IS-2 Heavy Tank 1944–73

Osprey New Vanguard #7

by Steven J. Zaloga, Peter Sarson (Illustrator)

The Josef Stalin tanks were the ultimate heavy tanks developed by the Soviet Union and were popularly called 'Victory tanks' due to their close association with the defeat of Germany in 1945. Yet in spite of their reputation, the Stalin tanks emerged from a troubled design, had a brief moment of glory in 1944 and 1945, and disappeared in ignominy after 1960. This title covers the events contributing to the Soviet Union's need to design the new series, with particular reference to the unsuccessful KV series and the advent of a new generation of heavy German tanks including the Tiger. It also covers their development, operational history and myriad variants.

Genres: Military History, War, World War II, History

48 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 1994

About the author

Steven Zaloga is an author and defense analyst known worldwide for his articles and publications on military technology.  He has written over a hundred books on military technology and military history, including “Armored Thunderbolt: The US Army Sherman in World War II”, one of the most highly regarded histories of the Sherman Tank.  His books have been translated into Japanese, German, Polish, Czech, Romanian, and Russian. He was a special correspondent for Jane’s Intelligence Review and is on the executive board of the Journal of Slavic Military Studies and the New York Military Affairs Symposium. From 1987 through 1992, he was the writer/producer for Video Ordnance Inc., preparing their TV series Firepower.  He holds a BA in history from Union College and an MA in history from Columbia University.

Mr. Zaloga is also a noted scale armor modeler and is a host/moderator of the World War II Allied Discussion group at Missing-Lynx.com, a modelling website. He is a frequent contributor to the UK-based modeling magazine Military Modelling. He is a member of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society.

Reviews

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compact, but informative overview of IS-2/IS-3 weapon system family. Covers usual bases - origins, development, different types, employment in the field during WWII and after, short evaluation of combat efficiency (mainly against German 'big cats').

Text content is well-selected and quite useful, which is a must in these Osprey booklets. In regard photos and colored plates - staple content in any Osprey publication - this volume holds the usual exceptional standard.