War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Wirbelwind

2020-01-26T20:08:00Z

U66022927: /* Description */

{{Specs-Card|code=germ_flakpanzer_IV_Wirbelwind}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_Wirbelwind.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft (SPAA) vehicle {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

The Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind is a anti-aircraft platform on a Panzer IV chassis. Armed with quad 20 mm FlaK38 cannons, this machine will absolutely obliterate any enemy plane that's unfortunate enough to cross paths with it. Due to the high fire rate, this machine effectively spews out a river of high explosives. Any airplane unfortunate enough to even touch that stream will at least burst into flames, if not more severe damage. However, they are incredibly easy to spot because of the tracers. While an individual 20 mm shell does not do much damage, it is very hard when using the Wirbelwind to hit an aircraft with only one shell. The sheer number of shells will overwhelm the aircraft, and act like a laser, cutting off pieces and burning others. this tank considering its BR can have some anti tank moments having about 60 mm of penetration if catching a Sherman from the side you can very much ruin there day.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

The armour surrounding the turret can provide a small amount of protection against plane machine guns, but the amount of armour on its turret is still low and it has an open top so it's best to destroy the attacking plane quickly or move out of the way.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 80 mm (11°) ''Front plate'' 20 mm (72°) ''Front glacis'' 80 mm (11-12°) ''Lower glacis''|| 30 mm || 30 mm (4-15°) || 10 mm
|-
| Turret || 16 mm (19-24°) || 16 mm (21-27°) || 16 mm (17-22°) || N/A
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Some track links are placed on the front glacis, adding 15 mm armour at their area.
* Belly armour is 10 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 25.0 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 42 (AB)
|-
|39 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|426
|525
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|265
|300
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|17.04
|21.00
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|10.60
|12.00
|-
|}

== Armaments ==

{{main|FlaK 38 (20 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[FlaK 38 (20 mm)|20 mm FlaK 38]] (x4)
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity each)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="3" | 480 (20) || 480 || -10°/+90° || ±180°
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 35.7 || 49.4 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 35.7 || 42.0 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 5.2 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
|-
|}

=== Ammunition ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| PzGr || API-T || 46 || 45 || 33 || 23 || 15 || 11
|-
| PzGr 40 || HVAP-T || 64 || 63 || 33 || 23 || 15 || 11
|-
| Sprgr. || HEFI-T || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 2
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| PzGr || API-T || 780 || 0.15 || N/A || N/A || N/A || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| PzGr 40 || HVAP-T || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A || N/A
|-
| Sprgr. || HEFI-T || 900 || 0.12 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 10.2 || +0° || 62° || 69° || 73°
|-
|}

===Belt types===
{| class="wikitable"
| '''Belts''' || '''Shell composition''' || '''Combat usage'''
|-
| align="left" |'''''Default ''''' || align="left" | [[:Category:Ammunition#Kinetic_energy_shells|API-T]], [[:Category:Ammunition#Cannon_shells|HEFI-T]] (Armour Piercing Incendiary tracer – High Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary tracer) shell || align="left" | 50% of this belt are useless against tanks or planes. However against other SPAA this belt can reliably take out crew, armament, ammo and engine. Having one belt in reserve does not hurt.
|-
| align="left" |'''''Sprgr.''''' || align="left" | [[:Category:Ammunition#Cannon_shells|HEFI-T]] (High Explosive Fragmentation Incendiary tracer) shell || align="left" | Versus planes and open combat compartment vehicles. Aircraft will usually take three to six hits. Heavy armoured attackers and bombers may require more though.
|-
| align="left" |'''''PzGr''''' || align="left" | [[:Category:Ammunition#Kinetic_energy_shells|API-T]] (Armour Piercing Incendiary tracer) shell || align="left" | Intermediate usage until the better PzGr 40 can be used. Decent enough versus light tanks and other vehicles from the rear. Due the lack of HE filler underwhelming damage, yet still better than the PzGr 40.
|-
| align="left" |'''''PzGr 40''''' || align="left" | HVAP-T, API-T (High Velocity Armour Piercing tracer - Armour Piercing Incendiary tracer) shell || align="left" | Best penetrating shell of this vehicle. However, the damage effects are very poor. In close combat snipe for modules and crewmember for increased survival rate. Nothing is more annoying than emptying a clip and then to get destroyed in the reload because the enemy gunner survived. Against angled armoured it is not very effective like any other ACPR shell, this is offset by the very high base penetration though.
|}

=== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] ===
[[File:Ammoracks_Wirbelwind.png|x250px|right|thumbnail|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] for the Wirbelwind.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |8th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''160''' || 36 ''(+128)'' || 32 ''(+128)'' || 24 ''(+136)'' || 20 ''(+140)'' || 16 ''(+144)'' || 12 ''(+148)'' || 8 ''(+152)'' || 0 ''(+160)'' || style="text-align:left" | Yes
|-
|}

Clips with 20 rounds each (3,200 rounds max)

<nowiki>*</nowiki>Ammunition clips in turret do not empty

== Usage in the battles ==


Being the first anti-aircraft of a modified Panzer IV, it is superior to the previous vehicle, the [[Sd.Kfz. 6/2|3.7-cm Flak 36 auf Selbstfahrlafette Sd.Kfz. 6/2]] in many areas and has little to none disadvantages. One notable disadvantage would be the lack of penetration of API-T rounds compared to the prior 3,7 cm cannon. It is recommended to stay away from areas of combat as your quad 20's will do practically nothing against the front plates of heavier armoured enemies at its rank, against which its only defence is to blind enemy vehicles with a barrage of fire and hope allies will neutralize the threat. However, firing a stream of HVAP-T rounds into an enemy's side plates can lead to a very fast elimination.

In terms of advantages with the 20 mm autocannons, the quad-mount gives the Wirbelwind the ability to fire a lethal stream of explosive round at any pilot who wanders into your sights.

'''Anti-Aircraft:''' 
While in tank guns, dispersion (the MOA cone that is used to determine accuracy) is something that is ideally kept to a minimum, this vehicle benefits from it by having shots spread out in a sort of "shotgun" effect, rather than having four separate beams of projectiles. This means that if you can get your lead point right, your odds of shredding aircraft with even a momentary burst is exceptional compared to other types of AA present at the ranks that you will be operating this vehicle. Unfortunately, this rapid-fire ability is hindered by the 20 round magazine capacity for each cannon (for a total of 80 rounds), meaning that it is best to fire 3-5 round bursts to make effective use of what ammunition you have and your magazine size. This is one of the few areas the Wirbelwind is caught lacking, the others being an open crew compartment roof and the fact that your SPAA houses most of its crew in a thinly armoured turret.

Some of these disadvantages with the Wirbelwind can be mitigated by working with another SPAA. Two Wirbelwinds about 30m apart prove a daunting combination to enemy aircraft as their crossed streams maximize their ability to hit and it is very hard to neutralise both in one go. Besides doubling their spotting ability — when one sees the other firing, he or she will be quick to acquire the same target and proceed to severely worsen the aeroplane's day. For this reason, as a matter of etiquette, do not fire into the air if you do not see anyone, so as not to mislead your teammates.

'''Attack:''' 
It is highly discouraged to use the Wirbelwind aggressively since it can be hard to always get such a favourable engagement (and also it is not the SPAA's job to do so). However, should a player choose such an attack plan, they should consider either being supported by friendly tanks as an additional gun or cover, or flanking wide and make effective use of cover and concealment against thin-skinned vehicles. Use roads less-traveled to remain hidden. No matter which manoeuvre that is used, stay vigilant for enemy aircraft to avoid them spotting and pouncing on the Wirbelwind. Even if equipped with the PzGr 40 belt for anti-tank purposes, eighty 20 mm shells from the Wirbelwind can still mess up an aircraft's flight time.

Once the question of manoeuvring to an advantageous position is answered, the next concern is seeing if the 20 mm have enough firepower to be of any threat to the enemy downrange. While the PzGr 40 APCR belt can be a threat to enemy light tank, lightly armoured tank destroyers like the [[M18 GMC|M18 Hellcat]], and also enemy anti-air vehicle, the shell's penetration decreases drastically at range and it's not enough to deal with more heavily armoured vehicles, with the side armour of some medium tanks even being a questionable option. The Wirbelwind's armour is only enough to reduce the damage done by aeroplanes, which makes engaging any sort of tank very dangerous. As such, pick targets wisely and make sure to either take them out within one belt's worth of shells or hold fire to avoid drawing any attention at all.

===Modules===
'''Tier 1''': ''Spr.Gr.'' (new HE belts) -> ''Parts'' (for repairs) -> ''Turet drive'' (faster turn rate) 
'''Tier 2''': ''FPE'' (fire extinguisher) -> plus something of desire ''Adjustment of fire'' is not recommended with 1800rpm. Spray a minefield! 
'''Tier 3''': ''Elevation mechanism'' (faster barrel raise) -> Anything else 
Everything else can be researched at leisure.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* High rate of fire (1,800 rounds per minute combined!)
* Impressive ammo capacity of 3,200 rounds / 2 minutes of fire
* Will devastate planes at close range
* Excellent turret traverse makes it possible to stay on aircraft
* Extreme fire rate, compared to other SPAA
* Excellent armour for an AA vehicle
* High driving speed able to move from cover to cover with little to no problem.

'''Cons:'''

* Open top design makes vehicle vulnerable to strafing runs by enemy aircraft
* Hexagonal turret susceptible to HE rounds
* Less effective at firing at distant aircraft
* Reloading rate sub-par compared to other SPAAs at 5.6 seconds
* With continuous firing, a magazine is emptied very fast
* 20 mm shells have difficulty dealing with bombers due to both durability and an average altitude of targets
* Weak-side armour, where an ammo rack is located

== History ==

===Development===
Development of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns that could keep up with the Panzer formations were not taken into consideration in the early years of World War II due to the Luftwaffe's superiority over the air, but gradual losses in the Luftwaffe and inability to support their flights gave the Allies the upper hand in the air, granting them air superiority. The growing air power of the Allies forced the Germans to develop methods to protect their tank formations from strafing from Allied aircraft, one early design to protect the front line tanks was the ''Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen'', an interim design as Flakpanzer designs underwent development. SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Wilhelm Krause of the 12th SS Panzer Division came up with the concept of the '''Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind''' in the summer of 1944. The commander of the 12th SS Panzer Regiment, SS-Obersturmbannführer Max Wünsche, received this and presented it to Hitler, to which he approved for its development.

The design called for use of the proven Panzer IV design. The Wirbelwind uses the Panzer IV hull, but the original Panzer IV turret was removed and replaced with an open-topped nine-sided turret that mounted the anti-aircraft armament. The anti-aircraft armament chosen for the vehicle was a quadruple mounted 2 cm FlaK 38. Though a closed-top turret design was desired, the number of gasses given out by the gun made this impossible for the crew. The production of the Wirbelwind commenced at the Ostbau Werke at Sagan, Silesia. Between 87 to 105 Wirbelwinds were manufactured from May to November 1944, with the discrepancies due to differences in the Wehrmacht service records and Ostbau Werke's production records.

===Combat usage===
The troops nicknamed the Wirbelwind the ''"Keksdose"'' (Biscuit Tin) due to its unique turret shape. The Wirbelwind was equipped with Panzer formations to protect them against low-flying aircraft. During the Battle of Normandy in 1944, flak units in the 12th SS Panzer Division were credited with shooting down 45 allied planes. However, there weren't enough to go around in the front-lines so many Panzer formations were left vulnerable to enemy aircraft due to lack of availability of the Flakpanzers. Not only did their small numbers made their effect on the front minimal, but the 20 mm cannon was also determined to insufficient against the more armoured aircraft that the Allies are fielding. Thus, the design was changed to not use the quadruple 2 cm Flak 38, but instead the 3.7 cm FlaK 43 in the new designation [[Ostwind|Flakpanzer IV Ostwind]]. Aside from that the Wirbelwind also served as a ground support role, which it proved very well at with its rapid firing 20 mm cannons.

It was determined that the Flakpanzer IV in the ''Wirbelwind'' and ''Ostwind'' configurations were to be replaced by the [[Kugelblitz]] by early 1945, in an attempt to yet again increase the firepower of the anti-aircraft guns. But this never happened due to the war ending before the Kugelblitz could be deployed.

=== In-game description ===
After losing air superiority, the Wehrmacht needed to improve the AA weapons of its armored tank divisions. The Wirbelwind AA vehicle was built on the chassis of the Pz.IV tank. It was the first specialized, self-sufficient means of defending armored tank divisions against enemy aircraft. The Flakvierling 38 installation was placed in an open turret protected by 16 mm of armor plating. Unlike various other self-propelled AA systems, this AA weapon struck a balance between protection, deployment time, and firepower. Between July, 1944 and March, 1945 105 of these mounts were built. They were used on the Western and Eastern Fronts. The first prototype was built on the basis of a remodeled Pz.IV by Krupp-Druckenmuller GmbH Berlin-Mariendorf in May, 1944.

== Media ==

<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Wirbelwind looking for planes.jpg|thumb|none|350px|The '''Wirelwind''' scanning the sky for target aircraft.]]</li>
</ul></div>

Skins and camouflages for the [http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23wirbelwind Wirbelwind].

== Read also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

''ETC.''

== Sources ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Germany anti-aircraft vehicles}}

IS-6

2020-01-26T20:04:11Z

U66022927: /* Description */

{{Specs-Card
|code = ussr_is_6
|store = 5560
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_IS-6.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.67 "Assault"]]. This is one of the most dreaded tanks of its BR spread since it features a good canon and awesome mobility packed inside an heavily sloped thick Armour that most APHE shells cannot penetrate. Use this tank in any role and situation, it will surely find its place on the battlefield. Having very good mobility and a respectable reverse speed you will often find your self getting trough sticky situations most tanks would struggle in .

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===

100 mm sloped at more or less 60° on all sides provide this vehicle with a reputation to be a ''ricochet master''. Firing on the hull from almost any angle will only result in a glancing shot. The only weak spot being the lower sides of the hull and turret sides and rear, the only way to reliably penetrate it is to get a shot from the side. An attentive player that never shows the sides is an invincible opponent. However, be aware of the frontal armour, as the extremely angled turret armour encasing the cannon breech can create a shot trap and ricochet the shell into the driver's area. This will likely result in your ammo exploding. Be wary when facing any opponent.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Cupola)

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
| colspan="6" align="center" | '''Tank Armour Table'''
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 100 mm (62-65°) ''Front glacis'' 120 mm (53°) ''Lower glacis'' 100 mm (65°) ''Driver's port'' || 120 mm (45°) ''Top'' 100 + 10 mm ''Bottom'' || 60-75 mm (60°) ''Top'' 60 mm (30°) ''Bottom'' || 20 mm
|-
| Turret || 150 mm (6-45°) ''Turret front'' 100-200 + 50 mm (1-76°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 150 mm (7-51°) || 100 mm (5-50°) || 30 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 100 mm || 30 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

*Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick while tracks are 30 mm thick. Torsion bar connectors by the wheels are 60 mm thick.
*Spaced armour plates are placed on the sides, giving an additional 10 mm of side armour.

From the front, only high-end rounds (HEAT-FS, HESH, APFSDS) can penetrate the IS-6. Otherwise, flank it since its lower side armour is unangled behind the tracks. In a close to medium range fight, if the IS-6 is static and facing you, try to shoot its right side turret cupola, a penetrating APHE shell may knock out the commander and gunner, disabling the tank (some large calibre rounds can even knock out the loader and/or driver, resulting in an instant elimination). This strategy is unapplicable with rounds that don't have HE filler.

Another weak spot is the left side of the mantlet which has the optics in it. This part of the armour is thin enough that most shells at the BR can penetrate it, and in doing do, incapacitate the commander and gunner and destroy the cannon breach. If you are lucky and the IS-6 has ammo in the back of its turret, there is a chance to detonate it as well for an instant elimination.

If you happen to flank an IS-6, take the time to aim since half of its side is covered by its dreaded armour. A missed shot will alert the IS-6 player, withdrawing with its fast speed from sight before another shot could be landed. Turret sides and back can ricochet rounds as well, so keep the hull as a priority target.

If encountering this foe from its back, keep in mind to aim for the middle of the engine deck since plates on both sides are as though as their frontal counterparts. If confident, go for it and aim at the turret back.

Any round penetrating the crew compartement leads to an ammo rack detonation most of the time since this tank's interior is filled with ammo all over the place.

=== Mobility ===

If used well, the IS-6 can get into position as fast as a T-54. It is certainly one of the fastest late IS-series tanks. It reaches 44.3 km/h (27.5 mph), the top speed in RB, with ease and has a reverse speed of 16.1 km/h (10 mph).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic
|-
! Weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armor weight (tons)
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 51.1 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 47 (AB)
|-
|44 (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|904
|1,113
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|619
|700
|-
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
!Stock
!Upgraded
|-
|''Arcade''
|17.69
|21.78
|-
|''Realistic/Simulator''
|12.11
|13.7
|-
|}

== Armaments ==
=== Main armament ===

{{main|D-30T (122 mm)}}

The IS-6 features an upgraded version of the [[D-25T (122 mm)|D-25T]] gun found on other IS series variants, the D-30T. Though identical ballistically, it provides a much faster reload, with the IS-6 having a default reload rate only 0.5 seconds longer than the [[T-10M]]. The IS-6 uses the same ammo load as the [[IS-2]] with the best shell being the BR-471B, which means the tank will have trouble against some heavies it may encounter from lacking penetration. In addition, the IS-6 does not have access to the BR-471D, which is usable on the IS-3, also at 7.3 rating.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[D-30T (122 mm)|122 mm D-30T]]
|-
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer
|-
| colspan="3" | 30 || -3°/+20° || ±180° || N/A
|-
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)
|-
! style="width:4em" |Mode
! style="width:4em" |Stock
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| ''Arcade'' || 8.30 || 11.50 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
|-
| ''Realistic'' || 8.30 || 9.80 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
|-
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.
|-
| 20.50 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__
|-
|}

===== Ammunition =====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''
|-
! 10m
! 100m
! 500m
! 1000m
! 1500m
! 2000m
|-
| BR-471 || APHE || 200 || 196 || 179 || 158 || 141 || 125
|-
| BR-471B || APHEBC || 207 || 201 || 183 || 162 || 144 || 129
|-
| OF-471 || HE || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36 || 36
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" |Velocity in m/s
! rowspan="2" |Projectile Mass in kg
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''
''in m:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''
''in mm:''
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):''
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° from horizontal:''
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''
|-
! 0%
! 50%
! 100%
|-
| BR-471 || APHE || 795 || 25 || 1.2 || 15 || 272 || -1° || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| BR-471B || APHEBC || 800 || 25 || 1.2 || 15 || 272 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| OF-471 || HE || 800 || 25 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 3,600 || +0° || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====
[[File:Ammoracks_IS-6.png|right|thumbnail|x250px|[[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] of the IS-6.]]
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full ammo
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Ammo Part
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |5th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |6th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |7th rack empty
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual discrepancy
|-
|| '''30''' || style="text-align:right" | ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 17 ''(+13)'' 25 ''(+5)'' || 13 ''(+17)'' 19 ''(+11)'' || 9 ''(+21)'' 13 ''(+17)'' || 7 ''(+23)'' 7 ''(+23)'' || 5 ''(+25)'' 1 ''(+27)'' || 3 ''(+27)''   || 1 ''(+29)''   || style="text-align:left" | No
|-
|}

Turret empty: 13 (+17)

=== Machine guns ===

{{main|DShK (12.7 mm)|DT (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[DShK (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm DShK]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Pintle mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 300 (50) || 600 || -4°/+85° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
|-
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''
|-
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate (shots/minute)
! rowspan="1" | Vertical guidance
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal guidance
|-
| colspan="4" | 2,000 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The IS-6 is best used as a breakthrough vehicle, supporting teammates at the front lines, use your good reverse speed to get out of sticky situations and only show your front to the enemy. Avoid vehicles with HESH, HEAT-FS and APDS (Leopards and Centurions are good examples).

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Reload rate considerably faster than usual 122 mm, default is only half a second slower than the T-10M
* 12.7 mm DShK allows for defence against aircraft and lightly-armoured vehicles
* Excellent 100 mm sloping armour on front and sides
* Sleek turret design makes it a smaller target
* Lower glacis is thicker than the upper glacis (120 mm vs 100 mm), though not as sloped
* Suspension wheels, torsion bars, and tracks allow for better protection on lower side hull
* Agile despite its weight and heavy armour
* 150 mm gun mantlet cannot be penetrated by most German guns, due to its 50 mm spaced armour (cannot be normally seen in hangar)
* Good reverse speed
* Premium vehicle bonuses
* Very small weak spots at long distances
* Optics and MG can stop most shrapnel from eliminating the crew and damaging gun breach, which benefits even more from the 50 mm spaced plate

'''Cons:'''

* Inadequate ammunition against some upper rank vehicles such as [[Maus|Maus]]
* Very poor gun depression due to sleek turret design
* Ammunition is strewn all over the hull fighting compartment
* Its sloped armour can be defeated by high caliber British HESH and American HEAT-FS
* Speed goes down dramatically when turning
* Turret cupolas can be vulnerable at close ranges, if not over penetrated
* Gun mantlet design allows trap shots, but it is very random and rare
* Lower side armour is weak versus German guns at angles lower than 60°
* Low crew count for a heavy tank of 4 people

== History ==


The Chelyabinsk Kirov Plant Work (ChKZ) began drafting the designs of a new heavy tank on 02 May 1944<ref name="TankArchivesElectric" /> with an electrotransmission, a drive system that was used on the German [[Ferdinand|Ferdinand/Elefant]]. The plant was officially ordered to begin work on June 08<ref name="KinnearT10" /> for two versions of the heavy tank, with emphasis of having significant advantages over the current [[IS-2 (1944)|IS-2 heavy tank]]. The heavy tank was designated as the '''IS-6''' and the two versions were the ''Object 252'' with a mechanical transmission and the ''Object 253'' with a electric transmission.<ref name="TankArchivesLaunch" /> Both prototypes were produced in the Fall of 1944 and were sent to be tested at the NIIBT testing grounds at Kubinka.

The two prototypes differed in more ways than just the transmission. Object 252 used the mechanical transmission from the [[IS-3]], with large road wheels and no track rollers for its torsion bar suspension.<ref name="BoldyrevTank" /> Object 253 used an electric transmission with a suspension that looked similarly to previous IS iterations with smaller road wheels and track rollers. The IS-6 prototypes failed to stay under the weight of the IS-2, being around 51.5 tons.<ref name="TankArchives257" /> The 122 mm gun arming the IS-6 was the D-30, compared to the D-25T on the predecessors. The D-30 implemented features such as the D-25's monobloc design, the 100 mm D-10's breech and gas block, a two-spring balancing mechanism, a lengthened D-25 mount, and a fume extractor. This gun was installed onto the IS-6 prototypes in December 1944.<ref name="TankArchivesD-30" />

The IS-6 prototypes were tested alongside the ''Object 701'' (the prototype of the [[IS-4M|IS-4]]).<ref name="TankArchives257" /> The two IS-6 prototypes proved disappointing, with the Object 253's electric transmission being too complex, expensive, and unreliable.<ref name="KinnearT10" /> The Object 252's mechanical transmission also suffered from reliability issues. Suspension problems also impacted the IS-6, with its speed dropping below the heavier Object 701. It was hoped that the electric transmission would help make the tank more maneuverable, but the heavy weight prohibited any vast improvements.<ref name="BoldyrevTank" /> Overall, the IS-6 armour was deemed to not provide any improvements over existing designs, having only comparable armour, firepower, and mobility to the IS-2 and IS-3. In 1945, all work on the IS-6 ceased as work continued on the Object 701.<ref name="TankArchives257" />

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''

* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4564-development-is-6-the-soviet-hammer-en/|[Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> IS-6: the Soviet Hammer]]

{{USSR heavy tanks}}
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}

<references>
<ref name="BoldyrevTank">Boldyrev, Eugeni. "Last Heavy Tanks of the USSR." The Russian Battlefield. N.p., 18 Sept. 2011. Web. 08 Jan. 2018. [http://english.battlefield.ru/tanks/10-heavy-tanks/21-last-heavy-tanks.html Website]</ref>
<ref name="KinnearT10">Kinnear, James, and Stephen L. Sewell. ''Soviet T-10 Heavy Tank and Variants''. N.p.: Osprey Pub, 2017. Print</ref>
<ref name="TankArchivesD-30">TankArchives. "D-30 Gun for the IS-6." Tank Archives. N.p., 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 08 Jan. 2018. [http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2013/09/d-30-gun-for-is-6.html Website]</ref>
<ref name="TankArchivesElectric">TankArchives. "Electrical Transmission." Tank Archives. N.p., 02 June 2014. Web. 08 Jan. 2018. [http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2014/06/electrical-transmission.html Website]</ref>
<ref name="TankArchives257">TankArchives. "Object 257: The First IS-7." Tank Archives. N.p., 12 June 2016. Web. 08 Jan. 2018. [http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/06/object-257-first-is-7.html Website]</ref>
<ref name="TankArchivesLaunch">TankArchives. "Launch of the IS-6." Tank Archives. N.p., 20 Dec. 2016. Web. 08 Jan. 2018. [http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2016/12/launch-of-is-6.html Website]</ref>
</references>

Talk:IS-6

2020-01-26T20:00:35Z

U66022927: this take is a very good well rounder tank, Armour: this is one of this tanks strong points against normal AP rounds. the only really frontal weakness is by the gun mantle but upon getting into a good position if can be very dominant against tanks of lowe

this take is a very good well rounder tank,
Armour: this is one of this tanks strong points against normal AP rounds. the only really frontal weakness is by the gun mantle but upon getting into a good position if can be very dominant against tanks of lower or same BR.
this is also a great tank for grinding through the ranks of the soviet tank line with a strong element of fun and many rewarding moments.