211 replies to this topic

[Charcharo]

Hello!
Welcome to the IS, a tier 7 heavy tank designed to help bust open bunkers and offer a solution to the legendary Tiger and Panther. Most of you have probably used a stock KV3/KV-1s/KV-13 mean… not something pretty. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how good this tank is, even without upgrades.

Next tank: IS-3
http://forum.worldof...-3/#entry664046

Stock tank specs:

Upgrade tree:


Overview:
This tank is actually quite good, even stock. When fully upgraded, it’s a great tier 7 tank. Of course,  don’t think you can start fighting tier 8,9 and 10 tanks thinking you can win. Without premium, this tank can actually make a little bit of money, but do know you will earn experience faster than money. This machine exceeds in ramming, (thanks to the speed)but DON’T try to ram tanks that weigh more/just as much as you (KV-3, KV etc).
Price: 1 424 000
Camouflage: pretty good

Pros:
-Quite mobile
-Great single-shot damage
-A good bully tank
-Great in stock configuraion
Cons:
-Not that accurate
-Unlike Tiger or T29, it doesnt have that good of a penentration, which makes it much less usefull when face against tier 8+tanks

Designation:
1. Warrior 2. Steel Wall 3. Reaper


Crew:
1. Commander (also a radioman)
2. Gunner                      
3. Driver                      
4. Loader                      

I suggest you use crew from KV-3/KV-1S. Playing a tank with a 50% crew and no skills is just annoying!

I suggest you specialize your crew this way:
1. Repair
2. Firefighting
3. Camouflage

IS is prone to fires and module damage. Camouflage is good enough though.

Modules
Armor scheme currently in use:

Spoiler

http://bronetehnika....is2/is2_198.gif

Hull:
The hull is very well armored for a tier 7 tank. 120mm with a good slope and a small weak-spot (smaller than KV3, that’s why I think IS has more armor) makes this tank a real bully. Most tier 5 tanks have to either aim very carefully or flank you in order to deal damage. Do know, that fully upgraded Tigers and T-29s almost never bounce on your armor.

Suspension:
1. IS-1(stock) / Max capacity 47.5 / Swing speed 32 deg / sec.
2. IS-2M / Max capacity 48.4 / Swing speed 35 ° / sec.

This time, you don’t need to upgrade this right away. You can even save it for last.

Engine:
1. B-2IS (stock) / 600 hp / 15% chance of fire.
2. B-2-54IS / 700 hp / 10% probability of fire

You start with a pretty good engine. The stock engine give you a power to weight ratio of  13.37 (coincidence ). That’s more than enough to feel pretty maneuverable.  Fully upgrade with the best engine, you get 15.14. That’s enough to fool you into thinking you are a medium tank.
I recommend you get the engine after the turret and gun.

Radio:
The stock radio has 600 metres of radio range. That’s not too bad, but try to get the better one with 700. As always, upgrade radio last.

Turret:
1. IS-85 (stock)
Armor 100/90/90
Rotation speed 43 ° / sec.
View range of 380 meters.
2. IS-122
Armor 100/90/90
Rotation speed 32 deg / sec.
View range of 400 meters.
The only real difference between the stock and better turret is the fact that the upgraded one can mount bigger guns, weighs a little more, has better view-range and has a slower turn-rate (still good though) +100 more HP. There are no differences armor-wise and the only visual difference is the  star’s location on the turret.

Guns:
I REALLY hope you researched the D10T and/or the D2-5T on the KV3 and KV-1s. If not, then you are usimg the first 85mm gun… I truly feel sorry for you.
85 guns:
These are just not good on this tank. Ignore even the better 85mm, you don’t need it. If you have to use the starting gun… try to find small targets and fight them. Either that or try to support other tanks with HE rounds or well aimed AP rounds. It might just work out for you.

100 mm D-10T: (AKA IDIOT gun)

Finally! A decent gun. This gun combines average penetration, damage and accuracy, turning it into a good all-round gun. As an added bonus its shells are cheap.

122mm guns:
Don’t use the D2-5T. Its RoF is just not worth it. Research the good 122mm gun, D-25T.

Now you have excellent damage and can truly start acting like a heavy. Despite this,  even such a beast of a gun has some drawbacks. Its very expensive to use (1k credits for a shot…) and the accuracy and aim time are… bad. Do keep in mind, that despite the penetrations being the same on paper. The 122mm has an added bonus against sloped armor thanks to its big calibre. With this gun, IS-1 becomes an IS-2.

Proposed upgrade path:
1. 100mm D10T (if you dont have it)
2. Best turret
3. 122mm D-25T
4. Suspesnion
5. Engine
6. Radio

OR after 3. start grinding IS-3.

Comparison with its peers:
IS-2 vs Panzer VI Tiger
An extemely tough comparison for both tanks. The Tigers has a gun with 28 more penetration than IS, which means it can fight tier 8 and 9 tanks much more reliably, but it also has less armor. Generaly Tiger will win long range engagements, thanks to the superior aim time and accuracy. 1v1 close range fights with NO cover are also won by tiger, thanks to the RoF and more HP. Mid-range and peek-a-boo fights is where you dominate him.
In short:
IS is better vs small tanks than tiger, thanks to its armor.
Tiger can better fight big targets like IS4 and VK 4502.
1v1 they are as a whole balanced.

IS-2 vs T29
T29 has better penetration, about the same frontal armor and no such weakspot, and is just as fast. Its DMG per minute is lesser and so are its side and rear armor plates. Its turret is invulnerable to ALL of your guns even with premium (except the years of the better turret, but your inaccurate gun can hit them only at close range). Try to get him in the open or kill all the other tanks smaller than him and then swarm him with your team's small tanks.
In short
IS is again better vs small tanks thanks to side armor
T29 is better vs tier 8+ tanks
1v1... T29 wins mostly

Historical IS-1/2 in battle

The use of the IS-2 in historical battles (check them out) has proven them as really good tanks. They can take on historical tigers (short 88) and Panthers (75mm L70) and take them out efficiently. Do know that they are not invulnerable to these tanks, as evident by my panther taking out the ammo rack of an IS in a blindshot   .Panzer IV, III and Marder II are very ineffective agains the IS frontally, but side shots decimate it. King Tigers, JagdTigers and JagdPanthers take out the IS-2 with minimal effort.

Link to skins:
http://wotskins.word...-heavy-tank/is/

Tweaks to IS and friends I hope happen soon:
-Make 100mm D10T fire slower, but do 240 dmg
-Give it 36km/h

-Give tiger 32 km/h and make his 88L70 do 10 dmg more and fire at 8.95 RoF (only buffs here...)

[LoooSeR78V]

+1 for FAQ  
but

Quote

the IS, a tier 7 heavy tank designed to fight the legendary Tiger and Panther.

- Untrue. IS-2 was so-called "ТНПП" or "tank [for] infantry direct support". Main gun was bad in antitank role (IS was tested with BS-3 cannon with much better anti-tank characteristics), but very useful for anti-infantry/pilboxes becouse HE. IS-2 wasn't designed for anti-tank work. This tank was designed for assault operations, that was planed in 1943 and 1944.

Quote

-Give tiger 32 km/h

Otto Carius stated, that speed of fully equiped Tiger was 30 km/h.

Can you add this advice, please - Turret of IS is tank's weakspot. Short 88 can penetrate it.
- anling will help only if you will cover under-turret side slopes - look at the IS pic carefull... (so-called by soviet tank designers under-turret "box")

IS is like oversized medium tank. Play it like KV-1S. IS-3 playstile is like IS and KV-1S playstile - fast flanker/heavyarmored "medium" tank. I have 60% victory, average exp ~840 + average damage ~1350 with IS. Very fun tank - good speed and agility.

[Vandelay]

Great post mate.

I'd actually disagree with your proposed progression, though.

Everyone should really have the 122mm unlocked from the KV-3. It's a great gun and without it, the KV-3 is not that great.

I'd go:

• turret (fit first 122 after this)
  
• tracks
  
• engine
  
• better 122
  
• optional 100

Reason being, the better 122 is not significantly better than the 122 from the KV-3. Sure, it has slightly faster fire rate but the regular 122 does fine at tier 7. I think the speed and agility afforded by the tracks and engine are more valuable to you than a second or so of reload time.

Just my 2c.

[Candle_Of_God]

For me, the greatest drawback of the IS is its inability to make money. If you use the best possible gun, the 122 D-25T, then you pay 1 grand per shot, and that is problematic since you may miss a whole lot of expensive shells, ending a very succesfull battle without any money gains. The combination of poor accuracy and expensive shells makes this gun not worth using from any significant range. Its is a good urban gun, and an avarage outdoor gun.
The 100mm D10 is just strong enough, but makes you suffer on urban maps with the lower alpha damage. It is cheap to use, but you gain less credits too...

I found it hard to make significant money with it... I am not that good of a player, and I suffer from high pings (in the 300 regularly) that humper my game - but still, I don't know how you can make this tank earn enouth for the IS-3

[Vandelay]

You'd actually be surprised at what you can hit with the 122mm. I've got 80% hit rate in it and I take some fairly long range shots across the map fairly often. The aim time is quite annoying, though.

[BaronJaeger]

+1. Well written and informative-thanks. IMO there should be a stickied thread just for "How To" posts in each tank category, which would make it easier for people wanting to research each individual tank.

[Charcharo]

 Vandelay, on Jul 11 2011 - 10:14, said:

You'd actually be surprised at what you can hit with the 122mm. I've got 80% hit rate in it and I take some fairly long range shots across the map fairly often. The aim time is quite annoying, though.

I have and 82% with my D-25T, though this still doesnt make it accurate

[pat3309]

Great post!

[Garnett101st]

The little drivers window is non slopped, its 120mm flat armor like the Tiger, its a huge weakspot.

[tritri08]

IS-1 is better with 100 mm, nice accuracy and really effective in support role.

[LoooSeR78V]

 tritri08, on Jul 12 2011 - 08:57, said:

IS-1 is better with 100 mm, nice accuracy and really effective in support role.

- but with D-25T IS-2 become good puncher (very high alpha for T7), Like Klichko  

[Vandelay]

 Charcharo, on Jul 11 2011 - 13:37, said:

I have and 82% with my D-25T, though this still doesnt make it accurate

Yeah, it's by no means an accurate gun, but it's definitely worth taking the long range shots IMO.

Even with the crappy accuracy, I really like its damage and penetration.

[IVIajin]

Nice thread. Reminds me of those pinned topics on each tank on the Russian forums that i sometimes read with google translate Hope to see more soon.

[DeathsArrow]

I have a love/hate relationship with the 122mm gun. Love the alpha, hate the accuracy. Every time I switch back to the 100mm, I get into a situation where I wish I had the alpha. It's a total catch 22.

[Final_Spark]

Catch One-22?

I just got my IS from the KV-1S path (arrrrgh, stock!), and stock isn't actually that bad. Damage is an issue, but HE is helping me out. I feel like I pretty much have to grab the turret first and mount the 122 from the 1S immediately, as it's the only better gun within lower exp totals.

I was wondering if it was worth it to work up to the 100mm after gunning with the 122.

[DeathsArrow]

 Cadyshack, on Jul 18 2011 - 19:57, said:

Catch One-22?

http://forum.worldof...le_honoring.gif

 Cadyshack, on Jul 18 2011 - 19:57, said:

I was wondering if it was worth it to work up to the 100mm after gunning with the 122.

Probably not if you're used to the 122. The only advantage would be if you decided to go down the Soviet medium line in the future, you'd already have the 100mm ready to mount on those tanks.

[the_moidart]

Pros: Actually requires a seconds aiming to nail the paper armor on the turret (so as to not hit mantlet), whereas with Tiger one just points ones gun at it, and with T29 you shoot ears or hull. Mobility is also good, compared to a KV-3 at least, enabling you to flank the higher tier tanks (which is the only way your giant pea shooter will penetrate them). Properly handled, can outmaneuver and solo a IS-3 (though thats not saying much).

Cons: The aforementioned paper turret makes this tank a 2 shot kill for anyone with a gun worth the name. The 122 is good at bullying lower tier tanks, but a Tiger can do that better due to RoF. It's not that good against tanks with actual armor, whose weak spots this inaccurate thing cannot hit. Try nailing the Lowe's lower left lower frontal hull with this thing at 300 yards, I dare you.

[Viper69]

I am having a hell of a time with this tank. On paper it seems like a rough hombre but in practice it is nothing more than an inaccurate brawling tank that gets murdered. Its gun is slow so once you miss your alpha strike you have to retreat / reload and lob another 1k credit shell and hope it hits. I cannot see how a gun could possibly be this inaccurate. I tried using the first 122, no dice, switched to the 100mm still sucks. Spent 19k on the second 122 and really all you do is lob expensive shells faster with no gain in accuracy. I have really a horrible time in this tank and am really second guessing my decision to go up the Russian tree. Maybe I will feel better once I get the IS3 but this tank is horrible vs anything above it or even sharing its tier.

[darkdog9]

 Viper69, on Jul 25 2011 - 14:36, said:

I am having a hell of a time with this tank. On paper it seems like a rough hombre but in practice it is nothing more than an inaccurate brawling tank that gets murdered. Its gun is slow so once you miss your alpha strike you have to retreat / reload and lob another 1k credit shell and hope it hits. I cannot see how a gun could possibly be this inaccurate. I tried using the first 122, no dice, switched to the 100mm still sucks. Spent 19k on the second 122 and really all you do is lob expensive shells faster with no gain in accuracy. I have really a horrible time in this tank and am really second guessing my decision to go up the Russian tree. Maybe I will feel better once I get the IS3 but this tank is horrible vs anything above it or even sharing its tier.

This is my fear the 122mm seems like a sidegrade from a 107
90 more damage and 7 more pen but you lose 3 rounds a minute and .01 acr and pay 4x for shells

Whats interesting is that from what i have read about russian tanks the first test with the d-25t with a captured German Panther tank at a range of 1500m the 122 went though the front glacier though the cabin though the engine and out the back of the tank.
While the panther did not have the same amount of armor as a tiger tank no doubt the 122 would be able to at least pierce the frontal glacier (where as it game it bounces even at point blank.)

[Viper69]

Wonder how many shots it took them to hit the Panther at that range, if the real one is even have as inaccurate as the in game one they must have used a butt load.