The Soviet IS-1 Heavy Tank was the first of the Iosif Stalin (IS) series, developed in 1943 as a successor to the KV heavy tanks. Based on lessons learned from combat against advanced German armour, the IS-1 featured a 76.2mm ZiS-5 gun mounted in a new, well-armoured hull and turret that offered up to 120mm of frontal protection, significantly more than the KV-1. Powered by the reliable V-2-IS 12-cylinder diesel engine, it could reach speeds of 37 km/h (23 mph), making it more mobile than its predecessors despite its heavy armour. The IS-1 was designed to break through fortified positions and counter German tanks, but its 76.2mm gun quickly proved inadequate against late-war armour such as the Panther and Tiger. As a result, production was very limited—only around 200 units were built—before it was replaced by the far more powerful IS-2, armed with a 122mm gun. Although short-lived, the IS-1 marked the transition to a new generation of Soviet heavy tanks that would dominate the battlefield in the final years of World War II.
 
Multi part resin model.
 
Printed by Imperator Models on License from Wargame 3D.