Just started thinking about building this beast from DML. Problem is I can't seem to find a lot of info about the development and deployment. I ran through the net a couple of times and found the basics, size, dimensions, but what I am looking for is some info on where it was used and it's effects, stories of it's use etc.. I am looking at doing a diorama of some sort but haven't really found enough info to layout a plan yet. any ideas are really welcomed!

Thanks
Lee

Welcome to the site, Lee. I did a little research for you.......

The SU-152 first saw action at Kursk. These were built on the KV tank chassis. When the IS series replaced KVs, the same occured with the SUs and these new ones were designated ISU (or JSU). The Red Army used large numbers of the ISU-122 and 152 through 1944 and 1945. They were used as close support for Soviet tanks and infantry. Both could be used in the antitank role, the ISU-152 mainly because of the size of its projectile, whereas the 122 had a greater velocity. ISU-152s accompanied the first Russian units into Berlin and used their heavy guns against German emplacement.

So, one idea could be the Battle for Berlin. Another could be the ISU-152 being resupplied, as they couldn't carry very much ammunition.

Hope that helps,

Nic

Edit--Wow, Ken, we posted at exactly the same time........

Welcome aboard CaptVoodoo AKA Lee! Glad to have ya.

I hope this helps: Heavy Tanks of the JS Series
and this: Battles

EDIT: I saw that last night, after I posted here I looked to make sure the links work correctly and saw your post there and mine after BUT, yours was showing as the last posted. Cool ehh?

Thanks Ken and Nic
Great stuff. All the info has really sparked a couple of ideas. I especially like the idea of the JSU in Berlin being resupplied Nic!!! But also raised other questions that inqiring minds want to know.
I am assuming that the JSU-122 was used primarily in the anti-tank role due to it's faster muzzle velocity and availablity of armour piercing rounds. But was the JSU-152 used in the same manner? I know that the gun was based on the 152mm field gun which was used in a simmilar manner to the US 155mm, a long reaching howitzer with High Explosive rounds that fired on a more parabolic trajectory. I can only assume that they were used in thier individual roles as either tank destroyer and armoured mobile field gun respectivley. But were they used in conjunction with one another in thesame units as most Soviet military doctrine follows or were they used in individual specialized groups? Main reason I am asking is I could see me doing a doirama with a JSU-152 in an anti-tank scene and finding out afterwords that I didn't put in enough research.........it's happened before! Oh well, build and learn

Lee

Soviet tactics didn't differentiate between antitank and assault gun units, they kind of did both. The SU-122 used a slightly different gun than the ISU-122, and it was used more as close support, or artillery. With the greater muzzle velocity, though, the ISU-122 would definitely have been used more in the antitank role. The ISU-152 is similar. I don't think you could go wrong, as they were used in a number of tasks. Like I said earlier, in Berlin the ISU-152s were knocking out strongpoints........

Nic

Capt. Voodoo Tanks46 here. According to what I have read the SU 122, SU152, JSU 122 and 152 were basically used as turretless tanks. They were limited to direct fire due to lack of traverse elevation and fire control. They first appeared at Kursk as the SU122 and 152. They were used to provide support for the infantry and to smash enemy fortifications. They also had a significant antitank role but were limited by the amount of ammo carried. The JSU 152 could smash any tank if it could score a hit. The russians like to bracket there targets thereby using a lot of thier ammo for a target. Unless they hit on the first round. They accompanied motorized troops and tank units. They were manned stricly by tank personnel. When the chassis shifted from the KV series SU122 - 152 to the JS series that's when these vehicles were designated JSU122 and 152. These vehicles were initally formed into self propelled artillery regiments "Storm-artillery regiments" and were under the Supreme Command reserve. They originally consisted of 17 SU76 and 8 SU122's. During Kursk and the Summer of 43 the Soviets formed three types of artillery regiments: light equipped with SU76, medium with SU122's and later SU85's and Heavy with a dozen SU152's. From the Soviets formed combined arms units consisting of tank brigades and self propelled artillery regiments into TSG's (Tanko Samochodnie Gruppi).These were employed centrally and made available to rifle divisions. By 1944 new SU Brigades were being formed into light, medium and Heavy JSU152 regiments three regiments to a brigade. In late 1944 these brigades were attached to rifle divisions in a NPP (infantry support role) and made subordinate to the divisional commander. In 1945 tanks and self propelled artillery regiments and brigades were often split up and attached to rifle regiments attacking in the first echelon along the route of main thrust. Most of this information I gleaned from Russian Tanks 1900-1970 by Milsom and RedArmor in Combat by Miller. Hope you find some of this useful. Tanks46

Thanks Tanks46,
Great history lesson! I was starting to wonder how the units were put together, but you answered my questions. I assume that if the JSU 152's were bracketing thier targets, they would have gone through ammo like there was no tomorrow. Then consider the fact that they had limited space to carry intrnal ammo, they must have been constantly shadowed by some type of cargo/re-supply vehicle in order to keep up with thier usage. Sounds like a future doirama in the works to me!!! Thanks again

Lee

Just for confirmation, Lee, I did read that re-supply vehicles were always found near the ISUs. It sounds like a good dio idea to me.........

Nic