The IS-6, also known as Object 252, was a Soviet heavy tank developed during the final years of World War II. Designed in 1944, it was a revolutionary step in tank development, introducing advanced sloped armour that influenced the future of heavy tank design. Despite its promising features, mechanical design flaws led to the IS-4M replacing it in production. Only two prototypes of the IS-6 were ever built, both of which were scrapped at the war’s end.
| Pros | Cons |
| Very fast compared to other 7.7 tanks | Slow turret rotation speed |
| A cannon that can penetrate most targets | Poor Long-Range Accuracy |
| Effective at close-Range and mid-range | Limiting Reverse Speed |
| Reliable Ammo | Weak Rear & Lower Hull |
Turret:
Cannon:
Equipped with a 122mm D-30T cannon, the IS-6 has significant firepower, capable of eliminating most enemies within its battle rating when properly used. However, it requires careful usage in up-tiered engagements and It has a base reload time of 17.1s. Compared to its counterparts like the IS-3, its gun handling is slightly more forgiving, but it lacks the penetration of some later Soviet tanks such as the T-10M.
The IS-6 struggles to preform as impressively in higher BRs and especially full up-tier, mainly for lacking an autoloader and lacks protection to more powerful ammunition.
Ammunition:
- BR-471– Standard AP shell with 192.5g TNT equivalent. Best for engaging medium to heavily armoured tanks, though penetration may be limited against the toughest opponents.
- OF-471 – An HE shell with a 3.6kg explosive charge, good for fighting light vehicles, open-top vehicles, and soft targets.
- BR-471B – Improved version of the BR-471 with 246.4g TNT equivalent. Offers better penetration, making it the preferred choice when facing enemy heavy tanks or reinforced armour.
- BR-471D – A refined version with optimized ballistics. significantly improved performance over the BR-471 and the BR-471B
The BR-471D should be the go-to choice against armoured targets due to its increased penetration power (and ability to penetrate at a larger distance). The other ammo rounds can be situationally useful but isn’t as effective overall.
Armour:
Weighing 51.1 tonnes, the IS-6 embodies the qualities of a true heavy Soviet tank, offering defensive capabilities to anything you throw at it. Its highly sloped frontal armour significantly enhances protection, making it resilient against most vehicles. But the biggest rivals of the IS-6 are enemy tanks such as the Leopard family, AMX-13, Lorraine 40t and Strv 103A. as they all can easily penetrate the IS-6 from almost anywhere. however during a full down-tier the IS-6's greatest downfall if having the tracks destroyed, as the turret rotation is too slow to catch up with most tanks moving to aim at its side.
Proper angling of the IS-6 ensures incredible deflection qualities, with its sloped armour performing exceptionally well against kinetic rounds. However, rockets and shaped charges pose a serious issue, as the vehicle lacks modern armour.
Manoeuvrability:
Despite being a heavy tank, the IS-6 offers excellent acceleration and top speed. With a 700-horsepower engine, it achieves a maximum forward speed of 44 km/h and a reverse speed of 17 km/h. This outruns many tanks in its class, including the T29 and Tiger II series, and many of the other Russian/Soviet tanks making it a good choice for most playstyles. it is also very useful because the IS-6 will be one of the first tanks to appear at the capture points, along with many light, medium and AA tanks, which helps for early game kills.
Very good at climbing smaller but steep hills, muddy terrain doesn't stop it, nothing can really slow it down! (except turning of course)
Gameplay:
The IS-6’s combination of speed, firepower, and survivability allows for a good amount of combat roles:
If you’re looking to secure objectives early, the IS-6 has the speed advantage over most other heavy tanks, allowing you to reach capture points faster. However, rushing blindly can be risky, be wary of snipers in open maps as they will always try to get you from any open sides or even directly Infront of you if you are not careful.
The IS-6 shows its true capabilities in city or housing environments, especially close-range duels, where its armour and gun power are most effective. keeping a keen ear will also help you locate enemies, potentially before they find you, giving you a massive advantage.
I would recommend also investing in tri-colour camo as it blends well with a various amount of maps!
It can take a while to get used to but its more than possible to snipe from medium distances with the IS-6
Higher Ranks / Up-tiers
In up-tiers realistic battles, the IS-6 faces serious competition from modern tanks. Against these opponents, stealth and tactical positioning are crucial—open field fights should be avoided at all costs, and ambush playstyles work best. The IS-6’s ability to flank, hide behind cover, and use terrain effectively can make the IS-6 a useful tank to toy with your enemy team.
Notable tanks to be wary of:
- Leopard 1, & Leopard 2 family - they have similar speeds and can very easily penetrate the is-6 with little effort needed in aiming, as hitting the IS-6 anywhere will almost certainly destroy it in one shot.
- AMX 50 Foch - because of its flat shape and powerful gun, it can be hard to spot, especially peaking over hillsides or between rubble, it also can deflect the IS-6 rounds in a few frontal armour spots.
- XM-1 & Abrams Variants - Much more modern American tanks which have powerful armour and cannons, making the IS-6 almost completely useless against them. however the IS-6 can still destroy these tanks with a well placed shot.
For players looking to invest some money in the Soviet tank tech tree, the IS-6 remains a strong contender for realistic battles. While it lacks post-war technological advantages, its raw durability, power, and mobility make it a powerful force in the hands of a mid-skilled operator.
