[spoiler] So I wanted to do this because there's been a lot of information regarding potential changes to the Soviet HT's with most of them already on supertest. Basically, this will be compiling everything we know so far regarding.

IS-4 line

The first one that needs to be mentioned is that it's been confirmed for a while now that the IS-4 will drop down to tier 9 with either the ST-I or possibly even the ST-II being the new tier 10, and this makes sense since since the ST-I was designed after the IS-4.

The interesting thing is that developers are looking to change the entire line, and I agree with that. The IS-4 and ST-I don't really play like the rest of the line, not that surprising when you look at them compared to the KV-4.

I have an idea on how they could do this line but I'll save that till the end, for now, this is what the line's to look like

Source: https://thedailybounce.net/2017/03/15/world-of-tanks-murazor-on-is-4-branch-changes/

T-10 / Obj 257

One of the most recent changes was the proposal for the T-10 to be changed to the Obj 257, which I believe was an early prototype to the Obj 260 (IS-7). The purpose was to improve the flow of the line so that the tiers 8, 9 and 10 were closer together playstyle wise.

As for the T-10, WG want to keep it at tier 9 as an alternative mini branch from the IS-3 with a new, unknown tier 10. Once again, I have a suggestion but that'll be at the end

Source: https://thedailybounce.net/2017/10/08/world-of-tanks-supertest-object-257-to-replace-t-10/

IS-M, Obj 705 & Obj 705A

Brand new on supertest is the IS-M, a rear turreted Soviet HT. From what I know, it was a modernization of the IS-2 so it's almost guaranteed to branch off from the tier 7 IS. At tier 9 is the Obj 705, from what I'm able to find about this tank it's meant to have similar perimeters as the Obj 260 but with a rear mounted turret, armed with a 122mm BL-13 gun (the gun that's in-game on the Defender) and estimated to weigh 65 tons.

Visual impression of the Object 705

But the one that concerns me the most is the Obj 705A, the proposed tier 10. Let me set the scene. Take the Obj 260, mount a 152mm gun and buff up the armor until the tank weighs 100 tons. Historically, it was proposed to get the 152mm M-51 and I'm not sure how WG will implement this, because the the 152mm M51 was designed to have similar ballistic capabilities as the 152mm BR-2... which we first see on the tier 7 Soviet artillery in-game

Visual impression of the Object 705A

Please note that the renders are for visual representation only and are in no way official models

Source: https://thedailybounce.net/2017/12/13/world-of-tanks-supertest-is-m-details/

My Suggestion

If you aren't interested in this then that's fine, feel free to ignore it as I'll drop it into spoiler tags as it's not really the primary focus of this post. But as promised, here's what I would suggest;

[spoiler]

I need to start off by saying that I'm not that knowledgeable in regards to soviet tanks. Starting at the bottom, I would swap the KV-4 for the Obj 253, a version of the IS-6. As much as I want the KV-4 to remain in the tech tree, I don't know of any designs that could fit at tier 9 and 10 after it. There're heaps of designs for the KV-4 but none of them would work unless WG made them ridiculously unhistorical or they made up tanks to fit. I'll keep the KV-4 in as a possibility of a line of super heavies should there be availability

As already planned by WG, the IS-4 would drop to tier 9 and the ST-I buffed to tier 10. At tier 8 would be a new tank, the "K" heavy tank which was pointed out to me by lavawing on reddit. Information I can find on the "K" heavy tank suggests that it was a plan for an IS with improved armor that became the precauser for the Object 701 (IS-4).

Jumping to the top of the line now, I would actually buff the T-10 into the tier 10 position, at tier 9 would be the K-91. It's a little known project that competed against the T-10 design and had two design variants. The first was for a mid turreted tank while the second was rear turreted with the whole crew in the turret. Naturally, the first design would be the one used here

I'm honestly not too sure about all this, there's a lot of love happening for the IS-7 branch with alternative tanks to get making it more apealing to go towards then the IS-4. But at the same time, we don't fully know what WG have planned for the IS-4 line. Time will tell, and it's about damn time that Russia got something other then just tier 8 premiums.[/spoiler] [/spoiler]

Here's the current confirmed look of the Soviet HT line based on a new leak that says the Obj 777 II will be added after the T-10: https://thearmoredpatrol.com/2018/01/15/tap-insider-news-15th-january-2018/

Stats of the Obj 777 II

Edited by DeadArashi, 15 January 2018 - 05:05 PM.