IS-7

The Object 140 marks the end of the Soviet medium tank line, next to the T-62A. The play style is similar to the T-54, but the Object 140 feels slightly different, but an improvement nonetheless. If you already liked the T-54, the Object 140 is definitely a tank to look forward to.

Development of the IS-7 started in the spring of 1945. Prototypes successfully underwent trials in 1946 and 1947. However, the IS-7 never saw mass production.

With its well angled “pike-nose” frontal armor layout and a rounded, highly sloped turret front, the IS-7 is one of the toughest nuts to crack when engaged from the front. If positioned behind a piece of cover which shields its lower glacis plate, it becomes a hardened object with so few weak points that successfully damaging the tank turns into a most frustrating experience. Therein lies a weakness, however – the IS-7 cannot angle its armor, because if it does, the sloping of the frontal plate will become significantly worsened and enable most guns to punch through with relative ease. The side armor of the tank is comprised of spaced plates which are not only small but angled as well, making even perfectly landed shots to the hull’s midsection fail to do any sort of damage at times. The rear armor is quite thin, however, and will rarely deflect even lower tier guns. The IS-7 mounts a very potent 130mm S-70 naval cannon as the main gun. While it’s potentially high damage output can seem quite formidable, the gun itself is largely inaccurate, has a rather long aiming time, takes a while to load, and is actually much less effective than it seems. Nevertheless, at close and medium ranges the gun can still inflict very serious damage. Sustainability of said damage is difficult, though, due to the aforementioned long reload and aim times.

When compared to its Soviets counterparts, the IS-4, the Object 277 and Object 705A, the IS-7 plays like a middle gap between the IS-4 and Object 277. Despite being hampered by its poor terrain resistance values, the tank is nonetheless mobile enough to keep up with the team and change position if absolutely needed. And due to the aforementioned sub-par gun stats, the player of the IS-7 should use this tank in almost exclusively medium and short range brawler-type combat. Your teammates will rely on you to take and deflect the majority of incoming fire while they in turn support your advance and use their (hopefully) more accurate guns to assist in whittling down the enemy team. Expect to do some heavy lifting when driving the IS-7 and use it’s key advantages to fight on your own terms and dictate the flow of the battle, improving your performance and probability of success.

Suggested Equipment

• Tank Gun Rammer
  Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%
   
• Vertical Stabilizer
  Reduces the dispersion penalties of hull and turret traverse, as well as driving by 20%
   
• Improved Ventilation
  Increases the trening level of your crew members by 5%
   
• Coated Optics
   

Crew Skills

Commander

• Sixth Sense
  Shows a lighbulb tree seconds after you’ve been spotted.
  Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
   
• Repair
  Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.
  The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
   
• Brothers in arms / Sisterhood of steel
  Increases the trening level of your crew member by 5%.
  Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Gunner

• Repair
  Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.
  The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
   
• Snap Shot
  Reduces the dispersion penalty of traversing the turret.
  The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
   
• Brothers in arms / Sisterhood of steel
  Increases the trening level of your crew member by 5%.
  Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Driver

• Repair
  Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.
  The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
   
• Smooth Ride
  Reduces the dispersion penalty while driving.
  The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
   
• Brothers in arms / Sisterhood of steel
  Increases the trening level of your crew member by 5%.
  Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Loader

• Repair
  Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.
  The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.
   
• Safe Storage
  Increases the durability of your vehicle’s ammo rack.
  Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.
   
• Brothers in arms / Sisterhood of steel
  Increases the trening level of your crew member by 5%.
  Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

A similar choice of crew skills for all Soviet medium tanks, and the Object 140 is no exception. The first and second column of crew skills are crucial for this tank, as they improve the most important characteristics and counter its weaknesses. While Safe Stowage is selected as second perk in the table, you can also make it your first if you feel like the ammo rack is too weak.

Source: WoT