KV-1S
KV-1S
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[Client Values; Actual values in
910,000  Cost |
| 1050220 HP Hit Points |
| 43.08/45.421.72/48.2 t Weight Limit |
- Commander
- Gunner
- Radio Operator
- Driver
- Loader
| 500600 hp Engine Power |
| 43/14 km/h Speed Limit |
| 3538 deg/s Traverse |
| 11.6127.62 hp/t Power/Wt Ratio |
| NoNo Pivot |
| // mm Hull Armor |
| 82/75/7582/82/82 mm Turret Armor |
AP/APCR/HE
AP/APCR/HE Shells |
56/2400/56
109/2800/98 Shell Cost |
| 110/110/156160/160/280 HP Damage |
| 86/102/38150/196/43 mm Penetration |
|
14.29 r/m ▲
13.04 r/m Standard Gun ▲ Rate of Fire Standard Gun |
|
1571.9 ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲
2086.4 Standard Gun ▲
Standard Gun
▼
Standard Gun
▲ Damage Per Minute Standard Gun |
|
0.38 m ▲
0.38 m With 50% Crew: 0.471 m ▲ Accuracy With 50% Crew: 0.471 m |
| 2.3 s 2.1 s Aim time |
| 2831 deg/s Turret Traverse |
| 360° Gun Arc |
| -5°/+25°-5°/+15° Elevation Arc |
| 13570 rounds Ammo Capacity |
| 1515 % Chance of Fire |
| 320 m 340 m View Range |
| 325 m 440 m Signal Range |
VI
910000
The KV-1S is a Soviet tier 6 heavy tank.
A further modification of the KV-1 heavy tank series developed in the summer of 1942. It passed into Red Army service on August 20, 1942. Compared to its predecessors, KV-1S had several design features which allowed for the tank’s weight to be reduced to 42.3 tons. Also, the KV-1S had increased top speed, maneuverability, and durability. However, the 76-mm ZIS-5 gun remained. This, coupled with reduced and inefficient armoring, made the new vehicle basically equal to the T-34 in terms of battle performance. A total of 1,083 vehicles of this modification were manufactured. This tank was widely used on all fronts of the Great Patriotic War.
The KV-1S leads to the IS.
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 (  )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | 76 mm ZiS-5 | 86/102/38 | 110/110/156 | 15 | 0.38 | 2.3 | 1155 | 33400 | |
| V | 122 mm Howitzer S-41 | 61/150/38 | 450/370/156 | 5.45 | 0.48 | 2.9 | 1600 | 45200 | |
| VI | 85 mm S-31M | 150/196/43 | 160/160/280 | 13.04 | 0.38 | 2.1 | 1500 | 49200 |
Engines
| Tier | Engine | Engine Power (hp) |
Chance of Fire on Impact (%) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VII | V-2IS | 600 | 15 | 750 | 36000 | |
| VI | V-2K | 500 | 15 | 750 | 23050 |
Suspensions
| Tier | Suspension | Load Limit (т) |
Traverse Speed (gr/sec) |
Rmin | Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | KV-1S mod. 1942 | 45.4 | 35 | B/2 | 11500 | 9000 | |
| VI | KV-1S mod. 1943 | 48.2 | 38 | B/2 | 11500 | 16390 |
Radios
| Tier | Radio | Signal Range (m) |
Weight (kg) |
Price ( )
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 9R | 325 | 80 | 1980 | |
| V | 10R | 360 | 100 | 3660 | |
| VII | 10RK | 440 | 100 | 18600 |
Compatible Equipment
Compatible Consumables
Player Opinion
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Most mobile of the tier 5 heavies, similar to a medium
- Good frontal mantlet armour, and can easily take advantage of sidescraping and angling
- 122mm S-41 Howitzer Has excellent one-shot capabilities using High-Explosive rounds, and very capable HEAT rounds with 140mm
- 85mm S-31 has a better aim time than the KV-1's 85mm F-30 at the expense of 1 point of penetration
- Excellent at the "peek-a-boom" tactic
Cons:
- All guns have poor accuracy, especially the 122mm S-41 Howitzer with its slow reload.
- Slight weaker armor than original KV-1
- Grind to engine upgrade is somewhat painful.
- Weakspots are littering
- Terrible gun depression, making it impossible for hull down.
Performance
Although not as well armored as the KV-1, the KV-1S trades armor for speed and maneuverability, comparable, or even superior to some medium tanks. While its heavier brother is much friendlier to new players or to those who prefer slower tanks, the KV-1S allows player who can master it to be much more flexible in battle.
When equipped with the 85mm S-31 gun, the KV-1S is one of the most versatile tanks of its tier. An acceptable rate of fire combined with the ability to flank heavier targets makes for a vehicle that can go up against higher tier enemies with much more of a chance to succeed. The loss of 1mm of penetration compared to the KV-1's 85mm F-30 gun does not hurt the overall performance, in fact, the decrease in aim time it gains as compensation for the loss makes this a very good weapon for flanking.
When armed with the 122mm Howitzer S-41, the KV-1S is and absolutely deadly surprise to any player who finds one right behind them. Though howitzers have low penetration and slow shell travel, both of these negative attributes do not apply to a vehicle that is fast enough to get around to the lightly armored rear of a vehicle. In a way, the S-41 is just as versatile as the 85mm S-31 gun. Lightly armored Tank Destroyers are easy prey, and while the howitzer will not reliably damage an enemy vehicle with armor, it will disable crew members, damage modules, and chip away at an enemy's hit points should the High Explosive shell not penetrate. When firing HEAT ammunition, this tank can dish out huge amounts of damage even against heavy tank armor. If MM lands you in a high tier game, hanging back a bit could be more wise, and the surprisingly decent 340m view range of tier 5 heavies helps this.
Overall, the KV-1S is both a deadly combat tank and a support tank when it needs to be. It can hunt weaker enemies, and harass stronger enemies.
Early Research
It is highly advisable to make your way to the 85 mm S-31 firstly, to give this tank the ability to fight with greater ease. Go from there.
Suggested Equipment
Gallery
Historical Info
In response to criticisms, the lighter KV-1S was released, with thinner armour and a smaller, lower turret in order to reclaim some speed. Importantly, the KV-1S had a commander's cupola with all-around vision blocks. It also had a sophisticated planetary transmission that significantly increased reliability, and allowed use of more efficient regenerative geared steering, unlike the solely clutch and brake steering systems used the Panzer III, IV and T-34. Its reduced weight allowed it to achieve a top speed of 43.3 km/h. Over 1,300 were built before production ended in August 1943. Although KV-1S was the best of the mass-produced KV tanks, overcoming its predecessors problems, more modern tanks were already in sight. Up-arming the regular turret of the KV-1S with an 85mm S-31 resulted in the KV-1S-85 or KV-85G. This was rejected as it came with the unacceptable loss of a dedicated commander, reducing the turret crew to two. However, the thinning-out of the armor called into question why the tank was being produced at all, when the T-34 could seemingly do everything the KV could do and much more cheaply. The Soviet heavy tank program was close to cancellation in mid-1943.
The appearance of the German Panther tank in the summer of 1943 convinced the Red Army to make a serious upgrade of its tank force for the first time since 1941. Soviet tanks needed bigger guns to take on the growing numbers of Panthers and the few Tigers.
A stopgap upgrade to the KV series was the short-lived KV-85 or Objekt 239. This was a KV-1S with the new turret from the Object 237(IS-85) still in development, mounting the same 85 mm D-5T gun as the SU-85 and early versions of the T-34-85. The 85 mm proved capable of penetrating the Tiger I from 1000 m and the demand for it slowed production of the KV-85 tremendously (only 148 were built in the end). The KV-85 appeared on the front beginning in September 1943 and its production ended by December 1943. Soviet industry was therefore able to produce a heavy tank as well armed as the Tiger I before the end of 1943. In spite of being an excellent opponent to the Tigers and Panthers, the KV-85 was built in too few a number to influence the war. The complete Object 237 was accepted into service as the IS-85 and was produced in the autumn and winter of 1943-44; they were sent to the front as of October 1943 and production of the IS-85/IS-1 was stopped by the spring of 1944 once the IS-122/IS-2 entered full-scale production.
- KV-1S – Lightened and improved KV-1 with higher speed, but thinner armour. A new, smaller, cast turret and redesigned rear hull with a new planetary transmission were used. 1370 were built.
- KV-85G - KV-1S with 85mm S-31 cannon. Turret and mantlet remained from conventional KV-1S. This variant was a competitor of KV-85 during proving. It lost the competition and was not taken in service.
- KV-122 - A KV-1S with short 122mm S-41 howitzer. One prototype was made in 1943. Not taken in service.
