The ISU-122 was a Soviet heavy self-propelled gun built on the IS heavy tank chassis, primarily used as a powerful tank destroyer during World War II, featuring the 122mm A-19 gun for high-velocity anti-tank fire, distinguishing it from the ISU-152's howitzer role. Developed due to a shortage of howitzer tubes, it offered good armor and high explosive potential, with later variants like the ISU-122S featuring a semi-automatic breech for a faster reload. Mass production ran until late 1945, with surviving vehicles often converted for other duties.
Developed from the ISU-152 chassis (Object 242), the ISU-122 (Object 242) was intended as a long-range tank destroyer, using the 122mm A-19S gun. Initially, the ISU chassis was fitted with the 152mm howitzer (ISU-152); however, a surplus of A-19 guns and a need for tank destroyers led to fitting the A-19 onto available ISU hulls in early 1944. The main gun was the 122mm A-19S, later upgraded in the ISU-122S with a semi-automatic breech (D-25S), significantly increasing the rate of fire from 1.5 to 3 rounds per minute.
It excelled at direct-fire antitank combat and could also fire high-explosive shells with good effect, sometimes used for indirect fire when artillery was scarce. The ISU-122S, with its improved D-25S gun and distinctive ball-shaped mantlet with a double-baffle muzzle brake, was a significant improvement. Mass production of both the ISU-122 and ISU-122S ended in late 1945, with over 1,700 ISU-122s built. Many were converted into armored recovery vehicles (ARVs) or supply vehicles after the war. In essence, the ISU-122 filled a critical anti-tank niche, leveraging the powerful IS chassis with a heavy, direct-fire gun for engaging enemy armor, especially heavier German tanks.
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History of the ISU-122!
The ISU-122 was a Soviet heavy self-propelled gun built on the IS heavy tank chassis, primarily used as a powerful tank destroyer during World War II, featuring the 122mm A-19 gun for high-velocity anti-tank fire, distinguishing it from the ISU-152's howitzer role. Developed due to a shortage of howitzer tubes, it offered good armor and high explosive potential, with later variants like the ISU-122S featuring a semi-automatic breech for a faster reload. Mass production ran until late 1945, with surviving vehicles often converted for other duties.
Developed from the ISU-152 chassis (Object 242), the ISU-122 (Object 242) was intended as a long-range tank destroyer, using the 122mm A-19S gun. Initially, the ISU chassis was fitted with the 152mm howitzer (ISU-152);
however, a surplus of A-19 guns and a need for tank destroyers led to fitting the A-19 onto available ISU hulls in early 1944. The main gun was the 122mm A-19S, later upgraded in the ISU-122S with a semi-automatic breech (D-25S), significantly increasing the rate of fire from 1.5 to 3 rounds per minute.
It excelled at direct-fire antitank combat and could also fire high-explosive shells with good effect, sometimes used for indirect fire when artillery was scarce. The ISU-122S, with its improved D-25S gun and distinctive ball-shaped mantlet with a double-baffle muzzle brake, was a significant improvement. Mass production of both the ISU-122 and ISU-122S ended in late 1945, with over
1,700 ISU-122s built. Many were converted into armored recovery vehicles (ARVs) or supply vehicles after the war. In essence, the ISU-122 filled a critical anti-tank niche, leveraging the powerful IS chassis with a heavy, direct-fire gun for engaging enemy armor, especially heavier German tanks.
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