
4.88 r/m Standard Gun ▲ Rate of Fire Standard Gun |
|
1612.5 ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲
1903.2 Standard Gun ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲ Damage Per Minute Standard Gun |
|
0.42 m ▲
0.46 m With 50% Crew: 0.52 m ▲ Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.57 m |
| 2.9 s 3.4 s Aim time |
| 2828 deg/s Turret Traverse |
| 360° Gun Arc |
| -6°/+20°-5°/+20° Elevation Arc |
| 3628 rounds Ammo Capacity |
| 1512 % Chance of Fire |
| 350 m 350 m View Range |
| 325 m 600 m Signal Range |
Additional Statistics
(Top Configuration)
Camouflage
- Stationary: 8%
- When Moving: 4%
- When Firing: 1.7%
Terrain Resistance
- On Hard Ground: 0.96
- On Medium Ground: 1.06
- On Soft Ground: 2.11
Dispersion Change Values
- Turret Contribution
- Rotation: 0.15
- Shot Recoil: 3.84
- Suspension Contribution
- Acceleration: 0.22
- Turning: 0.22
With 100% Crew
VII
1450000
The IS-2 is a Chinese tier 7 heavy tank.
Soviet IS-2 tanks were exported to China in the early 1950s and were used during the Korean War from 1950 through 1953. According to U.S. reconnaissance data, at least four Chinese tank companies deployed in Korea had the IS-2 tank, with five tanks in each company. The IS-2 remained in Chinese service until the late 1950s. Production was discontinued due to a shortage of spare parts and the launch of the Type 59 project. A few IS-2 tanks were exported to Vietnam, where they fought in the final stage of the Indochina War of 1946–1954.
The IS-2 leads to the 110.
Modules / Available Equipment and Consumables
Modules
Guns
| Tier | Gun | Penetration (mm) |
Damage (HP) |
Rate of fire (rounds/minute) |
Dispersion (m/100m) |
Aiming time (s) |
Weight (kg) |
Price (  )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VII | 100 mm 44-100JT | 175/235/50 | 250/250/330 | 6.45 | 0.42 | 2.9 | 2257 | 79000 | |
| VIII | 122 mm 37-122JT | 175/250/61 | 390/390/530 | 4.29 | 0.48 | 3.4 | 2440 | 120000 | |
| VIII | 122 mm D-25T | 175/250/61 | 390/390/530 | 4.88 | 0.46 | 3.4 | 2590 | 135000 |
Engines
| Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIII | 12150L | 520 | 12 | 750 | 48000 | |
| IX | 12150LS | 580 | 12 | 750 | 99500 | |
| VII | V-2-10 | 520 | 15 | 750 | 36000 |
Suspensions
| Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VI | IS-2 early | 46.1 | 36 | B/2 | 11500 | 12990 | |
| VII | IS-2 late | 49 | 38 | B/2 | 11500 | 19400 |
Radios
| Tier | Radio | Signal Range (m) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IX | A-220 | 600 | 40 | 38000 | |
| IV | 9R | 325 | 80 | 1980 | |
| VIII | 9RM | 525 | 100 | 24240 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Good penetration on all guns, up to 250mm on premium rounds, that remains capable in high-tier matches
- High mobility and low terrain resistance for a heavy tank
- Sloped frontal armor, 140mm-equivalent. No shot trap into bottom of turret like on the IS
- Can upgrade its turret for 50 more hitpoints than the Soviet IS; 1280 vs. 1230
Cons:
- Poor gun handling in all terms of accuracy (at medium to long range), gun dispersion, and longer aim times compared to the IS
- Average to low-end health for its tier. Armor can be penned by most modern Tier 6 tanks (as of 2023).
- Poor gun depression and high cupola; results in difficulty cresting and using cover
- Horrible turret traverse makes quick action impossible
- Prone to module and/or crew damage due to tight internal placement.
- Difficult to cover all weakspots, including protruding fuel tanks that are often set on fire
Performance
The IS-2 excels in flat urban maps as it can carry a formidable 122mm gun with good rate of fire. However, it will generally be much less effective on open-field maps due to its overall gun handling, gun depression, and accuracy at a distance.
The 100mm is reasonably capable of penetration. Unfortunately, the IS-2 100mm gun compares unfavourably to the Soviet IS in terms of rate of fire and poor gun handling. If you make a habit of running food, the 100mm can hit out at range aided by a Rotation Mechanism for stabilization and snapshots, but is otherwise unlikely to be that helpful. Because of the dispersion on the move, it becomes a precarious balance of stopping to aim, potentially in a bad position, or taking the quick shot and running away. In contrast to that, when fighting against Heavy Tanks, upgrading to one of the 122mm guns is likely to reduce exposure because its alpha damage allows the tank to only take good trades. When playing peek-a-boom with brawlers, this is the advantage that will help the tank survive while still dealing out damage. Although with a 50% longer reload time, it will become imperative to aim every shot to ensure that as few as possible are misses (or accidental kills on earthworms, instead of enemy armored vehicles). When brawling, Improved Aiming becomes a useful piece of equipment for a mix of more consistent dispersion and providing max aim for enemy weakspots, which ensures all bases are covered.
Apart from the guns, the IS and the IS-2 share a lot of other characteristics and the IS-2 is considered by many an upgraded version that plays similarly. Some comparison points are that the IS-2 has tweaked frontal armor, slightly worse gun depression, and can be angled similarly to German heavies. When equipped with a Turbocharger the IS-2 is very quick and nimble for a heavy. In-game statistics imply no difference between the stock turret and the late model turret and sadly both versions lacks armor compared to the T-34-1. However, the second turret does add an additional 50 HP, bringing the overall HP from 1,230 to 1,280.
As crew training becomes more essential around Tier 7, the crew of 4 will smooth the process with the Commander doubling as Radio Operator. Repairs are of course essential to avoid perma-track situations. BiA is another boost to effectiveness. Smooth Ride is also ideal to help with dispersion, but a smaller micro increase and of lower value than the first two perks and skills.
Early Research
- The 12150L Engine and 9RM Radio carry over from the Type 58. Mount them immediately.
- First, research the 122 mm 37-122JT Gun. Mount it if you can deal with its lower accuracy. The 100mm gun has equal penetration to these other guns and higher accuracy, but is lacking in alpha damage.
- If you want more speed, research research the IS-2 late suspension for reduced ground resistance and movement dispersion, and the 12150LS Engine.
- If you would prefer more firepower, follow it by the 122 mm D-25T Gun.
- Once you have researched all of these modules, you can research the IS-2 late Turret, but its only effect is for more health.
- Alternatively, you can simply skip the turret as it is not needed to unlock the 110.
Suggested Equipment
Modified ConfigurationImproved HardeningImproved Aiming
Gallery
Historical Info
The Iosif Stalin tank was a series of heavy tanks developed as a successor to the KV-series by the Soviet Union during World War II.The tanks were based off of the KV tanks. The heavy tank was designed with thick armour to counter the German 88 mm guns, and carried a main gun that was capable of defeating the German Tiger and Panther tanks.At first, it was to be armed with a 85mm cannon, later, a 100 mm, and finally a 122mm. It was mainly a breakthrough tank, firing a heavy high-explosive shell that was useful against entrenchments and bunkers. It could easily destroy the Tiger I's and Panthers. The IS-2 was put into service in April 1944, and was first used as a spearhead in the Battle of Berlin by the Red Army in the final stage of the war.
Armament
Two candidate weapons were the A-19 122 mm gun and the BS-3 100 mm gun. The BS-3 had superior armour penetration (185 mm compared to 160 mm), but a less useful high explosive round. Also, the BS-3 was a relatively new weapon in short supply, while there was excess production capacity for the A-19 and its ammunition. Compared to the older 76.2 mm tank gun, the A-19 had very good armour penetration, similar to that of the effective 75 mm high velocity gun mounted on the German Panther, and delivered 3.5 times the kinetic energy of the older F-34. After testing both BS-3 and A-19 guns, the latter was selected as the main armament of the new tank, primarily because of its ready availability and the effect of its large high-explosive shell when attacking German fortifications. The A-19 used a separate shell and powder charge, resulting in a lower rate of fire and reduced ammunition capacity, both serious disadvantages in tank-to-tank engagements. The gun was very powerful, and while its 122 mm armour-piercing shell had a lower muzzle velocity than similar late-issue German 75 mm and 88 mm guns, Soviet proving-ground tests established that the A-19 could penetrate the front armour of the German Panther tank, and it was therefore considered adequate in the anti-tank role.
German Army data on the penetration ranges of the 122 mm A-19 gun against the Panther tank showed it to be much less effective when the Panther stood at a side angle of 30 degrees to the incoming round: the A-19 gun was unable to penetrate the glacis plate of the Panther at any distance, and could only penetrate the bottom front plate of the hull at 100 m. It was the large HE shell the gun fired which was its main asset, proving highly useful and destructive in the anti-personnel role. The size of its gun continued to plague the IS-2, and the two-piece ammunition was difficult to handle and slow to reload (the rate of fire was only about two rounds per minute). Another limitation imposed by the size of its ammunition was the payload: only 28 rounds could be carried inside the tank.
Production
The IS-122 prototype replaced the IS-85, and began mass production as the IS-2. The 85 mm guns could be reserved for the new T-34-85 medium tank, and some of the IS-1s built were rearmed before leaving the factory, and issued as IS-2s. The main production model was the IS-2, with the powerful A-19. It was slightly lighter and faster than the heaviest KV model 1942 tank, with thicker front armour and a much-improved turret design. The tank could carry thicker armour than the KV series, while remaining lighter, due to the better layout of the armour envelope. The KV's armour was less well-shaped and featured heavy armour even on the rear, while the IS series concentrated its armour at the front. The IS-2 weighed about the same as a German Panther and was lighter than the German heavy Tiger tank series, and was slightly lower than either. Western observers tended to criticize Soviet tanks for their lack of finish and crude construction. The Soviets responded that it was warranted considering the need for wartime expediency and the typically short battlefield life of their tanks.
Early IS-2s can be identified by the 'stepped' front hull casting with its small, opening driver's visor. The early tanks lacked gun tube travel locks or antiaircraft machine guns, and had narrow mantlets. Later improved IS-2s (model 1944) had a faster-loading version of the gun, the D25-T with a double-baffle muzzle brake and better fire-control. It also featured a simpler hull front without a 'step' in it (using a flat, sloping glacis armour plate). Some sources called it IS-2m, but it is distinct from the official Soviet designation IS-2M for a 1950s modernization. Other minor upgrades included the addition of a travel lock on the hull rear, wider mantlet, and, on very late models, an antiaircraft machine gun. In the mid-1950s, the remaining IS-2 tanks (mostly model 1944 variants) were upgraded to keep them battle-worthy, producing the IS-2M, which introduced fittings such as external fuel tanks on the rear hull (the basic IS-2 had these only on the hull sides), stowage bins on both sides of the hull, and protective skirting along the top edges of the tracks.
Operational history
The IS-2 tank first saw combat in early 1944. IS-2s were assigned to separate heavy tank regiments, normally of 21 tanks each. These regiments were used to reinforce the most important attack sectors during major offensive operations. Tactically, they were employed as breakthrough tanks. Their role was to support infantry in the assault, using their large guns to destroy bunkers, buildings, dug-in crew-served weapons, and other 'soft' targets. They were also capable of taking on any German AFVs if required. Once a breakthrough was achieved, lighter, more mobile T-34s would take over the exploitation.
By the 1950s the emergence of the main battle tank concept—combining medium-tank mobility with the firepower and later armour of the heavy tank—had rendered heavy tanks obsolete in Soviet operational doctrine. In the late 1960s the remaining Soviet heavy tanks were transferred to Red Army reserve service and storage. The IS-2 Model 1944 remained in active service much longer in the armies of Cuba, China and North Korea. A regiment of Chinese IS-2s was available for use in the Korean War, but saw no service there. In response to border disputes between the Soviet Union and China, some Soviet IS-3s were dug in as fixed pillboxes along the Soviet-Chinese border.
Historical Gallery
| Light Tanks | IIVickers Mk. E Type B • IIIType 2597 Chi-Ha • IVM5A1 Stuart • VI59-16 • VIType 64 • VIIType 62 • VIIWZ-131 • VIIIWZ-132 • VIIIM41D • IXWZ-132A • XWZ-132-1 |
| Medium Tanks | VType T-34 • VIType 58 • VIIT-34-1 • VIIIType 59 • VIIIT-34-2 • VIIIT-34-3 • VIII59-Patton • VIII122 TM • VIIIType 59 G • IXWZ-120 • X121 • X121B |
| Heavy Tanks | VIIIS-2 • VIIIWZ-111 • VIIIWZ-111 Alpine Tiger • VIII110 • VIII112 • IXWZ-111 model 1-4 • IXWZ-114 • X113 • X113 Beijing Opera • XWZ-111 model 5A • XWZ-111 Qilin |
| Tank Destroyers | IIT-26G FT • IIIM3G FT • IVSU-76G FT • V60G FT • VIWZ-131G FT • VIIT-34-2G FT • VIIIWZ-111-1G FT • VIIIWZ-120-1G FT • IXWZ-111G FT • IXWZ-120G FT • XWZ-113G FT • X114 SP2 |
| Self-Propelled Artillery |
