Difference between revisions of "IS-4M"

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{{Specs-Card|code=ussr_is_4m}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=ussr_is_4m
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert the screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, they will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
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The '''IS-4M''' is an improved modification of the fourth variant of the IS heavy tank family. Like the [[IS-3]], the IS-4 (designation Object 701) was intended to replace the [[IS-2]]. The IS-4 was designed to be the pride of the Soviet Army, with extremely thick armour, a weight of 53 tonnes, and a 750 horsepower V-12 diesel engine capable of reaching speeds of up to 43 km/h. Despite being an upgrade to the IS-2, it never offered much to the table, particularly when compared to the IS-3, a lighter, faster, and cheaper tank that had stunned the Western world only a few years previously. The IS-4, most importantly, used the same 122 mm D-25T tank gun as the IS-2 and IS-3. Production began in March 1947 and stopped in 1949, as any work on tanks weighing more than 50 tonnes was to be terminated. The tank proved to be too heavy, sluggish, and poorly built. IS-4M, a small batch of 25 units with some enhancements, was constructed in 1951. Only 258 units were built in total.
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Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the IS-4M is an immediate successor of the IS-3, and it has even greater armour, making it difficult for many opponents to penetrate from the front. Needless to say, this tank is nearly invulnerable to conventional ammunition from the front. Unfortunately, the main armament remains the same 122 mm D-25T tank gun used on all prior IS heavy tank variants beginning with the IS-2, and at this rank, it simply feels inadequate sometimes. The gameplay differs slightly from its predecessor in that angling can work, but it must be done properly. A small angle will enhance the hull armour all around from the frontal perspective. Furthermore, since it is substantially heavier, the IS-4M is less manoeuvrable, making it difficult to play in faster-paced battles in higher ranks.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?''
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{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}
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<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' -->
  
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''If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''
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The IS-4M has very good armour although a very cramped crew compartment. Most shots will not be able to penetrate its frontal armour, and the turret is also very tricky to penetrate from the sides. However the crammed crew is very vulnerable to any shot that manages to penetrate, and in those situations surviving a hit is very unlikely.
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'''Armour type:'''
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* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof, Hatch roof)
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* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
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|-
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| Hull || 140 mm (62°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 160 mm (40°) ''Lower glacis'' <br> 160 mm (34-77°) ''Driver's port'' <br> 40 mm (44-87°) ''Top of Driver's port''|| 160 mm (30-53°) ''Top'' <br> 160 mm ''Middle'' <br> 30 mm (61°) ''Bottom'' || 100 mm (37°) ''Top'' <br> 30 mm (80°) ''Middle'' <br> 100 mm (31-39°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm
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|-
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| Turret || 200-250 mm (2-89°) ''Turret front'' <br> 200 mm (0-65°) , 170 + 250 mm (2-61°) ''Gun mantlet''  || 200 mm (3-40°) || 150 (62-72°) ''Top'' <br>  170 mm (21-49°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm ''Front, Hatch roof, Ventilators'' <br> 50 mm ''Front sides'' <br> 170 mm ''Center''
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|-
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|}
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'''Notes:'''
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* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, torsion bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 30 mm thick.
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* Very angled turret, prone to bounce shots
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
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''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability as well as the maximum speed forward and backwards.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}
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<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' -->
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{{tankMobility|abMinHp=968|rbMinHp=663}}
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The increased weight of the IS-4M compared to the [[IS-3]] means a decrease in overall mobility. Its top speed is quite mediocre and the tank suffers in harsh terrain; while the reverse speed is good, its acceleration is not the best. Overall, it's not very mobile, even for a heavy tank.
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
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{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
 
=== Main armament ===
 
=== Main armament ===
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''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Advise about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}
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<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' -->
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{{main|D-25T (122 mm)}}
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The IS-4M retains the the same 122 mm D-25T cannon found in the [[IS-2]]. It's a very capable cannon, with a good damage output and good penetration values for its BR-471D shell. However this means that its reload rate is very low, with 27 seconds when stock and 20.8 seconds with an Aced crew. That means that, even in a best case scenario, it's not capable of firing more than 3 shots per minute.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[D-25T (122 mm)|122 mm D-25T]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
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|-
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! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
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! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
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|-
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! ''Arcade''
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| rowspan="2" | 30 || rowspan="2" | -3°/+19° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 8.1 || 11.2 || 13.6 || 15.0 || 16.0 || rowspan="2" | 27.04 || rowspan="2" | 23.92 || rowspan="2" | 22.05 || rowspan="2" | 20.80
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|-
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! ''Realistic''
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| 6.0 || 7.0 || 8.5 || 9.4 || 10.0
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|-
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|}
  
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=== Additional armament ===
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==== Ammunition ====
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''Some tanks are armed with several guns in one or more turrets. Evaluate the additional weaponry and advise on its use. Describe the ammunition available for additional weaponry. Advise about how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage. If there is no additional weaponry remove this subsection.''
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{{:D-25T (122 mm)/Ammunition|BR-471, BR-471B, BR-471D, OF-471}}
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==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
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[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
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<!-- '''Last updated:''' -->
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! Full<br>ammo
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! Ammo<br>part
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! 1st<br>rack empty
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! 2nd<br>rack empty
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! 3rd<br>rack empty
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! 4th<br>rack empty
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! 5th<br>rack empty
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! 6th<br>rack empty
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! Visual<br>discrepancy
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|-
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| '''30''' || ''Projectiles''<br>''Propellants'' || 29&nbsp;''(+1)''<br>29&nbsp;''(+1)'' || 24&nbsp;''(+6)''<br>24&nbsp;''(+6)'' || 19&nbsp;''(+11)''<br>19&nbsp;''(+11)'' || 14&nbsp;''(+16)''<br>14&nbsp;''(+16)'' || 9&nbsp;''(+21)''<br>9&nbsp;''(+21)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+29)''<br>1&nbsp;''(+29)'' || No
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|-
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|}
  
 
=== Machine guns ===
 
=== Machine guns ===
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''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
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{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}
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<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' -->
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{{main|DShK (12.7 mm)}}
  
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== Usage in the battles ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
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|-
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! colspan="5" | [[DShK (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm DShK]]
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|-
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! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
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|-
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| Coaxial || 1,000 (50) || 600 || N/A || N/A
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|-
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| Pintle || 250 (50) || 600 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
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|-
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|}
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== Usage in battles ==
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<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
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The IS-4M is a direct successor to the [[IS-3]], and it features even more armour, so much armour that some APDS and APFSDS cannot penetrate its UFP and most of the turret, needless to say this tank is practically invulnerable to conventional rounds from the front. Unfortunately the gun remains the same 122 mm D-25T that is featured on all IS-series tanks from the [[IS-2]], and at its BR it isn't enough sometimes, while other times a weird bounce can still lead to some good hits. Overall, though, this tank feels much better at its BR than the [[IS-3]], which has a huge shot trap.
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=== General Gameplay ===
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The playstyle is slightly different from its predecessor, as angling can work - it just needs to be done carefully. The frontal side armour is actually thicker than the front, so a slight angle will even-out hull armour all around (in a best case scenario it can get to 275&nbsp;mm, or just slightly more). Also, the IS-4M is less mobile, because it's heavier - all speeds are dampened and mobility is heavily impaired. However, if you've played the stock [[IS-3]] this tank will feel a bit better.
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'''Arcade Battles'''
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The IS-4M will show a lot of red and yellow on the reticle when a player looks at it in Arcade. Only some HEAT and APFSDS shells can penetrate this beast frontally, and damage will only be substantial if the player takes their time to aim at the important components, because some shells will penetrate but their effect will be minimal inside the tank. However, there is little the IS-4M can do to make it harder to be damaged, because there are practically no weakspots to hide, and wiggling will not stop top rounds from penetrating.
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 +
In Arcade Battles, the improved speed should be used to rush any lone enemies and objectives. When this tank is at speed, enemies will often shoot the biggest part they see - the UFP, and many shots will bounce or not penetrate if they hit at an awkward angle; but even if they do penetrate the UFP, the IS-4M will be able to return fire because only the driver and possibly the transmission are knocked out. Very rarely will the IS-4M get one-shot through the UFP. Again, being at speed is being protected, and it is a big surprise to many enemies when a heavy tank drives around a corner at high speed - giving you extra seconds to take aim and disable them (usually you will pass them, so their side and/or rear is visible).
 +
 
 +
Rushing mostly works in cities, where your speed is further increased by paved roads, and enemies will be spaced apart between buildings. In open areas, rushing will usually end up in the IS-4's demise, as opponents will quickly flank you because it's easy to do.
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 +
If rushing is not an option, and you find yourself in close-quarters, your best bet is to try to bait shots either for yourself or for your teammates. You can poke your gun barrel out from a corner, and if enemies shoot it, your teammates can drive out and destroy the enemy. Poking out the side of the turret or heavily angled UFP is an option, but most enemies will realize that it's no use shooting there.
 +
 
 +
'''Realistic Battles'''
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 +
In Realistic, the IS-4M retains its ability to rush, although it's subdued. When fully upgraded you can still get up to speed and surprise enemies, especially if you can choose weird routes that are not likely to be checked by enemies. From experience, it's possible to destroy up to 3-4 enemy tanks on city maps like Alaska, American Desert and Middle East, when playing against a good mix of lighter tanks (e.g. Leopard I, Centurion Mk 10, Vickers MBT), as well as some heavier vehicles that can be out-manoeuvred.
 +
 
 +
Armour can protect the IS-4M, but most enemies usually have HEAT loaded, or will be able to load it for the next shot. Most importantly you should never find yourself fighting alone against 3 or more enemies, even 2 are hard to handle most of the time. At least when fighting one-on-one you can always try to retreat or one-shot them, depending on the situation (i.e. either gunner/gun or driver/transmission knocked out).
 +
 
 +
All in all, you should play the IS-4M as if it is a slow medium tank with sub-par firepower due to the reload speed - hope that armour withstands some shots, while taking on enemies one or two at a time; if speed can be gained - use it.
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 +
=== The Stock Grind ===
 +
The IS-4M is less painful to play when stock because at times you can get very lucky matches where no-one seems to penetrate you and you get tons of research points for withstanding a lot of shots. Nonetheless, the experience is very much similar to the IS-3 - slow tank, slow reload, gun and engine are often out of commission. Due to this, you must research Parts and FPE first, this is extremely important. Generally, you would want to be behind your teammates, to let them direct shots away from you, when reloaded you can poke out and shoot your shot, right before going back into the cover or behind teammates. Sniping is an option, but it's not the most viable since there's quite a lot of bullet drop and missing your shots will cause the very long reload.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle regarding its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using certain definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
−
'''Pros:'''  
+
'''Pros:'''
−
* Good frontal armour; can sometimes cause even 128 mm shells to bounce off
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 +
* Very good frontal armour; can bounce 128 mm shells from the Maus and even point blank shots from some British tanks using APDS (like [[Vickers MBT]]) will often be deflected, unless hit in a weak spot
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* Armour on the back of the turret is very tough and due to its angle is arguably as strong as the front, causing confusion and/or shock for enemies expecting the rear to be weaker
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* Retains the powerful 122 mm gun and ammunition of the previous IS-3
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* Strong combination of armour and armament
 +
* Good reverse speed for a heavy tank
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* Can easily knock out most tanks with a single shot
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Priority target for the enemy team due to its fearsome reputation
 +
* Long reload of 25 seconds
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* Frontal armour has a small but noticeable weak spot below the gun barrel, where the turret meets the hull, and shots coming through it often one-shot IS-4M
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* Ammo rack in the back of the turret; if a shell penetrates, the ammo could detonate
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* Can be vulnerable to tanks equipped with HEAT, APDS and APFSDS
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* Armour penetration for the shells can be lacking at the rank
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* Packed crew can be knocked out easily in a single shot
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* Very little gun depression
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
−
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
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<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
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===Development===
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During the development of the [[IS-3]] in 1944 under General Nikolai Dukhov, a separate project was underway by a design team led by L.S. Troyanov to improve the [[IS-2 (1944)|IS-2]] design. This separate project commenced under the designation ''Object 701''. The project produced three proposed design. The ''Object 701-2'' with a S-34 100 mm gun, ''701-5'' with a different armour configuration, and the ''701-6'' with the 122 mm D-25 gun. The ''701-6'' was accepted for further development, to which was modified with thicker armour, longer hull, and a more powerful engine. There was some implementation of German designs into the prototype; the engine has a cooling system that uses a pair of circular fans on the engine deck, a feature also is seen on the [[Panther A|Panther tank]].<ref name="ZalogaIS">Zaloga Steven. ''IS-2 Heavy Tank 1944-73'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1994</ref>
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===Usage===
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''Object 701'' was eventually approved for production in 1947 as the '''IS-4'''. The production turned out 200 tanks (some sources say 250) before the production was halted. The reason being that the IS-4 was criticized for being inadequate in mobility despite its new engine.<ref name="ZalogaIS" /> While production ended, the remaining IS-4 still saw service in the Soviet Union. When the Korean War broke out in 1950 and the United States and its allies got involved, the IS-4s were all shipped to the Far East of the Soviet Union in anticipation of Soviet intervention in the Korean War. They were not committed despite pressure by the Chinese from fear of inciting another world war. Even so, the IS-4 stayed in the region ready for action. In the late 1950s, the IS-4 underwent a modernization program along the lines of the IS-3 with increased ammo stowage, new machine gun armaments, new gun optics, better engine, and better filtration system and this modernized variant was named the '''IS-4M'''.<ref name="ZalogaIS" /> The IS-4 stayed in service in the Soviet Union until the 1960s.
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 +
===Legacy===
 +
The IS-4, as a relatively unsuccessful Soviet tank, faded to obscurity with little information on it past its development period. It was the heaviest of the Soviet heavy tanks that were slated for production. The IS-4's design was further developed on in the IS tank family with the ''Object 703'', with the design using an electrical transmission instead of a mechanical one. This vehicle redesignated the ''[[IS-6]]'', also proved to be problematic and was shelved.<ref name="ZalogaIS" />
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 +
{{break}}
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{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
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Development of this tank began in July 1943 at the ChKZ factory. The main impetus for creating a new Soviet heavy tank was the prospect of being able to install more powerful artillery on it than what was installed on the IS-2. The vehicle underwent testing until the autumn of 1944. The new vehicle had one inarguable virtue - no tank or anti-tank cannon of Soviet or German make could penetrate its 160 mm frontal armour. At the end of 1944, two more vehicles equipped with modernised transmission were produced.
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 +
In April 1945, the tank was put into service and mass-produced under the designation IS-4. The vehicle's hull was fully welded, while its turret was cast with tapering armour thickness. Along with its 122 mm D-25T cannon, it was also armed with a coaxial 12.7 mm machine gun. An identical machine gun was placed as an anti-aircraft gun on a ring mount above the loader's hatch. One of the vehicle's characteristic features was its original ammunition rack, in which shells were housed in special metal canisters. The tank had epicyclic transmission and individual torsion-bar suspension. The crew consisted of 4 people. The vehicle's powertrain was a 750 hp B-12 diesel engine. With this engine, the tank could reach 43 km/h on-road.
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 +
The IS-4 was mass-produced until 1949. In total, around 250 of them were made. These vehicles served in the Far East.
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It became clear during its deployment that the tank's mass exceeded the carrying capacity of most bridges and transport platforms. It was this fact that effectively buried the idea of building vehicles with a mass greater than 50 tonnes. The IS-4 was taken out of operation and placed in long-term storage, and then withdrawn from service entirely. After this, it was often used on ballistic ranges as a target.
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{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
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;Skins
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* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_is_4m Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
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== Read also ==
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;Videos
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
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{{Youtube-gallery|B2woWvJK4ew|'''Top 7 most armoured vehicles'''  discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:49  - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|MNacjyimuCQ|'''The Shooting Range #95''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 07:03 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}
  
 +
== See also ==
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<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
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* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
  
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''ETC.''
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;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role
  
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== Sources ==
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* [[M103]]
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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* [[Conqueror]]
  
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== External links ==
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<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''other literature.''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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 +
=== References ===
 +
<references />
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{{TankManufacturer ChTZ}}
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{{USSR heavy tanks}}

Latest revision as of 15:47, 14 July 2024

Rank VII | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
IS-4M
ussr_is_4m.png
GarageImage IS-4M.jpg
ArtImage IS-4M.png
IS-4M
USSR flag.png USSR
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
7.7 7.7 7.7
Class:
Research:120 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:340 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The IS-4M is an improved modification of the fourth variant of the IS heavy tank family. Like the IS-3, the IS-4 (designation Object 701) was intended to replace the IS-2. The IS-4 was designed to be the pride of the Soviet Army, with extremely thick armour, a weight of 53 tonnes, and a 750 horsepower V-12 diesel engine capable of reaching speeds of up to 43 km/h. Despite being an upgrade to the IS-2, it never offered much to the table, particularly when compared to the IS-3, a lighter, faster, and cheaper tank that had stunned the Western world only a few years previously. The IS-4, most importantly, used the same 122 mm D-25T tank gun as the IS-2 and IS-3. Production began in March 1947 and stopped in 1949, as any work on tanks weighing more than 50 tonnes was to be terminated. The tank proved to be too heavy, sluggish, and poorly built. IS-4M, a small batch of 25 units with some enhancements, was constructed in 1951. Only 258 units were built in total.

Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the IS-4M is an immediate successor of the IS-3, and it has even greater armour, making it difficult for many opponents to penetrate from the front. Needless to say, this tank is nearly invulnerable to conventional ammunition from the front. Unfortunately, the main armament remains the same 122 mm D-25T tank gun used on all prior IS heavy tank variants beginning with the IS-2, and at this rank, it simply feels inadequate sometimes. The gameplay differs slightly from its predecessor in that angling can work, but it must be done properly. A small angle will enhance the hull armour all around from the frontal perspective. Furthermore, since it is substantially heavier, the IS-4M is less manoeuvrable, making it difficult to play in faster-paced battles in higher ranks.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades
Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle
Armourfront / side / back
Hull160 / 160 / 100
Turret250 / 200 / 170
Crew4 people
Visibility87 %

The IS-4M has very good armour although a very cramped crew compartment. Most shots will not be able to penetrate its frontal armour, and the turret is also very tricky to penetrate from the sides. However the crammed crew is very vulnerable to any shot that manages to penetrate, and in those situations surviving a hit is very unlikely.

Armour type:

  • Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof, Hatch roof)
  • Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)
Armour Front Sides Rear Roof
Hull 140 mm (62°) Front glacis
160 mm (40°) Lower glacis
160 mm (34-77°) Driver's port
40 mm (44-87°) Top of Driver's port		 160 mm (30-53°) Top
160 mm Middle
30 mm (61°) Bottom 		100 mm (37°) Top
30 mm (80°) Middle
100 mm (31-39°) Bottom 		30 mm
Turret 200-250 mm (2-89°) Turret front
200 mm (0-65°) , 170 + 250 mm (2-61°) Gun mantlet 		200 mm (3-40°) 150 (62-72°) Top
170 mm (21-49°) Bottom 		30 mm Front, Hatch roof, Ventilators
50 mm Front sides
170 mm Center

Notes:

  • Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, torsion bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 30 mm thick.
  • Very angled turret, prone to bounce shots

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB46 / 12 km/h
RB and SB43 / 11 km/h
Number of gears6 forward
3 back
Weight60.0 t
Engine power
AB1 431 hp
RB and SB750 hp
Power-to-weight ratio
AB23.9 hp/t
RB and SB12.5 hp/t
Game Mode Max Speed (km/h) Weight (tons) Engine power (horsepower) Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
Forward Reverse Stock Upgraded Stock Upgraded
Arcade 46 12 60 968 1,431 16.13 23.85
Realistic 43 11 663 750 11.05 12.5

The increased weight of the IS-4M compared to the IS-3 means a decrease in overall mobility. Its top speed is quite mediocre and the tank suffers in harsh terrain; while the reverse speed is good, its acceleration is not the best. Overall, it's not very mobile, even for a heavy tank.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB5 577 → 7 238 Sl icon.png
RB5 906 → 7 665 Sl icon.png
SB9 398 → 12 198 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications98 000 Rp icon.png
164 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 200 Ge icon.png
Crew training98 000 Sl icon.png
Experts340 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 300 Ge icon.png
Research Aces780 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
150 / 210 / 250 % Sl icon.png
202 / 202 / 202 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Mobility Protection Firepower
Mods new tank traks.png
Tracks
Research:
6 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank suspension.png
Suspension
Research:
4 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank break.png
Brake System
Research:
4 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank filter.png
Filters
Research:
6 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank transmission.png
Transmission
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank engine.png
Engine
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods tank tool kit.png
Improved Parts
Research:
4 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods extinguisher.png
Improved FPE
Research:
3 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods tank reinforcement ussr.png
Crew Replenishment
Research:
6 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank horizontal aiming.png
Horizontal Drive
Research:
6 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
240 Ge icon.png
Mods tank cannon.png
Adjustment of Fire
Research:
4 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
122mm_APHE_ammo_pack
Research:
4 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
7 400 Sl icon.png
165 Ge icon.png
Mods new tank vertical aiming.png
Elevation Mechanism
Research:
6 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods tank ammo.png
122mm_APCBC_ammo_pack
Research:
6 400 Rp icon.png
Cost:
10 000 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods smoke screen.png
Smoke grenade
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Main armament

122 mm D-25T cannon
Ammunition30 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
27.1 → 20.8 s
Vertical guidance-3° / 19°
Main article: D-25T (122 mm)

The IS-4M retains the the same 122 mm D-25T cannon found in the IS-2. It's a very capable cannon, with a good damage output and good penetration values for its BR-471D shell. However this means that its reload rate is very low, with 27 seconds when stock and 20.8 seconds with an Aced crew. That means that, even in a best case scenario, it's not capable of firing more than 3 shots per minute.

122 mm D-25T Turret rotation speed (°/s) Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode Capacity Vertical Horizontal Stabilizer Stock Upgraded Full Expert Aced Stock Full Expert Aced
Arcade 30 -3°/+19° ±180° N/A 8.1 11.2 13.6 15.0 16.0 27.04 23.92 22.05 20.80
Realistic 6.0 7.0 8.5 9.4 10.0

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
BR-471 APHE 205 201 182 161 143 127
BR-471B APHEBC 205 203 192 178 166 155
BR-471D APCBC 230 227 215 200 186 173
OF-471 HE 37 37 37 37 37 37
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
BR-471 APHE 795 25 1.2 19 246.4 47° 60° 65°
BR-471B APHEBC 795 25 1.2 19 246.4 48° 63° 71°
BR-471D APCBC 800 25 1.2 19 192.5 48° 63° 71°
OF-471 HE 795 25 0 0.1 3,600 79° 80° 81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the IS-4M
Full
ammo 		Ammo
part 		1st
rack empty 		2nd
rack empty 		3rd
rack empty 		4th
rack empty 		5th
rack empty 		6th
rack empty 		Visual
discrepancy
30 Projectiles
Propellants 		29 (+1)
29 (+1) 		24 (+6)
24 (+6) 		19 (+11)
19 (+11) 		14 (+16)
14 (+16) 		9 (+21)
9 (+21) 		1 (+29)
1 (+29) 		No

Machine guns

12.7 mm DShK machine gun (coaxial)
Ammunition1 000 rounds
Belt capacity50 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
12.7 mm DShK machine gun
Ammunition250 rounds
Belt capacity50 rounds
Reloadbasic crew → aces
10.4 → 8.0 s
Fire rate600 shots/min
Vertical guidance-10° / 60°
Main article: DShK (12.7 mm)
12.7 mm DShK
Mount Capacity (Belt) Fire rate Vertical Horizontal
Coaxial 1,000 (50) 600 N/A N/A
Pintle 250 (50) 600 -10°/+60° ±180°

Usage in battles

The IS-4M is a direct successor to the IS-3, and it features even more armour, so much armour that some APDS and APFSDS cannot penetrate its UFP and most of the turret, needless to say this tank is practically invulnerable to conventional rounds from the front. Unfortunately the gun remains the same 122 mm D-25T that is featured on all IS-series tanks from the IS-2, and at its BR it isn't enough sometimes, while other times a weird bounce can still lead to some good hits. Overall, though, this tank feels much better at its BR than the IS-3, which has a huge shot trap.

General Gameplay

The playstyle is slightly different from its predecessor, as angling can work - it just needs to be done carefully. The frontal side armour is actually thicker than the front, so a slight angle will even-out hull armour all around (in a best case scenario it can get to 275 mm, or just slightly more). Also, the IS-4M is less mobile, because it's heavier - all speeds are dampened and mobility is heavily impaired. However, if you've played the stock IS-3 this tank will feel a bit better.

Arcade Battles

The IS-4M will show a lot of red and yellow on the reticle when a player looks at it in Arcade. Only some HEAT and APFSDS shells can penetrate this beast frontally, and damage will only be substantial if the player takes their time to aim at the important components, because some shells will penetrate but their effect will be minimal inside the tank. However, there is little the IS-4M can do to make it harder to be damaged, because there are practically no weakspots to hide, and wiggling will not stop top rounds from penetrating.

In Arcade Battles, the improved speed should be used to rush any lone enemies and objectives. When this tank is at speed, enemies will often shoot the biggest part they see - the UFP, and many shots will bounce or not penetrate if they hit at an awkward angle; but even if they do penetrate the UFP, the IS-4M will be able to return fire because only the driver and possibly the transmission are knocked out. Very rarely will the IS-4M get one-shot through the UFP. Again, being at speed is being protected, and it is a big surprise to many enemies when a heavy tank drives around a corner at high speed - giving you extra seconds to take aim and disable them (usually you will pass them, so their side and/or rear is visible).

Rushing mostly works in cities, where your speed is further increased by paved roads, and enemies will be spaced apart between buildings. In open areas, rushing will usually end up in the IS-4's demise, as opponents will quickly flank you because it's easy to do.

If rushing is not an option, and you find yourself in close-quarters, your best bet is to try to bait shots either for yourself or for your teammates. You can poke your gun barrel out from a corner, and if enemies shoot it, your teammates can drive out and destroy the enemy. Poking out the side of the turret or heavily angled UFP is an option, but most enemies will realize that it's no use shooting there.

Realistic Battles

In Realistic, the IS-4M retains its ability to rush, although it's subdued. When fully upgraded you can still get up to speed and surprise enemies, especially if you can choose weird routes that are not likely to be checked by enemies. From experience, it's possible to destroy up to 3-4 enemy tanks on city maps like Alaska, American Desert and Middle East, when playing against a good mix of lighter tanks (e.g. Leopard I, Centurion Mk 10, Vickers MBT), as well as some heavier vehicles that can be out-manoeuvred.

Armour can protect the IS-4M, but most enemies usually have HEAT loaded, or will be able to load it for the next shot. Most importantly you should never find yourself fighting alone against 3 or more enemies, even 2 are hard to handle most of the time. At least when fighting one-on-one you can always try to retreat or one-shot them, depending on the situation (i.e. either gunner/gun or driver/transmission knocked out).

All in all, you should play the IS-4M as if it is a slow medium tank with sub-par firepower due to the reload speed - hope that armour withstands some shots, while taking on enemies one or two at a time; if speed can be gained - use it.

The Stock Grind

The IS-4M is less painful to play when stock because at times you can get very lucky matches where no-one seems to penetrate you and you get tons of research points for withstanding a lot of shots. Nonetheless, the experience is very much similar to the IS-3 - slow tank, slow reload, gun and engine are often out of commission. Due to this, you must research Parts and FPE first, this is extremely important. Generally, you would want to be behind your teammates, to let them direct shots away from you, when reloaded you can poke out and shoot your shot, right before going back into the cover or behind teammates. Sniping is an option, but it's not the most viable since there's quite a lot of bullet drop and missing your shots will cause the very long reload.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very good frontal armour; can bounce 128 mm shells from the Maus and even point blank shots from some British tanks using APDS (like Vickers MBT) will often be deflected, unless hit in a weak spot
  • Armour on the back of the turret is very tough and due to its angle is arguably as strong as the front, causing confusion and/or shock for enemies expecting the rear to be weaker
  • Retains the powerful 122 mm gun and ammunition of the previous IS-3
  • Strong combination of armour and armament
  • Good reverse speed for a heavy tank
  • Can easily knock out most tanks with a single shot

Cons:

  • Priority target for the enemy team due to its fearsome reputation
  • Long reload of 25 seconds
  • Frontal armour has a small but noticeable weak spot below the gun barrel, where the turret meets the hull, and shots coming through it often one-shot IS-4M
  • Ammo rack in the back of the turret; if a shell penetrates, the ammo could detonate
  • Can be vulnerable to tanks equipped with HEAT, APDS and APFSDS
  • Armour penetration for the shells can be lacking at the rank
  • Packed crew can be knocked out easily in a single shot
  • Very little gun depression

History

Development

During the development of the IS-3 in 1944 under General Nikolai Dukhov, a separate project was underway by a design team led by L.S. Troyanov to improve the IS-2 design. This separate project commenced under the designation Object 701. The project produced three proposed design. The Object 701-2 with a S-34 100 mm gun, 701-5 with a different armour configuration, and the 701-6 with the 122 mm D-25 gun. The 701-6 was accepted for further development, to which was modified with thicker armour, longer hull, and a more powerful engine. There was some implementation of German designs into the prototype; the engine has a cooling system that uses a pair of circular fans on the engine deck, a feature also is seen on the Panther tank.[1]

Usage

Object 701 was eventually approved for production in 1947 as the IS-4. The production turned out 200 tanks (some sources say 250) before the production was halted. The reason being that the IS-4 was criticized for being inadequate in mobility despite its new engine.[1] While production ended, the remaining IS-4 still saw service in the Soviet Union. When the Korean War broke out in 1950 and the United States and its allies got involved, the IS-4s were all shipped to the Far East of the Soviet Union in anticipation of Soviet intervention in the Korean War. They were not committed despite pressure by the Chinese from fear of inciting another world war. Even so, the IS-4 stayed in the region ready for action. In the late 1950s, the IS-4 underwent a modernization program along the lines of the IS-3 with increased ammo stowage, new machine gun armaments, new gun optics, better engine, and better filtration system and this modernized variant was named the IS-4M.[1] The IS-4 stayed in service in the Soviet Union until the 1960s.

Legacy

The IS-4, as a relatively unsuccessful Soviet tank, faded to obscurity with little information on it past its development period. It was the heaviest of the Soviet heavy tanks that were slated for production. The IS-4's design was further developed on in the IS tank family with the Object 703, with the design using an electrical transmission instead of a mechanical one. This vehicle redesignated the IS-6, also proved to be problematic and was shelved.[1]


Archive of the in-game description

Development of this tank began in July 1943 at the ChKZ factory. The main impetus for creating a new Soviet heavy tank was the prospect of being able to install more powerful artillery on it than what was installed on the IS-2. The vehicle underwent testing until the autumn of 1944. The new vehicle had one inarguable virtue - no tank or anti-tank cannon of Soviet or German make could penetrate its 160 mm frontal armour. At the end of 1944, two more vehicles equipped with modernised transmission were produced.

In April 1945, the tank was put into service and mass-produced under the designation IS-4. The vehicle's hull was fully welded, while its turret was cast with tapering armour thickness. Along with its 122 mm D-25T cannon, it was also armed with a coaxial 12.7 mm machine gun. An identical machine gun was placed as an anti-aircraft gun on a ring mount above the loader's hatch. One of the vehicle's characteristic features was its original ammunition rack, in which shells were housed in special metal canisters. The tank had epicyclic transmission and individual torsion-bar suspension. The crew consisted of 4 people. The vehicle's powertrain was a 750 hp B-12 diesel engine. With this engine, the tank could reach 43 km/h on-road.

The IS-4 was mass-produced until 1949. In total, around 250 of them were made. These vehicles served in the Far East.

It became clear during its deployment that the tank's mass exceeded the carrying capacity of most bridges and transport platforms. It was this fact that effectively buried the idea of building vehicles with a mass greater than 50 tonnes. The IS-4 was taken out of operation and placed in long-term storage, and then withdrawn from service entirely. After this, it was often used on ballistic ranges as a target.


Media

Skins
Videos
Top 7 most armoured vehicles discusses the IS-4M at 3:49 - War Thunder Official Channel
The Shooting Range #95 - Pages of History section at 07:03 discusses the IS-4M.

See also

Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Zaloga Steven. IS-2 Heavy Tank 1944-73 Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1994


Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant (Челябинский тракторный завод)
IFVs 
BMP-1  BMP-1
Heavy Tanks 
KV  KV-85 · KV-122
IS-1/2  IS-1 · IS-2 · IS-2 (1944) · IS-2 "Revenge" · IS-2 No.321
T-10  T-10A · T-10M
Other IS Tanks  IS-3 · IS-4M
Tank Destroyers 
KV Derivatives  SU-152
IS Derivatives  ISU-152 · ISU-122 · ISU-122S · Object 268
Export 
IS-2  ␗IS-2 · IS-2 No.402 · ␗IS-2 (1944)
ISU  ␗ISU-152 · ␗ISU-122
IFVs  SPz BMP-1
See Also  Leningrad Kirov Plant

USSR heavy tanks
KV-1  KV-1 (L-11) · KV-1 (ZiS-5) · KV-1E · KV-1S
KV-2  KV-2 (1939) · KV-2 (1940) · KV-2 (ZiS-6)
Other KVs  KV-85 · KV-122 · KV-220
IS-1/2  IS-1 · IS-2 · IS-2 (1944) · IS-2 No.321 · IS-2 "Revenge" · Object 248
Other IS tanks  IS-3 · IS-4M · IS-6 · IS-7
T-10  T-10A · T-10M
Multi-turreted  T-35 · SMK
Other  Object 279
Lend-Lease  ▂MK-II "Matilda"

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