IS-4 – The Forgotten Soviet Heavy Tank - TankHistoria
Do you know about IS-4 – The Forgotten Soviet Heavy Tank? Soviet heavy tanks are an often overlooked aspect of the Cold War. By the time the Cold War kicked into high gear in 1946, Soviet heavy tanks were already a thing of the past. The T-34 wasn't even introduced until 1940, and only a handful was in service by 1945. But this doesn't mean they were useless; they were top-notch designs with numerous innovations that changed the course of tank development.
For one, they were heavily armored and well-armed. Their guns usually ranged from 76mm to 100mm, with some even having 107mm guns; this was well ahead of their German counterparts, who had 88mm guns by 1945. They also featured sophisticated armor that was thickest at their turret, with thinner armor on their hull and engine compartments. This made them very difficult targets for enemy anti-tank weapons to penetrate.
Soviet heavy tanks had several other advantages as well. They were powerful enough to keep pace with German tanks in short order, thanks to their high horsepower engines and heavy weight. This meant that they could keep up with them despite being slower in general movement and having lower speeds than light tanks like the T-34.
They were also one of the few tank designs that could reliably operate in harsh conditions and environments such as snow or desert sand. This was thanks to sophisticated cooling systems that prevented overheating and allowed them to operate for long periods. Visit our website for getting more information.
