In February 1943, to replace the now outdated KV tanks, the first prototype models of heavy tanks intended to equip the armored units of the Red Army were produced. The most notable of the tanks developed to counter the new and heavily armored German vehicles, such as the Tiger and the Panther, was the Joseph Stalin JS-2. Armed with the powerful 122 mm cannon installed in a centrally mounted turret, it was characterized by a cast steel hull, heavy armor, and the adoption of a 12-cylinder diesel engine with over 600 HP. The overall weight of the tank was 46 tons. It was employed in the battles that led to the recapture of Ukraine, operational activities in Hungary, and, in the final phase of the conflict, during the Battle of Berlin. It was one of the most powerful tanks used by the Soviet Union during World War II.

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