Ground Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>JS-2>HG1101
JS-2 Heavy Tank 7th Independent Guards Heavy Tank Brigade, Red Army, Berlin, 1945
General Background
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 Tank
JS tank functions were to assist Russian troops to break through German offensive lines. In 1945 Berlin JS-2's like #414 of the 7th Independent Guards Heavy Tank Brigade were to destroy any opposition and help capture the Reichstag and other key buildings. The 7th were referred to as the "White Bears" as indicated by the insignia on the turret. This tank is from the 104th Regiment, 1st Company and 4th vehicle with an inscription that reads "Combat Friends".
Specifications :
| Crew: | 4 |
| Combat weight: | 46 tons |
| Power-to-weight ratio: | 11.3 hp/t |
| Hull length: | 6.68 m |
| Overall length: | 9.91 m |
| Width: | 3.07 m |
| 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 |
| 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 defence 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. |