ISU-122 RUSSIAN SELF-PROPELLED GUN

The ISU-122 is a Soviet self-propelled gun (also classified as a tank destroyer) from the Second World War. The first prototypes of this car appeared in 1943, and the production of serine continued in the years 1943-1945. The weight of the vehicle was 45.5 tons. The drive was provided by a single 520 HP W-2-IS engine. It was armed with a 122mm D-25S gun and one 12.7mm DSzK machine gun. The crew also had two 7.62 mm PPS submachine guns. The self-propelled gun ISU-122 was developed at the Fabryka im. Kirov in Chelyabinsk. In order to shorten the development work, the new weapon was based on the chassis of the IS-2 heavy tank. It is worth adding that the new self-propelled gun shared many structural elements and components from the ISU-152, which of course greatly facilitated the production and operation of both vehicles. A modified version, designated ISU-122S, was also produced in the course of production and was armed with a modified 122mm D-25S cannon. The ISU-122 SPG is rated as a generally successful vehicle, with powerful armament that could successfully engage enemy armor. The disadvantages, however, include the limited field of view of the crew and some problems while driving off-road, resulting from the long barrel of the main armament. The ISU-122 vehicles were used successfully on the Eastern Front from 1944 to 1945.