Russian Heavy Tank IS-2 COBI 2578 - World War II 1:28

You know that:

• Development of the IS-2 tank began in 1943 as a response to the durable German Tiger and Panther machines.
• 120 mm thick armour and a 122 mm gun with the new 10-T-17 sight made the tank a dangerous opponent.
• But the first versions of the IS-2 were not without flaws. In fact, the first planned deployment almost never happened. The Guards unit sent to combat positions at Obertin in 1944 never arrived, as all the machines had gearbox failures during the move. The gun's slide brake was not without problems. All the problems were gradually eliminated, and as early as 20 April several tanks joined the battle in the Ivano-Frankivsk area, where they destroyed 41 German tanks in 14 days.
• The designers solved all the technical difficulties very simply. Everything that didn't work was replaced by a solution copied from German tanks.
• The real rival for the IS-2 was the German Königstiger, which could destroy a Soviet tank at long range. Such encounters, however, occurred only rarely, such as in 1945 during the Battle of Budapest or the Battle of the Ohře.
• Very dangerous for IS-2 were German Panzerfaust and Panzerschreck anti-tank small arms with cumulative warhead. To increase protection, Russian tankers installed cages on the turrets made of spring bed frames they captured during the conquest of cities.
• The range of combat deployment was partly limited by the split ammunition, of which only 28 pieces could fit into the tank.
• At the very end of the war, the 1st Czechoslovak Tactical Brigade was also equipped with IS-2 tanks, but did not engage in combat with them again.
• In total, about 3,854 units were produced

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: length 9.8 m (with gun), width 3.44 m , height 2.93 m
• weight 46 000 kg
• armour 20-120 mm + later additional armour
• power unit diesel twelve-cylinder V-2K with 382 kW
• maximum speed 37 km/h
• fuel tank capacity 820 l + possibly 4x external tanks 120 l each
• range 150 km off-road or up to 25 km on paved roads
• main weapon 122 mm D-25T cannon, secondary weapon 2x 7.62 mm DT machine gun and 12.7 mm DŠK anti-aircraft machine gun
• crew of 4

From the memoirs of tank commander Alexei Ivanovich Kuznetsov:

"I remember when we got into a fight with the German Tigers at Sandomierz. We were well hidden in the woods waiting for their arrival. When they appeared on the horizon, we started firing our 122mm guns. It was like throwing rocks into a tin can. Our shells cut through their armor like butter and set their engines on fire. We saw crews jumping out of them and running away. We destroyed about ten of them before they withdrew. It was one of the best days of our service."