IS-2

"It is a fact that under equal conditions, large-scale battles and whole wars are won by troops which have a strong will for victory, clear goals before them, high moral standards, and devotion to the banner under which they go into battle."

– General Georgy Zhukov

The IS-2 is the final word in Soviet heavy tank design, known for its heavy sloped armor and hilariously powerful 122mm main cannon. Designed in response to the German Tiger and Panther tanks, the IS-2 first saw service in the invasion of Romania and the Baltics, where it was shown to be capable of taking shots from even the feared German 88. This came at a trade-off however, of relatively poor crew ergonomics and an exceptionally slow rate of fire of about 3 rounds a minute for a trained crew. Crewed by the best veterans the Soviets could muster and train, the IS-2s led many of the most important offensives of operation Barbarossa and the push into Germany.