KV-1S

KV-1S

KV-2 (1939)

KV-1 (ZiS-5)

KV-1S

KV-2 (1939)

KV-1 (ZiS-5)

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.0	4.0	4.0

Class:

Heavy tank

Research:14 000

Purchase:32 000

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This page is about the Soviet heavy tank KV-1S. For other versions, see KV-1 (Family).

Description

The KV-1S is a Rank II Soviet heavy tank with a battle rating of 4.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.57 "Battle March". A lightened KV-1 made to improve its manoeuvrability, the KV-1S has less overall armour than the original design but keeps its same lethality with improved speed.

Compared to the KV-1 L-11, side and rear armour are decreased to 60 mm, lightening the vehicle and increasing its speed to maximum 43 kph. A new turret was installed, presenting a smaller profile, thicker armour, and better angling all around. The armament is also changed to the ZIS-5, the equivalent of its successor and the T-34's F-34 guns.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
• Cast homogeneous armour (Turret)

Armour	Front	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	75 mm (30°) Front plate 50 mm (70°) Front glacis 25 + 50-60 mm (25-70°) Joint plate 60 mm (26-50°) Lower glacis	60 mm	60 mm (35-75°) Top 60 mm (2-69°) Bottom	40 mm Front 30 mm Rear
Turret	82 mm (2-76°) Turret front 50-75 mm (4-71°) Gun mantlet shield 90 mm (0-29°) Gun mantlet	82 mm (0-25°)	82 mm (27-56°) 75 mm (1-43°) Machine gun port	30 mm
Armour	Sides	Roof
Cupola	60 mm	30 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick.
• The gun mantlet shield has varying thickness, thickest just a little above and below the centre 55 mm area.

Mobility

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	48	19	42.5	775	1,145	18.24	26.94
Realistic	45	18		531	600	12.49	14.12

Armaments

Main armament

76 mm ZiS-5
Capacity			Vertical guidance	Horizontal guidance	Stabilizer
114			-5°/+25°	±180°	N/A
Turret rotation speed (°/s)
Mode	Stock	Upgraded	Prior + Full crew	Prior + Expert qualif.	Prior + Ace qualif.
Arcade	7.1	9.9	_.__	_.__	_.__
Realistic	7.1	8.4	_.__	_.__	_.__
Reloading rate (seconds)
Stock	Prior + Full crew	Prior + Expert qualif.	Prior + Ace qualif.
9.00	_.__	_.__	_.__

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration in mm @ 90°
		10m	100m	500m	1000m	1500m	2000m
BR-350A	APHEBC	86	85	76	67	59	52
BR-350B	APHEBC	94	92	83	73	65	57
BR-350SP	APBC	102	100	91	81	72	64
OF-350M	HE	10	10	10	10	10	10
Sh-354T	Shrapnel	37	35	29	25	20	17
BR-350P	APCR	135	130	92	60	39	26

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity in m/s	Projectile Mass in kg	Fuse delay in m:	Fuse sensitivity in mm:	Explosive Mass in g (TNT equivalent):	Normalization At 30° from horizontal:	Ricochet:
								0%	50%	100%
BR-350A	APHEBC	665	6.3	0.15	10.0	150	+4°	48°	63°	71°
BR-350B	APHEBC	680	6.3	0.9	15.0	108.8	+4°	48°	63°	71°
BR-350SP	APBC	680	6.8	N/A	N/A	N/A	+4°	48°	63°	71°
OF-350M	HE	680	6.2	0.05	0.1	621	+0°	79°	80°	81°
Sh-354T	Shrapnel	680	6.2	0.5	8.0	85	+0°	62°	69°	73°
BR-350P	APCR	950	3.0	N/A	N/A	N/A	+1.5°	66°	70°	72°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the KV-1S.

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	6th rack empty	7th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
114	110 (+4)	105 (+9)	100 (+14)	68 (+46)	36 (+78)	24 (+90)	1 (+113)	no

Turret empty: 100 (+14)

Machine guns

7.62 mm DT
Coaxial mount
Capacity (Belt capacity)				Fire rate (shots/minute)	Vertical guidance	Horizontal guidance
1,890 (63)				600	N/A	N/A

Usage in the battles

When playing the KV-1S, remember that you are still a heavy tank. Keep your front armour facing your enemies at all times, and preferably angled (but slightly less than KV-1 L-11). KV-1S turret is more durable and can deflect more shots than before, so if possible expose your turret only. Gun has no special penetration value, so try to target weak spots or areas with the least armour. Flanking attacks could end in a fiery demise. Also, this tank is still a KV-1 in its heart.

The best tactics for this tank is: keep a low profile and stay behind the main assault. When your team has advanced to the enemy's base, the KV-1s is best used to round up straggling enemy tanks behind your lines. If these tanks aren't destroyed, they'll attack your team's rear.

The common enemies are armed with guns that usually can penetrate the driver's hatch. Watch out for enemy T-34 (especially mod. 1941 and 1942, sometimes mods 1943 and the 57 variants), since they can flank you easily. Also, watch out for all german Pz.IVs & StuGs armed with long 7.5 cm gun, as it can penetrate your front armour even if you are angled.

This vehicle (due to its higher BR) can also meet many opponents that your armor has no chance of stopping, avoid direct confrontation with them. (Includes: T-34-85, SU-85, Dicker Max & Nashorn, Sherman Firefly & Achilles)

Meeting other KV-1's and Churchills may become a stalemate as the KV-1S gun may not penetrate against their formidable armour. This leads to the hope that the APCR ammunition works, and the firing of several rounds into the target for penetration.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Faster than its predecessor and successor, yet frontal armor is the same
• Very hard to knock out in one shot
• Adequate gun
• Bouncy turret front
• Wide tracks make for good cross-country performance
• Resilient. Can remain reasonably effective, even with a lot of damage
• Very effective overall

Cons:

• Side armour is considerably weaker (75 mm into 60 mm)
• Turret is cramped
• Very low reverse speed, poor low-speed handling
• Vulnerable to the long-barreled 75mm gun of the StuG III and Pz.IV F2,G, H and J
• First reverse gear presents a slow reverse speed of around -5 kph.
• Still carries most of the flaws of the KV-1 L-11
• Still a heavy vehicle, poor acceleration.
• Still cannot move on pace with T-34s
• Gun lacks penetration against heavier opponents: The KV-1 ZiS-5 and both Churchills are very hard to get through. APCR is unreliable.

History

During operation barbarossa, the KV-1 (Family) of tanks had gained weigth in armor due to the increased need for armor. Due to this the KV-1S tank was designed:

major changes included

• New planetary gear transmission improving reliability and allowing the use of regenrative steering
• New lower profile Cast steel turret with a commanders cupola; of note is the thinner armor

Theese changes did bring in to question the usefulness of the tank due to the reduced weigth necetating a reduction in the armor thickness making more akin to the T-34 (Family)

Media

The Shooting Range #49 - Pages of History section at 03:09 discusses the KV-1S.

Read also

• [Devblog] KV-1S: How’s the tank?

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.