no doubt there butcher by the way I had no idea the early IS-2 had a low volecity 122mm gun ty for info man
IS-2M operated like the Tiger tank, in small combat groups that roamed the battlefield to sectors that were going to attack and needed something to smash the defenses.
Basically the Soviets adopted tactics to pick the weakest spot in the defensive line and attack, causing a breakthrough and circle around the positions, instead of facing tanks head on they simply faced Pazerfaust and Pak 40 anti-tank guns.
There were so few tiger/Panthers that the IS-2 was simply not needed to face tanks, rather the defensive positions posed the biggest problems at the time - they figure they could force a breakthrough in the line - then cram as many tanks and infantry through it.
From all the debates I've seen I've come to this conclusion:
IS-2 was NOT a tank destroyer, or a main battle tank, it was more of a support tank if anything like the StuG line of tanks the Germans had - it could of very easily mounted the 100mm gun and been a tank killer, rather the Russians needed a Breakthrough tank more importantly.
Panthers and Tigers are the better tank killers, however IS-2 simply played a different role, as far as Tiger II - it simply cannot be compared, the IS-2 weighed more then the Panther and far less then the Tiger - let alone Tiger II.
A good book to find is called Osprey - IS-2 Heavy Tank 1944-73
Its out on the internet in PDF form, was lucky to find it for a $1 on amazon
