| The JS tanks were named after Joseph Stalin. The JS-2 had a 122mm D-25T main gun and 6 road wheels to improve soft ground track performance. In 1944 new specifications included new armour tempering, a 60-degree glacis replaced the 30-degree and the driver’s front hatch was removed. Also a relocated wider porthole, improved mantlet, increased lower hull side armor and a new periscope sight. The commander’s cupola moved to the left and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun attached. In 1944 2,250 JS-2’s were produced and no further improvements were made until 1954. The JS-2 not only served with the Red Army during WWII but 71 were delivered to the Polish Army. These were distributed between the 4th and 5th Heavy Tank Regiments. The JS-2 model 1944 was designed as a breakthrough tank with a faster-loading D25-T 122mm gun, a simpler hull front and a wider mantlet. The Poles were successful during battles in Pomerania, the retaking of Poland and the battle for Berlin. At the end of WWII there were 26 JS-2s left and 21 of these were returned to the Soviets. JS-2 Specifications Crew: 4 Combat weight: 46 tons Power-to-weight ratio: 11.3 hp/t Dimensions Hull length: 6.68 m Overall length: 9.91 m Width: 3.07 m Power Plant Engine: V-21 4-stroke V-type diesel 520 HP Transmission: Multiple dry main clutch, mechanical gearbox with reduction gear, 2-stage planetary turning mechanism and side drives, 8 gears forward, 2 reverse Fuel capacity: 137 gallons internal + 80 gallons external + 110 gallons supplementary Performance Maximum speed: road 23mph, off road 18mph Maximum range: 150 miles Fuel consumption: 0.8 gallons/mile Fording depth: 1.3 m Armament D-25T Model 1943 122mm rifled tank gun Main gun ammunition: BR-47B (armor piercing/tracer); BP-460A (HEAT shaped charge); OF-462 and OF-471 (HE fragmentation) Muzzle velocity: 2560 ft/s Maximum effective range: 9 miles indirect fire; 900m direct-fire Stowed main gun rounds: 28 Gun depression/elevation: -3 to +20 degrees Secondary armament: DshK model 1938 12.7 mm machine gun, co-axial DT 7.62 mm machine gun, DT 7.62 mm close defense machine gun Armor - 90-120 mm hull front, 90-95 mm hull sides, 60 mm hull rear, 160 mm turret front, 100 mm turret rear sides, 90 mm turret rear. |
| Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG7003 Russian (Soviet) Heavy Tank JS-2m "424" 2nd Company of 4th Independent Heavy Tank Regt., 1st Polish Army, Berlin Operation, April 1945 |