King Tiger

[Vulture]

The IS3(HT) had a top speed of 25mph using a 600hp diesel.
That translates to 11.7hp/ton.
Not bad for a 51 ton tank..
The german panther of equal weight, used a 700hp petrol engine and could do only a mere four miles faster tan that.

Have the Russian's had a 700hp diesel available to them (not sure) and used it, the overall weight of the tank would have gone up somewhat as well..
Could the JS3 be able to achieve the 29mph than. Possibly..
But the increase in speed would not help this tank at all.

All of the JS (HT) had one huge problem that in my opinion made them too little of a tank, for way too much bucks spend.
Their gun even though of an extremely large caliber, was still not a high velocity gun. Only of 48 calibers, if my memory serves me right.
This plus the very slow reload rate, made it a looser in a tank on tank dual, with the german high velocity and much faster firring 88mm even 75mm Panther guns.
The optics being of poorer quality (on the Russian tanks) made matters even worse.

To be fair to the JSII, it was designed as a break-through tank, and the the design was optimised for grinding Infantry and fixed defences down with its large gun. Dealing with enemy tanks was not seen as a priority. We will all have own views on this approach....... One thing for certain it was not a great vehicle to be in in a tank v tank battle against any of the better German vehicles. In addition to the shell being huge (by WW2 standards), it was 2 part ammo with the charge being separate from the shell............. Not good..... also, the ammo load it could carry was very poor. I recently spoke to one of the guys at the Duxford tank museum here in the UK at an open day they had. He had driven the JSII they have there, and said the visibility for the driver was horrible...........

Vulture