Name This...(48)

[brady]

???

 

[chunder']

Looks like an IS-2

[pdog_109]

I say its a tank!
The body looks like that of a T-34

[ra]

KV-85?

[Sorrow[S=A]]

Wow...

The body is definitly IS Josef Stalin.
The block to the sides and 2 barrells on the side identifies this.

But the gun boggles me.
Is this an IS-2 early production?
That is definitly not an IS-1, the turret would have a second bump with view ports in it. HOWEVER, the gun seems to be missing the muzzle brake.

Hmm, anyone else have a better idea?

[Sorrow[S=A]]

DOH

Post '43 JS-1 tank.

Didn't realize how many bloody turrets they made for this :/  Give-away was the rear doors.

[brady]

IS-1, it is

[Widewing]

Originally posted by brady:
IS-1, it is  

Brady, I'm going to have to disagree with your source on this. The tank seen in the photo is armed with an 85mm or 100mm gun.

Indeed, I am fairly certain that this is either the IS-85 or IS-100, which were manufactured in relatively small numbers prior to being upgraded with the 122mm gun, where they began to be known as the IS-1. Another point: all tank mounted 122mm guns were fitted with a muzzle break. As you can see, this tank is not so equipped.

My regards,

Widewing

[brady]

My source referes to this tank as a 85mm equiped IS-1.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by brady:
My source referes to this tank as a 85mm equiped IS-1.

Which makes it an IS-85.  

Essentially, the IS-85 mounts the KV-85 turret on an improved KV chassis. This chassis featured lowered sprockets and return rollers (idlers). This allowed the hull to overhang the tracks. Other improvements included better sloping of the armor. With a wider hull, a bigger turret could be fitted, allowing for a larger gun and better protection. The IS-1 would evolve into the later IS-2, IS-3 and the impressive T-10 of the 1950s.

My regards,
Widewing

[Sorrow[S=A]]

Widewing-

Everything I own notes the IS-1 Josef Stalin tank as being the 85 and 100 mm equipped versions. The IS-1 had 3 different turrets and 2 major body redisigns as well. The 122mm gun equipped IS would be the IS-2. It is the primary difference between the two as the IS-2 has no difference between the IS-1 post '43 except for armament and front armor slope design.

[GRUNHERZ]

Widewing this is clearly an IS hull with 85mm gun.

The hull in the picture is in no way a KV1/2 derived hull, it is clearly 100% early form IS hull with the more vertical frontal glacis and direct viewport.

The only improved/changed KV1/2 hulls, slight applique armor and curved/straight rear plate changes notwithstanding) were of the KV1S which was substantially revised lighter hull with less armor thickness, new roadwheels, and a revised overall apprearence. It still looks nothing like an IS series hull, as we see in the picture.
So this is not an "improved KV(1/2) chassis".


However the debate whether this is an IS85 or IS1 is almost entirely academic. The only real difference between the two is in designation, mantlet and the type of 85mm gun carried.

The IS85 is derived from the Obiekt237 chassis which was developed from a failed KV13 medium tank design (not related to KV1/2 design)  In essence the IS85 designation is just what the early production series  IS1 was intially called.

Anyway none or very few of the 85mm IS tanks saw service as most were rebuilt to IS2 standard with 122mm gun as the T34 now mounted an 85mm weapon.

[GRUNHERZ]

Sorrow:

The early 1944 IS2 had the same "stepped" front hull design as the IS1, it was only later in the IS2 production that the more sloped single faced glacis without the wieport hatch was introduced in the IS2m.

[Sorrow[S=A]]

I see Grun, the front armor I knew changed slightly in IS-2. Normally I just look for the Muzzle brake to identify the two as IIRC the front armor changes would probably require close inspection to notice.