The ISU-152 'Beast Killer'

An overview of the ISU-152 featuring a few places it shows up in movies and video games.

Movies/Games Featured:

Counterstrike 1985
War Thunder (Video Game)
Company of Heroes 2 (Video Game)
1944: The Final Defence 2007
Liberation Series (1970-71)
SABATON – Steel Commanders (Official Music Video)
IL-2 Tank Crew

#ww2 #tank #warthunder

[Lord.Kiltridge]

Fun fact, the Mosin-Nagant was originally designated a 3 line rifle. 3 lines being 3/10 of an inch, equal to 0.30 cal. Converted to metric, it became 7.62mm. The Soviets also produced a gun in 76.2mm (3inch) and doubled it to create the 152.4mm (6 inch) howitzer.

[zhoufang]

In memoirs, the ISU was very well liked by tank commanders because apparently it was really comfortable to sleep on.

[whiskey_tango_foxtrot__]

Germans. We have the Stug assault gun to support infantry with a big gun.

Soviets: Hold my vodka.

[fortis]

The Soviet's answer to the concept of the "Assault Gun"

[jonathanallard]

I saw a real life one in Warsaw when visiting war museums.
These things are SCARY.
Huge boys with huge guns. It seems invincible by the looks of it. I would've shat my pants having to face these.
I remember being thoroughly impressed.

[inductivegrunt]

If there ever was a perfect representation of Soviet strength, it's this. A massive gun, thick armor, and a long legacy. The ISU-152 will always stand as one of the greatest Soviet tanks in history, alongside the T-34, KV-1 and 2, IS-2, BT series, and even the humble T-26, among others. A legend of its time, but a time long since passed.

[ThommyofThenn]

As an SPG main i love seeing videos about them, particularly ridiculously huge cannon-ed ones!

[frednone]

To give you an idea of the size of the gun, light cruisers mounted that size of gun, the gun on the SU-152 were shorter, but the shell was the same diameter.

[John.McMillan]

I have been waiting for you to cover this vehicle.

The SU-153 and ISU-152 were integral parts of some battle doctrines.
Despite how little history features it, the I/SU-152 was feared by the Axis in WW2, arguably just as if not more than the IS-2 vehicles. Even the heaviest armour the Axis had wasn't a match to the 152mm guns. The same reason the 122mm guns were feared.

As you said the 152mm platforms were used in the cold war as well, beyond simple warfare tactics.

One thing you didn't mention was their anti-infantry use. They were also used effectively as mobile Frontline artillery. Using High-Explosive shells in the infantry support roles. Being highly valued using these shells as due to their calibre they could destroy even heavy tanks let alone fortifications.

Sorry for the rambling. Some of my family were in I/SU-152 vehicles. It genuinely has A LOT of use to it not covered in this video.

It is one of the few vehicles in the Soviet WW2 doctrine that filled nearly every role. Breakthrough, Defensive, Artillery, Spearhead, Urban close range support, ect.

It was arguably a true MBT purely in the aspect of covering near any use.
(Yes I am clearly biased but hey)

[serjindaserragaucha]

imagine facing an isu-152 face to face inside a panzer 4 in the streets of berlin

[ShadowAstroCosmo]

No one:

Soviets:
"bulldozer, slap a gun on it, fridge, slap a gun on it. Need a magazine idea? dinner plate."

[blackegret]

"We do a little Trolling." - ISU-152 "Troll Cannon

Keep it up, Johnny!

[allenqi]

My fav armored vehicle! Thank you so much for making these informative videos!

[ComissarYarrick]

What's worth pointing out, despite most games ( world of tanks, war thunder and every ww2 RTS that I know ) classyfing ISU as tank destoyer, it was infantry support assoult gun first and foremost. Yes, it could ( and did, sometimes with spectacular resoult ) engage tanks, but dedicated AT duty was task relegated to Su-85 and later Su-100 vechicles.

[LeverActionBoi]

1:38 Despite the name "Beast Killer" it mainly killed literal buildings

[bigblue]

The crews performing that task were called expendable.

[shadowtrooper]

I like how powerful this was irl that world of tanks nerfed its aim down circle time and accuracy of its 152mm gun. But its worth the satisfaction when you make a big blow to the opponent's tank especially if its an ammo rack hit.

[Klein_Panzer]

I would like to see a video about the me 262 there are lots of footage in real life and in movies

[jonathanpanlaqui]

During WWII, ISU-152s became known as Beast Killers when these heavy tank destroyers were used by the Soviet Red Army because of their 152mm heavy self-propelled howitzers on their casemates over KV-2 tank chassis, they were used by knocking out Tiger I and II heavy tanks using its shells, but they were also used in artillery support to destroy enemy structures. They were used during the sieges on Königsberg (now Kaliningrad), Budapest and Berlin during the last two years of the war, but they were also used in Cold War and in the Soviet-Afghan War by the Soviet Army especially featured in various Red Square military parades and in efforts to control radioactive fallout during the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

[BigHorseFilm]

Another great Vid Johnny. I can't tell if you are more of a Movie guy or History fella.