Osprey New Vanguard 7 : IS-2 Heavy Tank 1944-1973

The Iosef Stalin tanks were the ultimate heavy tanks developed by the Soviet Union. The IS-2 Stalin tank was popularly called the 'Victory tank' in Russia due to its close association with the defeat of Germany in 1945. The sleek and elegant lines of the IS-3 Stalin tank of 1945 heavily influenced post-war tank design, not only in the Soviet Union, but in Europe and America as well. During the Cold War years of the 1950s, no tank was so dreaded by NATO as the T-10 tank, the final evolution of the Stalin series. Yet in spite of their reputation in the West, the Stalin tanks emerged from a troubled design, had a brief moment of glory in 1944 and 1945, and disappeared in ignominy after 1960. It has only been possible in recent years to tell their true story, and this is exactly what Steven Zaloga attempts to do. The events contributing to the Soviet Union's need to design and possess a heavy tank are discussed, with particular reference to the unsuccessful KV series and the advent of a new generation of heavy German tanks including the Tiger. The series' development is traced and its members' operational histories, both in and out of Russian hands, is looked at. Finally, variants of the tank are examined including heavy assault guns and missile vehicles using the Iosef Stalin chassis. Illustrations by Peter Sarson.

Contents

• Developmental History
• Operational History
• Post War History
• Stalin Tanks in Foreign Service
• Variants
• Variants in Foreign Service