Heavy artillery self-installation ISU-152

Work to create a self heavy artillery installation began in the second half of 1943. Using its previous experience in piloting tank KV-13, KB team of experienced factory number 100 has created «object 237» - a prototype of future serial tanks IS-1.

After the tests, it became clear that the new machine has a significant advantage over normal production while tank KV-1c. The result was the disposal of the National Defense Commission (SCG) for the early launch of the prototype in a series at Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant (CHKZ). Production of new tanks that have received the designation of IP-85 (IP-1), was given the highest priority. At the time, CHKZ produced heavy tank KV-85, the average T-34 and SU-152 ACS. The latter is the direct precursor to ISU-152.

This samohodka powerful armed 152.4-mm howitzer gun-ML-20 in the fixed-armor wheelhouse, which was intended to replace the tower on the chassis of a basic tank KV-1s. Baptism of fire SU-152 took to the Kursk arc, immediately won respect as the Soviet, and from enemy soldiers. During the offensive phase of Orel-Kursk operation SU-152 as effectively used by its intended purpose as a heavy assault gun support attacking tanks and infantry.

The beginning of serial production of tanks IS accompanied by a gradual but complete phasing out production of all products at CHKZ vehicles of other types, including much needed front SU-152. Therefore, designers IS tank at the design stage prototype was immediately shipped to the establishment of ACS at its base, equivalent to SU-152 for weapons.

At the stages of design and construction of a prototype machine that was in the documents of the time as «IS-152». Despite the very same artsistemu for new samohodki conning tower had to re-establish, as well as borrow an old version of its SU-152 has proved impossible because of a geometric shape tank shell IS compared with KV tanks.

As a tank shell landed IS was lower, the new house samohodki have a higher compared with the SU-152 and the car regained its easily identifiable characteristic appearance. Large cuttings raised the visibility of ACS on the battlefield, but at the same time providing the best in comparison with the SU-152 crews working conditions.

Through lessons in the development of SU-152 experience and a great nomenclature borrowed from the SU-152 and SW parts prototype samohodki-based IP tank was constructed in a very short period of time. Received factory index «object 241» prototype to test out 21 Nov, 1943. Following the successful completion of their new samohodka was launched into serial production of the final document ISU-152. The plan first 5 cars were to be handed military acceptance in November and in December the plant was to pass another 30 samohodok.

In the process of production design ISU-152 has introduced small, but important changes. On machines later editions installed radio 10RK (instead of 10R), 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun DShK capacity of basic and additional fuel tanks was increased compared with the base tank.

These samohodkah was also possible to install two flue drafts with elektrozapalom and dumping their device manual. During the 1944-45 biennium. in an experimental attempts to increase the firepower samohodki - in SKB-2 plant number 100 was built a prototype of «object 246» (also known as MIS-152-1 or ISU-152BM), armed with a powerful 152.4-mm gun BL-8, developed in the OKB-172 NKVD.

Large radius barrel severely hampered the exploitation of the machine, was also found many other weaknesses, making installation was not taken up.

The second option was to see if the gun BL-10 with a shorter barrel, compared with the BL-8 of the same developer ( «object 247» or MIS-152-2). But that ACS has not been adopted by. The development of self-installation ISU-152 is not stopped, and after the Second World War.