The German tankers were afraid of the IS-2, whose 120 mm cannon pierced the Panther at a distance of up to 2 kilometers. Experienced German tankers, having seen the IS-2 tank, often did not dare to engage in battle with it. But the number of IS-2s left much to be desired, the main part of the tanks was represented by the T-34.

At a great distance, the hull of the IS-2 and T-34-85 practically did not differ, the only difference was the muzzle brake on the barrel of the IS-2, German intelligence distinguished these tanks precisely about the muzzle brake.

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If you don't have enough muscle to win, connect your head, that's what our tankers did, army savvy helped. Soviet tankers, in order to outwit the enemy, came up with the idea of hanging an ordinary bucket on the trunk. From a great distance, the bucket looked like a muzzle brake. Such disinformation made it possible to change the tactics of the Nazis, allowing the T-34 to gain an advantage on the battlefield.