Congratulations! You made it to the top of the double-barrelled Soviet heavy tank line. Your reward: a strong tank with two even stronger guns!

Gameplay

The ST-II inherits a lot of good things from its predecessors and makes some even better. You thought the Tier VIII and IX double-barrelled tanks had a strong front? The ST-II puts an extra coat on to make sure that your enemies will grind their teeth! You were impressed by the alpha damage of the IS-3-II? With 440 average damage per shot per barrel, this Tier X Soviet heavy tank will blow your head off. Twice!

Keep in mind that you will see a dotted line along your aim circle if something obstructs the line of fire.

However, the really exceptional feature remains the good gun depression. –8 degrees allows you to use ridgelines and hull-down tactics, leaving only the strong turret exposed.

You should be a master of the double-barrel mechanic by now. But just in case, a quick reminder. You have different ways to utilize your two powerful guns for different situations in the field. Use a quick single snapshot to stop an enemy trying to escape, play like an autoreloader with two shells to take out enemies on the move and making good use of the shorter reload time, or land a mighty double salvo to finish off an unsuspecting enemy low on HP.

Clever commanders have figured out that the double salvo mechanic is easier to control if you assign it to a key on your keyboard.

The ST-II is one of the most versatile heavy tanks in the game, suited for every close- to mid-range situation. At least, as long as you stay vigilant. Your traverse speed and power-to-weight ratio, however, aren’t good enough to catch an enemy that sneaks up on you.

Equipment

Recommended Setup

Hover your cursor over the images for more information on each piece of equipment.

The recommended selection of equipment doesn’t change throughout this short tank line: a Vertical Stabilizer and an Enhanced Gun Laying Drive to improve the already good gun handling and Improved Ventilation for better overall performance. However, as you need to watch out for sneaky enemies, Coated Optics is a very valid choice for the entire double-barreled tank line.

Crew Skills

Commander
Gunner
Driver
1st Loader
2nd LOADER

At this point, your crew should already be very familiar with these special Soviet heavy tanks. As your Commander is also the Radio Operator, Situational Awareness is a good choice, once he is equipped with the more essential skills. The rest of the crew should keep their focus on improving gun accuracy.

Adrenaline Rush

Decreases the gun reload time by 10% if your vehicle's HP drops below 10%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Band of Brothers

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Also works if other crew members have Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel.

Call for Vengeance

Reports the enemy vehicles' location for two more seconds after the destruction of the own vehicle.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Clutch Braking

Increases the traverse speed of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Concealment

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Controlled Impact

Increases the ramming damage dealt and decreases damage taken by ramming.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Deadeye

Increases the chance of landing a critical hit.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Designated Target

Keeps targeted vehicles visible for two more seconds.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Eagle Eye

Allows you to identify damaged/destroyed modules as well as injured crew members of an enemy vehicle by hovering your mouse over it for several seconds.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Firefighting

Reduces the duration and damage taken by fire.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Intuition

Grants a slight chance of changing the shell type without having to reload again.

Doesn't work with autoloaders. Works also while reloading.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Jack of All Trades

Reduces the performance penalty of wounded crew members.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Mentor

Increases the Crew XP gained for each member apart from the commander.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Off-Road Driving

Increases the mobility on medium and soft terrain.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Preventative Maintenance

Reduces the chance of taking fire.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Recon

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Relaying

Increases the signal range of your allies' vehicles within your signal range.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Repair

Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Safe Stowage

Increases the durability of your vehicle's ammo rack.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Signal Boosting

Increases the signal range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Situational Awareness

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Sixth Sense

Shows a lightbulb three seconds after you've been spotted.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Smooth Ride

Reduces the dispersion penalty while driving.

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.

Additional Grousers

Increases the mobility on soft and medium terrain.

Binocular Telescope

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 25%.

Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.

Camouflage Net

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle tremendously.

Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.

Enhanced Gun Laying Drive

Reduces the aiming time of your gun by 10%.

Coated Optics

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 10%.

Tank Gun Rammer

Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%.

Spall Liner

Decreases damage taken by ramming and high-explosive splash.

Toolbox

Decreases the repair time of destroyed modules.

Cumulative with the Repair skill.

Improved Ventilation

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Vertical Stabilizer

Reduces the dispersion penalties of hull and turret traverse, as well as driving by 20%.

"Wet" Ammo Rack

Increases the module HP of your ammo rack.

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