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IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (SBX36)

IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)

IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (SBX36)
Includes five plastic IS-2 obr 1943 or IS-2 obr 1944 tanks, six tank commander figures and one decal sheet.

When the IS-2 heavy tank entered service with the Guards Heavy Tank Companies of the Red Army, they were the most powerful tanks in the world. Better armoured than the German Tiger, they mounted a 122mm gun capable of destroying any tank in service or smashing an anti-tank gun nest in a single hit.

This product is no longer currently available for sale...

The culmination of Flames Of War’s Late-war period, the Berlin intelligence handbook focuses on the Soviet assault on the German capital city of Berlin, the battles to encircle it, and the final desperate defence by the by the rag-tag German forces.

Learn more about the Soviet forces in Berlin here...
Berlin
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
IS-2 obr 1943
The IS (Iosif Stalin) heavy tank in often referred to as the “tank of victory” in Soviet sources. The development of the IS series of tanks started in late 1942, but only really gained momentum in 1943 as a response to the performance of the German Panther and Tiger tanks at the battle of Kursk. Its main disadvantage of the gun was its huge, two-part ammunition, which was difficult and slow to load, and only allowed 28 rounds to be carried. But it proved slightly lighter and faster than the heaviest KV model 1942 tank, with thicker front armour and an improved turret design.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
IS-2 obr 1944
The definitive and most numerous variant of the IS-2, the 1944 model is sometimes referred to as the 'IS-2m' - note the lower-case 'm', not to be confused with the IS-2M, which was the modernised version used in the 1950s. It carried the same D-25T 122mm gun, but with an improved breech mechanism for slightly faster loading. However, with its unweildy two-part ammunition, it was still fairly slow, so it retains ROF 1. Its main difference was a simpler cast hull front, which was easier to produce and replaced the stepped front with a smooth, sloping glacis. The result is the IS-2 obr 1944 has 11 front armour in Flames Of War.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
The IS-2 in Flames Of War
      Armour
   
Name
Mobility
Front
Side
Top
Equipment and Notes
Weapon
Range
ROF
Anti-tank
Firepower
 
IS-2 obr 1943 Slow Tank 10 8 2 Co-ax MG, Turret-rear MG.
 122mm D-25T gun
32"/80cm
1 15 2+
 Breakthrough gun.

IS-2 obr 1944 Slow Tank 11 8 2 Co-ax MG, Turret-rear MG.
 122mm D-25T gun 32"/80cm 1 15  2+  Breakthrough gun.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Turret-rear MG
While not very practical for long-range shooting, a machine-gun mounted in the back of the turret is perfect for discouraging boarders in an assault.

A Turret-rear MG may not shoot, it is purely defensive.

In assault combat, if a hit from an Infantry or Gun team is allocated to a Tank team armed with a Turret-rear MG, the team that scored the hit must take another Skill Test.
  • If they pass the second Skill Test, the assaulting team gets past the machine-gun to hit the tank and the tank must take an Armour Save as normal.
  • If they fail the second Skill Test, the machine-gunner managed to keep the infantry at bay and protect the tank, and the assaulting team fails to score a hit.
Bailed Out Tank teams do not benefit from their Turret-rear MG.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)

No Saves from Big Guns
Some weapons are just so powerful that there is no chance of surviving a hit from them. These heavy guns are often mounted in tanks and self-propelled guns designed to break through enemy defensive lines.

Infantry teams, Gun teams, Passengers, and Unarmoured vehicles automatically fail their Saves when hit by a Breakthrough Gun or a Bunker Buster. This does not apply to Artillery Bombardments.

IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)

IS-85
A third option which this box allows you to build is the IS-85, also known as the IS-1. It was created as a temporary stop-gap measure, using the 1943 model armed with an 85 mm gun. Many IS-85s were re-fitted with 122mm guns before they saw service. The IS-85 first featured in Mid-war Monsters as an experimental tank, but it did see service during the first half of 1944. You can field it in Red Bear as an option in the Gvardeyskiy Tyazhelyy Tankovy Polk.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Contents of the IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company
Contact the customer service team at [email protected] if you have issues with any components.
IS-2 Turret and Hull Top Sprue (x5)
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (SBX36)
Hull and Track Sprue (x5)
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (SBX36)
Tank Commander Sprue (x1) Decal Sheet (x1)
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (SBX36)

Assembling the IS-2

Step 1. Begin assembly by gluing the tracks onto the hull. The keys ensure the tracks are on the correct sides.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Step 2. Add the body to the hull. You have the choice between the IS-2 obr 1944 hull top (left) and the IS-2 obr 1943/IS-85 hull top (right). See more explanation below.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Step 3. Now we begin assembly of the turret. Start off by gluing the top and bottom together.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Step 4. Now choose the appropriate turret front. The part with the wider gun mantlet (left) is correct for the IS-2 obr 1944, and for most IS-2 obr 1934 tanks. The narrower mantlet is for the IS-85, and some early production IS-2 obr 1943 vehicles. Below: Next add the gun. The one with the muzzle brake is the 122mm gun for the IS-2 obr 1943 and obr 1944. The straight, tapered gun is the 85mm gun for the IS-85. Both guns are keyed at the top to ensure correct alignment.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Step 5. Once the bond between the gun and mantlet has cured glue it to the turret body.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Step 6. Flip the turret over and glue the turret pin into the bottom. Step 7. Simply place the turret onto the body without gluing, so you can rotate the turret to point at the shooting target.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)

Alternatively, you may prefer to glue rare earth magnets into the recess in the hull and to the bottom of the turret. Magnets are a quick and secure way of fixing your turrets to the hulls, but they are a small added expense, which is why the turret peg is provided, leaving the choice up to you.

Rare Earth Magnets (XX105) are available through the online store here...

These 1mm x 5mm magnets fit perfectly into the round spaces in the hull and turret.

Rare Earth Magnets (XX105)
Step 8. Next glue on the hatch and turret. You can chose between a closed or open hatch. You can aslo add a DSHK AA machine-gun, if you have chosen to include this +5-point upgrade option in your army list. AA machine-guns always seem to be the part of a tank that is most likely to get broken off and lost, so a spare is included on the sprue.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Step 9. Next glue on the turret rear MG.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Step 10. Adding the external fuel drums. The standard layout was two on each side of the hull. But historical photos commonly show vehicles with some or all of the tanks removed, so feel free to leave some off to give your force some variety.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
Step 11. There is also an option to add spare tracks to the front of the hull.
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36) IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
IS-2 Guards Heavy Tank Company (Plastic) (SBX36)
 Happy modelling!

~George 


Last Updated On Monday, February 25, 2019