The IS-1 of the 3rd Byelorussian Front. Baltic States. 1944. The IS-2 heavy tank of the 82nd Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment. Baltic states. 1944.

In February of 1944 all existing heavy breakthrough tank regiments, which were equipped with KV tanks, were re-equipped according to the new TO&E. Simultaneously, some new units were formed. These units were equipped with the newest IS tanks.

During formation they received "Guards" status (in advance). According to TO&E, these regiments (375 men total) consisted of: four tank companies of 21 tanks (5 tanks per company plus one commander's tank), an SMG infantry company, one antiaircraft battery, a sapper platoon, a medical platoon and a signal platoon.

A feature of the IS tank was that each crew consisted of two officers (lieutenants): a tank commander and a driver. Another two members held sergeant ranks: a loader and a gunner. Unfortunately, not all crewmen had fought on heavy tanks (KVs and Churchills) before. Many tankers didn't have any experience and came from tank schools, sometimes after additional courses.

One of the first units involved in battle was the 13th Guards Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment (TTPP - this is the Soviet abbreviation). By February 15, 1944, that regiment arrived in the region of Fastov - Belaya Tzerkov' with 21 IS-1 tanks. It was ordered to support the 109th Tank Brigade in an assault on Lisyanka village (Ukraine).

This fighting took place during the Korsun-Shevcheskovsk Operation. The 109th Tank Brigade was an element of 16th Tank Corps which was attached to the 2nd Tank Army which fought against German IIIrd Panzer Corps. A commander of the 13th Regiment detached one company of 5 IS-1's and put it in action. At that moment all the tanks of 109th Brigade were knocked out by German Panthers and assault guns camouflaged somewhere in the village.

Soviet tanks approached to 600-700 metres when the Germans opened fire. All the Soviet tanks were knocked out, two of them were burned out. Each of the IS's received up to 7 hits. The next day Lisyanka was encircled and liberated. Russians captured 16 abandoned Panthers, 2 Pz-IV and 2 StuG-40. They were abandoned after running out of fuel.

The IS-2 with a muzzle brake of the "German type". 1944.

On March 15 of 1944, the 15 IS-1's from the 13th TTPP were supporting an attack of 50th Tank Brigade near the Uman'. During that battle, five IS-1 were destroyed by German 88 mm Flaks, three tanks failed due to technical breakdowns, and one tank fell into a river (near Polkovnichie). During that battle a rare incident occurred: the lower frontal armor of an IS-1 was penetrated by a German Pz.B-41 anti-tank rifle.

The first verified engagement between IS-1's and Tigers occurred on the 4th of March, 1944 near the Staro-Konstantinov (Ukraine). During the Proskurovsko-Chernovitsky offensive operation the 1st Guards TTPP (of Colonel N.I.Bulanov) was involved in a battle with a company of Tigers of the 503rd PzAbt. From 1500-1800 metres, one of the IS-1's was destroyed and another two received assorted damage.

IS-2s in the initial position before an offensive. Eastern Prussia. 1945.

In answer, the gun of one of the Tigers was damaged. Another Tiger was heavily hit in the chassis. On March 16 of 1944, several Tigers ambushed a company of IS-1's. Two of the Soviet tanks burned out with their crews. A few times before, on 8 March, a couple of IS-1's were destroyed by a battery of 75 mm PaK 40's from lethally short distance (150-200 metres). The first IS got 8 hits, the second tank - 4 hits.

Analyzing the results of those battles, the GBTU made a conclusion that the armament and protection of the IS-1 didn't correspond to its intended tasks and was inferior to the German heavy tanks. GBTU recommended increased armor protection and rearming the IS-1 with a more powerful weapon.

The IS-2 was much more dangerous to German tanks because the 122 mm D-25T gun had better AP force than the 85 mm D-5T. Further, its fragmentation and high explosive ammunition was also quite effective against armored targets. Like the IS-1, the IS-2s made the baptism of fire during the final stage of liberation of the right-bank Ukraine.

The IS-2 tank in Berlin. 1945.

It is necessary to remind that for the first time the IS-2 saw the action not in the Korsun-Chevchenkovskaya operation, but in the posterior battles: Proskurovo-Tchernigovskaya and Umansko-Botochskaya operations. From two regiments (11th and 72nd Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiments) equipped with these tanks the most successful was the 72nd Regiment, especially in the period from 20 of April to 10 of May 1944.

In that period, the regiment was incorporated to the 1st Tank Guards Army and took part in actions near Obertin (Ivano-Frankovsky region). After 20 days of nonstop fights, loosing only 8 IS-2s, the regimental staff destroyed 41 Tigers and Elephants, 3 ammunition carriers and 10 antitank guns. The most significant information about IS-2 vitality gives a tank damages report of that period:

"The 20 of April, the tank #40247 came under fire of self-propelled gun "Ferdinand" provided from 1500-2000 metres. The tank-crew could fire only one shot because of the faulty firing system. Maneuvering to get out from the fire of self-propelled gun, IS-122 received, without any damage, 5 hits on the frontal plate. Meanwhile another "Ferdinand", without being seen, approached him from the flank to the distance 600-700 metres and perforated with armor-piercing round the right side, near the engine compartment. The crew left the immobilized tank, which burnt suddenly.

The tank #40255 received a direct hit with 88 mm round of "Tiger" in the frontal lower plate from the distance of 1000-1100 metres. Because of that the left fuel tank was pierced and a driver was wounded by an armor fragment. The rest of the crew received light burns. Tank was burnt.

After receiving three shots of the 88 mm Tiger's rounds on the bow from the distance of 1000-1500 metres, the tank #4032 was destroyed by the fire of another Tiger from 400-500 metres. 88 mm armor-piercing round penetrated the sloped armor plate from the right side. First the shell-case powder ignited, then the fuel. The crew left the tank and evacuated the driver in the rear.

After being holed by 88 mm round of "Tiger" from the distance 400 metres on the frontal armor the tank #4033 was towed to the stationary repair station for rebuilding.

Tank #40260 was burned by a 88 mm round of "Tiger" fired in the left side from the flank on the 500 metres range. The round damaged the engine and the tank ignited. The commander and the driver were wounded.

Tank #40244 received a hit by 88 mm armor-piercing round of "Tiger". The hit was provided from the close range of 800-1000 metres in the right side of the hull. The driver died and the diesel fuel from damaged right fuel tank ignited. Tank was evacuated and blown up by sappers.

Tank #40263 took fire after two rounds hit his side.

Tank #40273 was on his own, apart from the regiment and the 30 of April, near Iggisk, received two direct hits: the first in the turret and, immediately after, the second in the side plate of the engine compartment. The crew in the turret died at once, the driver was wounded. The tank was left on the enemy territory. During the combat the tank crew participated in the repulse of the attack of 50 T-IIIs, T-IVs and T-VIs (means Pz-III, Pz-IV, Pz-VI - Valera) which were supported by artillery and aviation.

Tank #40254 was damaged, from the distance of 800-1000 metres, by the fire of "Ferdinand", being in ambush. The first round did not penetrate the turret ring but by the second the engine was put out of order. The crew was evacuated, the tank was burnt out on the battle field.

The tank #40261 received a direct hit into the gun barrel. After the combat the barrel was changed for a new one."

A platoon of the 27th Heavy Breakthrough Tank Regiment entering the liberated Vyborg. June 20, 1944. Clearing the gun after fighting.

Moreover one tank was evacuated and brought for rebuilding and the regimental repair crew repaired other 5 damaged tanks.

From the middle to the end of May 1944, the regiment incorporated to the 18th Army participated in defensive combats against the enemy counterattacks south-east of Stanislav.

From June 1944 to the end of the war, incorporated to 4th Tank Army, the regiment took part in the Lvov-Sandomirs, Nizhne-Silezskaya, Verkhne-Silezskaya, Berlin and Prague offensive operations. For the liberation of Lvov the regiment was honored with the name "Lvovskiy". For the military services during the war the regiment was decorated with the orders of Red Banner, Souvorov 3rd grade, Kutuzov 3rd grade, Bogdan Khmelnitsky 2nd grade and Alexander Nevsky.

Despite the fact that the career of 71st Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, equipped with the IS-2s, was not so remarkable, it deserves a special attention. In August 1944 the regimental staff, together with 6th Guards Tank Corps participated in defeat of King Tiger battalion on the Sandomirs bridgehead.

The best source of what happened is the Report about operations of the 71st Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment from 14.07.44 to 31.08.44.

IS-2's and Tigers engaged only occasionally. In November 1944 there was a battle where several IS-2's were involved in close battle with German tanks of the 503rd PzAbt (near the Budapest, Hungary). A bit larger battle occurred 12 January of 1945 during the Visla-Oder offensive operation.

A column of Koenig Tigers of the 524th PzAbt was involved in close battle with Soviet tanks near Lysov. Both sides suffered heavy losses.

It is important to remark that the Germans weren't able to analyze the IS-2 for quite a long time. That was because Russians owned the battlefields. Such a case happened only in May of 1944 near the Rumanian town of Tigru-Frumos.

Soviet IS-2s in Pomerania. The 1st Byelorussian Front. 1945.

From December 1944, formation of a new Independent Guards Heavy Tank Brigades (OTTPP) was begun. Usually they were based on existing Tank Brigades which were equipped with the T-34/85. First of all, these new groups were formed to overcome well prepared German defenses, and for successful combat with German tank units as well.

According to the TO&E each of the new OTTPP consisted of three heavy tank regiments, one motorised infantry battalion (armed mostly with SMGs), and support units like signal, medical etc. The total strength of an OTTPP was 1665 men, 65 IS-2 tanks, one light SP battery (three SU-76M's), 19 APC's (usually lend-lease M3's) and three armored cars. Totally five OTTPP were formed. Two of them - the 7th and 11th - took part in the Berlin Operation.

From the beginning of 1945 Soviet tanks received shields of various design. These shields intended to protect from HEAT munition, "fausts" for example. Most of these shields protect the turrets only, while hull remained unprotected. That was not so bad, as many people think now, because about 80% of "faust" hits were in the turret side. A hollow-charge round would completely destroy the shield, but leave the main armor unbreached, leaving a small black hole in it. Soviet tankers called such holes "the kiss of the witch".

A tank commander firing from the DShK machine-gun. Danzig. Spring 1945.

It was very dangerous to fight with open hatches (and prohibited, by the way) because enemy infantry could throw a grenade into a tank. Thus, all crews received an order to close hatches but don't lock them. As a result the losses crew were reduced.

For better performance in street fighting, Russians used a special formation called "elochka" (a fir-tree). A tank platoon (4 tanks) was divided onto two pairs. The first pair moving on both sides of a street (the first tank on the left side, the second - on the right) and destroy targets. This pair is covered by the second pair which moved towards them and protect them by additional gunfire.

The IS-2 on the Berlin highway. Spring 1945.

Each tank company was supported by one infantry platoon. They protected their tanks from "faustniks". Additionally, special assault troops were formed. They consisted of one SMG platoon supported by a gun, usually 76 mm regimental or divisional gun. Michael Badigin mentioned those troops in his memoirs.

DShK heavy machine-guns were very useful against enemy infantry. Unfortunately, they caught on tram-wires, so some crews dismounted these MGs before entering the cities.

The first street fighting in Berlin. April 1945.

Besides the Red Army, the IS-2 served in the Polish Army (Voisko Polskoe) - there were 71 tanks in the 4th and 5th Heavy Tank Regiments. During battles in Pomerania the 4th Heavy Tank Regiment destroyed 31 enemy tanks but lost only 14 tanks.

Both regiments took part in the battle for Berlin. Poles planned to form another two regiments - 6th and 7th - but the war was over, so that plan was abandoned. At the end of the war, the Poles had 26 IS-2 heavy tanks, they returned 21 tanks to the Red Army. The remaining 5 tanks served in the Polish 7th Tank Regiment.

In the spring of 1945, just before the liberation of Prague, the Czech Army received several IS-2's.

The street fighting. Berlin. April 1945.

In the beginning of the 1950's, several IS-2 heavy tanks were sent to China. According to some documents, during the Korean war, Chinese volunteers used them against Americans. Unfortunately that is an unverified fact. American intelligence spotted at least four Chinese indepentent tank regiments. Each regiment consisted of four companies of T-34-85's and one company of IS-2's (five tanks).

The IS-2 crossing a river. The 3rd company of 4th Polish Heavy Tank Regiment. Notice one roadwheel is absent. April 1945.

During the war in Indo-China, French forces met with IS-2's which had been sent from China to Vietnam. A single ex-German Panther was sent to Vietnam for trials and to counter the IS-2 tanks, but it got mired in the jungle.

In the early 1960's, Cuba received two regiments of IS-2's. By some western sources these tanks are still serving in the coastal defense system as pillboxes.

At the same time, some IS-2's were sent to North Korea. Two Korean tank divisions had one heavy tank regiment each.

The column of IS-2 tanks. The 1st Czech Tank Brigade. April 1945.

In the Soviet Army, the IS-2M served for a very long time. They survived the later IS-3 and IS-4. It was supposed, that they would be replaced with the T-10, but that did not happen. In the 1970's, they were used in the Far East fortified sectors as pillboxes.

The last time the IS-2M tank was used was in 1982 in the Odessa Military District during maneuvers. However, the official order to remove the IS-2 from service was only issued in 1995! I doubt that an unsuccessful tank could serve for such a long time! All German tanks and projects were abandoned much earlier, it is important to keep in mind during the absurd (but still are very popular) "best tank of..." debates.