Developer: Design Bureau of Plant No. 100 and Design Bureau Uralmash
Year of commencement of work: 1944
Year of production of the first prototype: 1944
The project was rejected in favor of the IS-7 project.
At the beginning of 1944, work began on the design of a heavy tank at Experimental Plant No. 100 in Chelyabinsk IS-6, distinctive feature which had an electric transmission. The corresponding order from the State Defense Committee was received on June 8 - according to the order issued, plant No. 100 and the Uralmash plant (which already had experience in building the self-propelled gun ESU-100 equipped with a similar unit) were to develop drawings and build two prototypes.
The hull and turret of the IS-6 tank were structurally very similar to the IS-4, which was not surprising, since the unification of these components would only benefit the manufacturer, regardless of which of the vehicles went into mass production. The booking scheme has also not changed.
The layout of the IS-6 remains classic. In the front part there was a control compartment, where the driver’s seat was located exactly along the axis of the tank. Behind it was a fighting compartment with a three-man turret. It was equipped with a 122-mm D-30 cannon with a muzzle brake and a coaxial 7.62-mm SGMT tank machine gun, which was distinguished by the best performance characteristics than a similar DT designed by Degtyarev. Additionally, to protect against air attacks, a 12.7-mm anti-aircraft DShK was installed on the roof of the tower. Its ammunition consisted of 30 rounds of separate loading, 1200 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber and 500 rounds of 12.7 mm caliber for an anti-aircraft machine gun. The TBSh sight is a telescopic, tank sight. The anti-aircraft machine gun was equipped with a K8-T collimator sight. The viewing devices for the commander, driver, gunner and loader are MK-4 type, one for each.
The V-12U diesel engine with a power of 750 hp was located in the rear of the tank. The electromechanical transmission included a main generator DK-305A with a power of 385 kW and a weight of 1740 kg, installed coaxially with the engine. In the same block with the main generator on a common shaft there was synchronous generator three-phase current SG-1A, designed to power the fan motors of the cooling system of traction engines and diesel engines, as well as to drive the battery charging unit. Two small generators were mounted on the diesel engine direct current G-73, which fed the excitation circuits of the DK-305A and SG-1A generators. Traction electric motors DK-302A and DK-302B of reverse action were connected to the drive wheels of the tank through final drives. The traction force was adjusted by changing the excitation of the main generator. The operating current reached 960 A, when driving on the highway it was 490 A, on the ground - 740 A. The voltage in the circuit was 500 V. For external communication, a 10-R transceiver radio station was used; inside the tank, communication between crew members was ensured using a tank intercom TPU-4bisF devices.
The chassis, which was structurally identical to the IS-2, underwent minor changes. It used 6 road wheels on one side with an individual torsion bar suspension, a front guide and a rear drive wheel.
Although some of the design work was carried out by Chelyabinsk engineers, the production of working drawings and the assembly of IS-6 prototypes was carried out at Uralmash. In the fall of 1944, the first prototype of the tank (Object 253), along with a set of spare parts and a spare hull, was submitted for testing at the NIBT test site in Kubinka. Other heavy vehicles were also delivered there, including the IS-4. They were soon joined by a second prototype (Object 252), featuring a completely new chassis, which had six support rollers on board of increased diameter without support rollers. Due to this, the tank's speed was 43 km/h, and its combat weight was reduced to 51,500 kg.
The State Commission appreciated the use of electric transmission on the IS-6, which made it easier to control the vehicle, but the identified shortcomings reduced this advantage to zero. The mass of the transmission turned out to be too large, which affected the overall combat weight of the tank and, as a result, its mobility. In addition, in terms of weapon power, the IS-6 did not differ in any way from the serial IS-2, and in terms of armor protection it was similar to the IS-3 and IS-4, which were being prepared for mass production. As a result, it was decided to stop work on the IS-6 and after the war both prototypes were scrapped.
Sources:
M. Svirin “Heavy tanks IS”. Exprint. 2004
G.L. Kholyavsky “Complete encyclopedia of tanks of the world 1915-2000.” Harvest.Minsk \AST.Moscow. 1998
M. Baryatinsky, M. Kolomiets, A. Koshchavtsev “Soviet heavy post-war tanks” (“Armored collection MK” 1996-03)
TACTICAL AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A HEAVY TANK
IS-6 model 1945
| COMBAT WEIGHT | 54000 kg |
| CREW, people | 4 |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Length, mm | 10070 (with gun) |
| Width, mm | 3430 |
| Height, mm | 3430 |
| Ground clearance, mm | 500 |
| WEAPONS | one 122 mm D-25T cannon one 7.62 mm SGMT machine gun coaxial with a cannon one 12.7 mm DShK anti-aircraft machine gun |
| AMMUNITION | 30 shells and 1200 rounds for SGMT and 500 rounds for DShK |
| AIMING DEVICES | viewing device MK-4 telescopic articulated sight TSH-45 collimator sight K-8T |
| RESERVATION | body forehead – 120 mm turret forehead – 250 mm side - 120 mm feed - 60 mm roof - 30 mm bottom - 20-30 mm |
| ENGINE | B-12, diesel, 12-cylinder, V-shaped, 750 hp. at 2100 rpm. |
| TRANSMISSION | mechanical type with 11-speed gearbox with range control |
| CHASSIS | (on one side) 7 double road wheels with independent torsion bar suspension, 3 support rollers, front guide and rear drive wheel, large-link caterpillar |
| SPEED | 35 km/h on the highway |
| HIGHWAY RANGE | 150 km |
| OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME | |
| Elevation angle, degrees. | 35° |
| Wall height, m | 1,00 |
| Fording depth, m | 1,50 |
| Ditch width, m | 3,00 |
| MEANS OF COMMUNICATION | radio station 10RK-26 intercom TPU-4BIS-F |
Work on the IS-6 heavy tank project (working names “Object 252” and “Object 253”) at pilot plant No. 100 in Chelyabinsk began at the beginning of 1944. Main feature This modification was the planned use of electromechanics in the transmission, seen in German equipment in battles on Kursk Bulge. Despite its expensive design, it simplified the control of heavily armored vehicles. In this regard, the development of a breakthrough tank based on the IS-2 heavy tank in two directions with a classic layout began, although initially there were proposals to create a tank with a rear turret and fighting compartment, in the likeness of German self-propelled guns.
Already in June 1944, an order was given to develop drawings and work on the creation of two prototypes. And in the fall of the same year, a prototype IS-6 was delivered to Kubinka to test new models of heavy tanks from different tank factories. A second tank also took part with him. Both tanks were superior to the Object 701 in terms of mobility and firepower, but paid for this with inferior armor. The main difference between “Object 252” and “Object 253” is the presence of an electromechanical transmission in the second. “Object 253” was noticeably easier to control thanks to its installation and, as planned, was supposed to be more maneuverable than its relatives, while 252, in fact, apart from armor, did not have any significant advantages over other tanks.
The weapons used were the D-30 main gun with a caliber of 122 millimeters and two machine guns - a coaxial one with a 7.62 gun and an anti-aircraft DShK with a caliber of 12.7 millimeters on a turret near the loader's hatch. The gun was an improved D-25 with a rammer and was blown out after each shot. The ammunition included 30 shells with separate loading, 1300 rounds for a coaxial machine gun and 250 rounds for a DShK. The ammunition was located in the control compartment, at the bottom of the tank, and also along the right wall of the turret.
There was no “pike nose” in the forehead of the hull - the nose of the vehicle consisted of upper and lower armor plates, to which bevels were welded on the sides, combining them with the sides. Top sheet 100 millimeters thick was installed at an angle of 65 degrees, while the lower one, 120 millimeters thick, was located at a smaller angle. The only weak point in the IS-6's forehead was the armored driver's hatch. The inclined and vertical armor plates were also 100 mm thick and were connected by a weld. The stern had 60 millimeters of armor, which was also located at an angle.
In addition to sloping armor, the IS-6 was also distinguished by a cast turret, the side walls of which were 150 millimeters thick at an inclination of 35 degrees, and the rear – 100 millimeters. In addition to firing from the main gun and machine guns, the turret design made it possible to fire from personal weapons through openings covered by armor. The rotation of the turret was carried out not only manually, but also with the help of electric motors, like the IS-3 tank.
The engine and transmission were located in the stern. The engine used was a diesel V-12U, developing power up to 700 horsepower. It was started using an electric starter or a pneumatic starter, releasing 10 liters of compressed air from the cylinders. A steam-dynamic heater was also installed in the oil tank to start the engine when low temperatures. Well, the total capacity of the fuel tanks of 640 liters was enough for independent movement over a distance of up to 150 kilometers. Among the changes to the chassis, one can highlight six larger road wheels on board compared to the IS-3 and the absence of any support rollers.
However, all hopes were dashed by the low reliability of the design, and due to the mass of both the tank itself and the aforementioned electric transmission, maneuverability was no longer out of the question. Moreover, a powerful cooling system, requiring a strong power source, played an important role. As a result, both cars were deprived of hope for the future, and the project was closed.
The IS-6 heavy tank project (object 252, 253) was developed at pilot plant No. 100 in Chelyabinsk in the first half of 1944. The main feature of this combat vehicle was the use of an electromechanical transmission.
In accordance with the decision of the State Defense Committee, by order of the People's Commissar of the Tank Industry of June 8, 1944, Uralmashzavod, together with plant No. 100, was entrusted with the production of drawings and production of prototypes of the IS-6 heavy tank. Basic design work were already completed by plant No. 100, a significant part of them fell to the share of Uralmash designers, since the production of working drawings was carried out here.
The production of prototypes was carried out by both factories with the assembly and debugging of tanks at the Uralmashplant. In the fall of 1944, after factory tests, the IS-6 tank, along with a second set of parts and a spare hull, was sent to Kubinka for comparative tests of new heavy tanks manufactured by tank factories.
The IS-6 heavy tank had a classic layout with a hull and turret shape close to the IS-4 tank. The 122-mm D-30 tank gun was paired with a Goryunov machine gun. A DShK anti-aircraft machine gun was installed on the turret roof on the turret. The tank's ammunition consisted of 30 separate-loading rounds, 1,200 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber and 500 rounds of 12.7 mm caliber anti-aircraft machine gun. TBSh sight - telescopic, tank.
The anti-aircraft machine gun was equipped with a K8-T collimator sight. The commander, driver, gunner and loader each had one MK-4 viewing device at their disposal.
Engine V-12U with a power of 750 hp. With. located in the rear of the tank. The electromechanical transmission included a main generator DK-305A with a power of 385 kW and a weight of 1740 kg, installed coaxially with the engine. In the same block with the main generator on a common shaft there was a synchronous three-phase current generator SG-1A, designed to power the fan motors of the cooling system of traction engines and diesel engines, as well as to drive the battery charging unit. Two small G-73 direct current generators were mounted on the diesel engine, which fed the excitation circuits of the DK-305A and SG-1A generators.
Traction electric motors DK-302A and DK-302B of reverse action were connected to the drive wheels of the tank through final drives. The traction force was adjusted by changing the excitation of the main generator. The operating current reached 960 A, when driving on the highway it was 490 A, on the ground - 740 A. The voltage in the circuit reached 500 V.
The chassis of the IS-6 tank, with six support and three support rollers on board, was similar to the chassis of the IS-2 tank. Individual suspension, torsion bar.
The tank was equipped with a 10-R radio station and a TPU-4bis F intercom. Another sample of the IS-6 tank (object 252) with a mechanical transmission of the IS-3 type was manufactured. Apparently, a second set of parts and a spare armored hull were used to manufacture it. Track rollers were used in the chassis large diameter, and there were no support rollers.
Both IS-6 tanks, after factory testing, entered comparative testing of new heavy tanks at the NIBT training ground located in Kubinka. They were inferior in armor protection to the Object 701, without surpassing it in firepower and mobility. "Object 252" with a mechanical transmission, with the exception of armor protection, did not have any advantages over other heavy tanks. The installation of an electric transmission made it easier to control the Object 253 tank and was supposed to improve its maneuverability. However, this did not happen due to large mass both the tank itself and the electric transmission, and also due to the low reliability of the latter. The design of the machine turned out to be too bulky, plus the cooling system took too much power. Further work on both machines it was decided to stop.
One of the best Soviet tanks- Is 6. Find out in the review where to get it and how to improve it, how to use it in battle and what ammunition to take with you. Take advantage of the advantages of this machine!
The IS 6 tank is a Tier 8 premium Soviet heavy vehicle. It is protected by excellent armor located at rational angles, has good mobility, camouflage due to its low silhouette and high one-time damage. The main disadvantages can be considered extremely low accuracy and armor penetration.
Where to get
The price in the store HERE inside the game is 11,800 gold. This is quite a lot when compared with the cost of Leo, the most expensive premium tank, the price of which is 12,500 gold.
There was a time when the IS-6 could be obtained for completing a combat mission, which was to gain 100,000 experience for each branch on level six hardware.
Now you can only buy this heavy Soviet monster for real money or gold.
What is he armed with?
The tracked monster is equipped with a D-30 gun, which has a caliber of 122 mm. This gun is comparable in many respects to guns of the same caliber with the KV-1S, KV-3 and IS. They have just a huge spread (0.46), and mixing takes as much as 3.4 seconds. It must be said that the penetration of a conventional projectile is 175 mm, and that of a sub-caliber projectile is 217 mm, while the one-time damage is 390 units.
The rate of fire of the IS 6 tank is 5.13 rounds per minute. This is higher than the IS-3, a regular heavy Soviet low-speed vehicle for level eight leveling. The one-time damage of the IS-3 and IS-6 is absolutely the same, which means that premium vehicles will have an advantage in damage per minute.
Impression of the gun: The gun is not so easy to control; high damage per minute is, of course, good, but it is difficult to implement due to the disgusting dispersion and low penetration of the projectile. Stabilizing the weapon in motion helps a little, but in general you need to find an approach to the weapon.
The vertical aiming angles on this powerful giant are also small, so they do not allow shooting from behind hillocks.
We can say that the IS-6 has sufficient mobility, and this even despite the fact that the maximum speed of the vehicle is only 35 km/h. You can quickly reach maximum speed due to the excellent power density.
Protection: frontal armor
The frontal armor is only 100 millimeters, but the upper armor plate is perfectly protected due to its large slope. The IS is equipped with relatively small screens; in battle, they often save you from enemy shells.
Best distance in battle
The optimal combat distance is close or medium; it makes no sense to go far.
You can use a breakthrough in the style of medium tanks - this is an excellent tactic, suitable for the Soviet premium class. With the help of excellent dynamics, you can quickly change positions and support the team with fire.
Defense fans will be disappointed: it is better not to stand on the defensive with this vehicle. The D-30 gun will not be able to repel an enemy attack from afar. It’s better to play on the offensive – this powerful armored horse with its huge weapon damage will never be out of place.
IS-6 crew
Since the IS-6 can be called a breakthrough vehicle, the crew will need to improve their skills. Obtaining new skills by the crew should minimize shortcomings and strengthen strengths: armor and damage. Therefore, the following perks are considered the most useful skills for the crew:
- Repair - This skill is extremely important for the IS-6, as if you lose a track, you will lose initiative, making you an easy target. Then the enemy without special labor will destroy the equipment and deprive the strike group of a powerful weapon.
- Virtuoso - will improve the mobility of the IS-6, the gunner should study the smooth rotation of the turret, and mechanical water smooth running. As a result, the aiming time after turning the turret and stopping will be reduced.
- The gunner will always need the sniper skill, thanks to which the IS will be able to destroy enemy tanks much more effectively.
- The loader will benefit from the “intuition” and “desperate” perks.
- The commander, as usual, needs to learn the sixth sense and additionally be a “jack of all trades.”
Although the military brotherhood is not necessary, it will improve all performance characteristics. So is ventilation.
Battle Monster Speed
The maximum speed of this combat monster is quite low - only 35 km/h, however, considering the weight of the equipment, this is quite a decent indicator. The specific engine power is 13.5 hp. per ton, which is nothing to be happy about. The car picks up these 35 km/h very quickly, that is, the acceleration speed is simply excellent.
The chassis turns the car at a speed of 26 degrees per second, therefore, even a light enemy is unlikely to be able to spin you.
Thus, the vehicle has outstanding dynamics for a heavy tank. Excellent armor allows you to survive even when surrounded by enemy equipment.
What to equip
You can install a rammer on it, which can reduce the reload time. The stabilizer is also a useful thing; it is needed for faster aiming, both from a standstill and on the move. Reinforced aiming drives will allow for faster aiming, which is very important.
Equipment of a powerful is-6
We won’t talk much about equipment, since everything is standard here: first aid kit, repair kit and fire extinguisher.
Ammunition 35% and 55%
Ammunition can be loaded in a ratio of 35% to 55% with armor-piercing and sub-caliber shells. It is better to take this ratio for the simple reason that the penetration of the gun is relatively low, so sub-caliber shells will be more relevant. They will help you effectively fight the IS-3, KV-4 and other equipment with increased armor protection.
Important: You can also report 2-3 land mines for battles involving weakly armored German tanks and a guaranteed shooting down of a base capture.
Preferential level of battles
This Soviet technology has a preferential level of battles. This means that the fighter can only meet opponents of the ninth level. However, heavy tanks are more high level Still, they are a difficult target for IP. Therefore, it is better to fight together with medium tanks, from which, although you will lag behind, this will still not affect the quality of the battle. It will be even better this way - you will approach the enemy when the team needs your help.
Advantages and disadvantages
Now let's summarize. The IS 6 tank has advantages, including good mobility, the presence of screens, high DPM, good level acceleration, excellent all-round armor, low silhouette for camouflage. In addition, the crew can be upgraded.
The disadvantages include not very good review, small ammunition, low shooting accuracy, small radius of radio operation, low armor penetration.
Starting from version 9.1 the game will have the new kind achievements - distinguishing marks on gun barrels. Historically, such marks reflected the amount of destroyed enemy equipment - the only possible indicator of the performance of the crew of a combat vehicle in reality. However, in military operations, tanks were used en masse, often with the participation of other branches of the military, so in most cases it was very difficult to determine whose shot destroyed the target. This was the key reason why the marks were not widely used.
In the game, the destruction of an enemy tank is also not always an objective indicator. Agree: deal with heavy tank alone and finishing off an enemy who has enough strength for one shot is not the same thing.
The most objective indicators of a player's personal performance are average experience and average damage on a tank. Experience per battle is already taken into account for awarding class marks, and high average damage will be rewarded with marks on the gun barrel: the higher the player’s performance compared to the results of other owners of the same tank, the higher the degree of achievement and the more marks on the gun barrel.
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrelsDamage based on intelligence is also taken into account, which makes the achievement available for light tanks, which are designed not so much for dealing damage, but for identifying targets for allies.
Accounting is carried out separately for each tank starting from the release of version 9.1. Battles that took place before this update do not count: this is necessary to create equal conditions for all players. Damage statistics are collected daily - thus, any changes in the game are taken into account.
For calculations, the results for the last series of battles on the tank are taken, and not for all battles, which allows you to quickly track the player’s success.
Attention! Calculating statistics and assigning marks only applies to vehicles from level V in random battles. Team, company, clan and historical battles do not affect the receipt of marks!
Historically, marks were an attribute of tank aces, so obtaining them is not very easy. For example, to get entry level and one mark the player must be in the top 35% on the same tank; the second level of achievement (two marks) is awarded to the top 15% of players, and the highest (three marks) is awarded to the top 5% of players. Appearance marks recreated based on historical prototypes.
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
New game achievement - marks on gun barrels
In addition to marks for aces, all players receive a rating, which, unlike other abstract ratings, directly reflects the player’s effectiveness on a specific tank in terms of the main indicator of personal skill - damage dealt and assistance in causing damage to the enemy.
The indicator is displayed for each tank in the “Achievements” > “Vehicles” > “Awards” section in an explicit form: “Your damage indicator is better than N% of players on the same tank.”
The more consistently a player deals damage, the fewer battles are required to calculate his personal indicator. On average for assignment highest degree achievements may require from 50 to 100 or more battles.
Marks received are added to the tank forever and cannot be lowered or taken away. Taking into account statistics for a series of battles and a large step of the indicator for subsequent degrees guarantees the absence of random success. Players can optionally turn off the display of marks on their tank both for themselves and for other players, but other people's marks will still be displayed.