IS-2 Heavy Tank, 1944-1973; Osprey Military, New Vanguard, 7

London, England: Osprey, 1994. Presumed First Edition, First printing thus. Trade paperback. Good (some cover edge soiling noted). Peter Sarson (color plates). 48 pages. Minor cover wear. Includes Developmental History of the IS-2 Heavy Tank, Operational History, Post War History, IS-2 Model 1944; Stalin Tanks in Foreign Service; and Heavy Assault Guns. Includes illustrations, with eight full-color plates of the IS-2 model 1944 104th tank regiment, May, 1945; IS-2 model 1944, Polish 4th Heavy Tank Regiment, Berlin; IIS-2 Model 1944, 78th Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, Jihlava, Czechoslovakia, 1945; ISU-122S, 2nd Belorussian Front, Gdansk, February 1945; ISU-152, Guards Heavy Assault Gun Brigade, April 1945; IS-2 Model 1944, 95th Guards Independent Heavy Tank Regiment, Berlin, 1945 (includes key to 48 parts and specifications). The Iosef 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. Steve Zaloga has published over twenty books and numerous articles dealing with military technology, especially armored vehicle development. Peter Sarson has illustrated a number of Osprey publications. His cutaway artwork is the hallmark of the New Vanguard series. The IS Tank was a series of heavy tanks developed as a successor to the KV-series by the Soviet Union during World War II. The IS acronym is the anglicized initialism of Joseph Stalin ( , Iosif Stalin). The heavy tanks were designed with thick armor to counter German 88 mm guns and carried a main gun capable of defeating Panzer IV tanks. They were mainly designed as breakthrough tanks, firing a heavy high-explosive shell that was useful against entrenchments and bunkers. The IS-2 went into service in April 1944 and was used as a spearhead by the Red Army in the final stage of the Battle of Berlin. The IS-3 served on the Chinese-Soviet border, the Soviet invasion of Hungary, the Prague Spring and on both sides of the Six-Day War. The series eventually culminated in the T-10 heavy tank. The Object 237 prototype, a version of the canceled KV-13, was accepted for production as the IS-85 heavy tank.[5] First deliveries were made in October 1943, and the tanks went immediately into service. Production ended in January 1944. Its designation was simplified to IS-1 after the introduction of the IS-122, later renamed as IS-2 for security purposes. The IS-2 entered combat in World War II during the first months of 1944. The Soviets produced significant numbers of the type (close to 4,000), and deployed them with success against the most advanced German designs of the time, notably the Tiger I, Tiger II, and Panther, as well as against Elefant tank destroyers.