The Object 237 prototype, a version of the cancelled KV-13, was accepted for production as the IS-85 heavy tank. Like the KV-1S, the KV-85 served in dwindling numbers and was quickly overshadowed by the superior IS series. From September to October 1943, a total of 130 KV-85s were produced, before the assembly lines began to shift over. The hull MG was then moved to the opposite side of the driver and fixed in place to be operated by the driver. The radio operator was replaced with an ammunition rack for the larger 85 mm ammunition. To accommodate the Object 237 turret, the KV-1S hull was modified, increasing the diameter of the turret ring with fillets on the sides of the hull. The KV-85 was created by mounting an Object 237 turret on a KV-1S hull. Dukhov's team was instructed to create a stopgap KV tank, the KV-85, which was armed with the 52-K-derivative gun of the SU-85, the 85 mm D-5T, that proved capable of penetrating the Tiger I from 1,000 m (1,100 yd). Before Object 237 had time to mature, intense tank fighting in the summer of 1943 demanded a response. The capture of a German Tiger tank in January 1943 led to a decision to develop a new heavy tank, which was given the codename Object 237. Production of the KV-1S was gradually replaced by the SU-152 and ended in April 1943. It was competitive with the T-34 but at the cost of no longer having the heavier armor. In 1942, this problem was partially addressed by the KV-1S tank, which had thinner armor than the original, making it lighter and faster. Moscow ordered some KV-1 assembly lines to shift to T-34 production, leading to fears that KV-1 production would be halted and the SKB-2 design bureau, led by Kotin, closed. It was much more expensive than the T-34, without having greater combat performance. The KV-1 was criticized by its crews for its poor mobility and the lack of a larger caliber gun than the T-34 medium tank. Later IS-2 converted models were replaced with the 122mm D-25T gun whilst retaining the same hull. IS-85 (IS-1) Prototype equipped with D-5T gun. Note the modified KV chassis with the removal of the hull machine-gunner/radio operator's station with one operated by the driver, and the driver's station slightly centered at the front a staple design of all IS-series tank. The KV-85 was a stop-gap solution until the introduction of the IS series. Design and production Object 237 KV-85 and IS-85/IS-1
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