The ISU-152 "Beast Killer"

An overview of the ISU-152 featuring a few places it shows up in movies and video games.
More War Movie Content: / johnnyjohnsonesq
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Movies/Games Featured:
Counterstrike 1985
War Thunder (Video Game)
Company of Heroes 2 (Video Game)
1944: The Final Defence 2007
Liberation Series (1970-71)
SABATON - Steel Commanders (Official Music Video)
IL-2 Tank Crew
#ww2 #tank #warthunder

[@zhoufang996]

In memoirs, the ISU was very well liked by tank commanders because apparently it was really comfortable to sleep on.

[@alltat]

Judging by what tankers I know like to talk about, that does indeed seem to be the most important characteristic of a tank. You spend far more time sleeping than in combat.

[@french_tank]

@@alltat Tankers from our present day, some tankers back in WW2 where just guarding strategic points without combat during weeks, same for the ones keeping the order in occupied countrys

[@augustuslunasol10thapostle]

@@french_tank most of war is waiting

[@derrickstorm6976]

​@@french_tankmore like moving between battles

[@bigdarshan]

An underrated Soviet achievement. The T34 took all the praise but this must have been a fearsome beast

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

Fun fact, the Mosin-Nagant was originally designated a 3 line rifle. 3 lines being 3/10 of an inch, equal to 0.30 cal. Converted to metric, it became 7.62mm. The Soviets also produced a gun in 76.2mm (3inch) and doubled it to create the 152.4mm (6 inch) howitzer.

[@BHuang92]

Russia refers officially as the 3-Line Rifle but the West mostly refer to it simply as the Mosin-Nagant after two of its creators.

[@miles_da-tractor_man]

So let me get this straight the gun of the ISU 152 was just a giant Mosin-Nagant with the short barrel

[@michael2636]

​@@miles_da-tractor_man the Uber Obrez

[@Panzermeister36]

​​@@miles_da-tractor_man no. He's just explaining that the unit of measurement used as a basis is different than millimeters. It's fractional inches.

[@saberdogface]

That IS a fun fact.

[@whiskey_tango_foxtrot__]

Germans. We have the Stug assault gun to support infantry with a big gun. Soviets: Hold my vodka.

[@releasethekraken5039]

*lacht auf Stürmtiger*

[@myopickid4180]

@@releasethekraken5039 Sturmtiger not assault gun vehicle, it's a mobile spaceport

[@Ironraven593]

The USSR Russian: hold my vodka Ukrainian: hold my contabas Caucasian: hold my koumiss Armenians: hold my wine Mongols: hold my arak Belarus: hold my krambambulya Moldova: hold my cognac Azerbaijan: hold my arag Lithuanian: hold my midus Estonia: hold my hansa I know, I didn't name all of them. Just tired.

[@UFCMania155]

The Stugs aren't meant to be compared to the isu-152's 🤣🤣 the Jagdpanzers, Jagdpanther and Jagdtigers are its equivalent

[@scottrobertson1235]

You can barely fit a jeep in the gun barrel!

[@fortis3686]

The Soviet's answer to the concept of the "Assault Gun"

[@jonathanallard2128]

I saw a real life one in Warsaw when visiting war museums. These things are SCARY. Huge boys with huge guns. It seems invincible by the looks of it. I would've shat my pants having to face these. I remember being thoroughly impressed.

[@JSnow-st7hm]

Note: These were used during the 1945 Soviet invasion of Manchuria. (There are multiple photos.) Now imagine the ISU-152 vs any Japanese tank.

[@inductivegrunt94]

If there ever was a perfect representation of Soviet strength, it's this. A massive gun, thick armor, and a long legacy. The ISU-152 will always stand as one of the greatest Soviet tanks in history, alongside the T-34, KV-1 and 2, IS-2, BT series, and even the humble T-26, among others. A legend of its time, but a time long since passed.

[@BHuang92]

Less iconic as the T-34 and KV tanks but it's got a fearsome reputation!

[@-_Hatred_-]

I wouldn't say KV tanks(especially KV-2) were alongside the greatest.

[@thebravegallade731]

@@-_Hatred_- the KV1 is, stopping the germans in thier tracks in a few key locations

[@thesaul9484]

@@-_Hatred_- KV Heavy tanks were the most feared tank by Axis during the beginning of the War - the only reliable weapon against the KV tanks, were the 88mm Flak cannons, and aircraft in certain cases. the Former had to be later on adopted, to be used for offensive actions, eg. installing the Flak on mobile platforms, training,...

[@edwardspencer3906]

Jeez Kamerad! Did you go to the Patrice Lumumba School of Agitprop? You sound like a dyed in the wool russky pinko... Now, who was it they used this FANTASTIC STUPENDOUS post-45? People of Czechoslovakia? Yep, defeated ALL that Czech armor at the Battle of ???.. this was,of course, after squishing civilians with that STATE OF THE ART civilian squishing machine! You have earned your ticket to the great workers paradise in the sky, tovarich!

[@frednone]

To give you an idea of the size of the gun, light cruisers mounted that size of gun, the gun on the SU-152 were shorter, but the shell was the same diameter.

[@SamuraiAkechi]

SU-100Y literally carried a navy cannon taken off the ship

[@kanestalin7246]

​@@SamuraiAkechiyeah but the SU100Y's gun was smaller

[@SamuraiAkechi]

@@kanestalin7246 The barrel of B-13 cannon was 1/3 longer than that of the ML-20S SPG howitzer, meaning it would have differrent shell trajectory. Cannons shoot flat and howitzers are meant for plunging fire.

[@kanestalin7246]

@@SamuraiAkechi i meant in caliber not length

[@ThommyofThenn]

As an SPG main i love seeing videos about them, particularly ridiculously huge cannon-ed ones!

[@serjindaserragaucha7242]

imagine facing an isu-152 face to face inside a panzer 4 in the streets of berlin

[@jgrandson5651]

those 14 year old soldiers inside the PZIV probably shit their pants lol

[@samholdsworth420]

​@@jgrandson5651 LOL

[@eridjonavdulaj2386]

Imagina Isu-152 face to face INSIDE a tiger 💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@axelblack7950]

There wasnt panzer 4 at Berlin Only Tiger 1, Tiger 2, Panther, stug and jagdpanzer4. Source: témoignage des soldats des divisions Charlemagne et nordland dans le livre « mourir à Berlin »

[@imrekalman9044]

Imagine facing that 152 mm menace, period.

[@ShadowAstroCosmo]

No one: Soviets: "bulldozer, slap a gun on it, fridge, slap a gun on it. Need a magazine idea? dinner plate."

[@John.McMillan]

I have been waiting for you to cover this vehicle. The SU-153 and ISU-152 were integral parts of some battle doctrines. Despite how little history features it, the I/SU-152 was feared by the Axis in WW2, arguably just as if not more than the IS-2 vehicles. Even the heaviest armour the Axis had wasn't a match to the 152mm guns. The same reason the 122mm guns were feared. As you said the 152mm platforms were used in the cold war as well, beyond simple warfare tactics. One thing you didn't mention was their anti-infantry use. They were also used effectively as mobile Frontline artillery. Using High-Explosive shells in the infantry support roles. Being highly valued using these shells as due to their calibre they could destroy even heavy tanks let alone fortifications. Sorry for the rambling. Some of my family were in I/SU-152 vehicles. It genuinely has A LOT of use to it not covered in this video. It is one of the few vehicles in the Soviet WW2 doctrine that filled nearly every role. Breakthrough, Defensive, Artillery, Spearhead, Urban close range support, ect. It was arguably a true MBT purely in the aspect of covering near any use. (Yes I am clearly biased but hey)

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

You're right! Very diverse use. I appreciate the added info. Sadly, the length of my videos and detail is often limited by the footage I can find. But hey that's why I like the comment section 👍🙏

[@joeerickson516]

"By the way, would the World,🗺 War,💥 Two, 2⃣ ✌ Nazi German,🇩🇪 built,🏢 Panzerbuchse 39 anti-tank rifle alongside the Swiss,🇨🇭 built,🏢 Solothurn S18-1000 anti-tank rifle and the Finnish,🇫🇮 built,🏢 Lahti 39 20 millimeter anti-tank rifle alongside the Nazi German,🇩🇪 captured Polish,🇵🇱 built,🏢 WZ.35 anti-tank rifle alongside the Nazi German,🇩🇪 built,🏢 hollowed explosive, 💣 charge Panzerfaust disposable anti-tank recoilless rifle and the Nazi German,🇩🇪 built 🏢 reversed,🔀 engineered, 🛠 version of the American, 🇺🇸 built,🏢 M1.bazooka anti-tank rocket,🚀 launcher called the Panzerschreck anti-tank rocket,🚀 launcher alongside the Finnish,🇫🇮 homemade,🏡 built,🏢 burning, 🔥 molotov cocktail,🍹 glass,🍸 bottle,🍾 grenades,💣 alongside the Nazi German,🇩🇪 built,🏢 anti-tank landmines,➖ called,🤙the Tellermine model 43, go up,👆 against the World,🗺 War,💥 Two,2⃣ ✌ Soviet Russian,🇷🇺 built,🏢 ISU-152 self-propelled assault gun,🔫 in the Polish,🇵🇱 uprisings of the year nineteen forty-four to the battle,💥 of Berlin of the year of nineteen forty-five, during the eastern front of the European theater,🎭 of the year of nineteen forty-four to the year of nineteen forty-five, during World,🗺 War,💥 Two,2⃣✌?"

[@user-op8fg3ny3j]

Basically, it's STUG but Russian

[@Theanimeisforme]

​@@user-op8fg3ny3j technically it's fat version of the 105 stug.

[@sthrich635]

You're right, but while ISU-152 was powerful enough to knock out most German heavy tanks, it actually wasn't very effective at doing so. Despite the power of its shells, the 152mm is still a field gun at its core. It was inaccurate by AT guns standard, and especially in usual tank engagement ranges, and amplified by the slow reloading times of its heavy two-part shells. It was best fired in groups, hoping the shells actually landed near their targets. Usually I/SU-152 were used in ambush as they won't fared well in a direct open field tank combat for above reasons. Still their anti-infantry and static fortifications ability are very good, though in close urban combat their performance is so-so as their length did make their movement around streets difficult sometimes.

[@blackegret666]

"We do a little Trolling." - ISU-152 "Troll Cannon Keep it up, Johnny!

[@Klein_Panzer]

I would like to see a video about the me 262 there are lots of footage in real life and in movies

[@allenqi2386]

My fav armored vehicle! Thank you so much for making these informative videos!

[@ComissarYarrick]

What's worth pointing out, despite most games ( world of tanks, war thunder and every ww2 RTS that I know ) classyfing ISU as tank destoyer, it was infantry support assoult gun first and foremost. Yes, it could ( and did, sometimes with spectacular resoult ) engage tanks, but dedicated AT duty was task relegated to Su-85 and later Su-100 vechicles.

[@Ihavpickle]

No it's definitely a tank destroyer

[@ikstarven]

@@Ihavpickle it was an assault gun mainly used against emplacements and bunkers etc.

[@Ihavpickle]

@@ikstarven kiss me

[@bigblue6917]

The crews performing that task were called expendable.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Definitely a more accurate title.

[@dellawrence4323]

They were heroes who gave away their future health to stop a disaster which would have contaminated a huge area, not that they had much choice under the Socialist system.

[@shadowtrooper262]

I like how powerful this was irl that world of tanks nerfed its aim down circle time and accuracy of its 152mm gun. But its worth the satisfaction when you make a big blow to the opponent's tank especially if its an ammo rack hit.

[@wolfdima]

ISU was actually VERY effective as urban assault gun. It could demolish virtually any house or fortification.

[@dieglhix]

Sounds entertaining and satisfactory.

[@normalplayer7377]

Oi, I have a suggestion. The Krag-Jorgensen Rifle. First Bolt Action Rifle used by the US Army, later Navy and Marine Corps. It appears in a few films. Notably: The Wind and The Lion, The Rough Riders Miniseries, 55 Days at Peking and April 9th.

[@admiralsnackbarkekwalice6167]

Marines at Peking used the 6.5mm Lee Navy rifle

[@normalplayer7377]

@@admiralsnackbarkekwalice6167 Some did, however those that made it there before the beginning of open hostilities did carry Krags.

[@BigHorseFilm]

Another great Vid Johnny. I can't tell if you are more of a Movie guy or History fella.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I am just an all-around nerd who likes movies, gaming, and history. 🤓

[@jonathanpanlaqui1855]

During WWII, ISU-152s became known as Beast Killers when these heavy tank destroyers were used by the Soviet Red Army because of their 152mm heavy self-propelled howitzers on their casemates over KV-2 tank chassis, they were used by knocking out Tiger I and II heavy tanks using its shells, but they were also used in artillery support to destroy enemy structures. They were used during the sieges on Königsberg (now Kaliningrad), Budapest and Berlin during the last two years of the war, but they were also used in Cold War and in the Soviet-Afghan War by the Soviet Army especially featured in various Red Square military parades and in efforts to control radioactive fallout during the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

[@brucenorman8904]

The ISU 152 was not built on a KV2 chassis it was built in the IS heavy tank chassis.

[@jonathanpanlaqui1855]

Ok.

[@timothyhouse1622]

The ISU 152, when there is a city block you absolutely need to remove because it offended Comrade Stalin

[@EvilAmy_]

It's not exactly "Beast Killer", more "Beast fighter". "Killer" in Russian is "убийца"/"ubiyts" and fighter is "боец - boyets". The nickname was "зверь боец" - In latin: "zver' boyets". Direct translation would be "Fighter of Beasts." But the correct is "Beast fighter" - "зверь боец". LOVE YOUR CHANNEL BTW :)

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks, man! I really appreciate that. Translations are always a tricky business so I appreciate hearing from people who talk the talk.

[@-_Hatred_-]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq, Зверобой literally means Beast hunter. That "beast fighter" thing above sounds kinda weird.

[@sergeandou9853]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq if you are interested in this word, then first of all zveroboi is a plant Hypericum or St. John's wort. Rather unrelated fact tho. But what's more interesting, also it's how they translated "The Deerslayer" in Russian, a novel of James Cooper and protagonist's nickname. Cooper's novels were quite popular in Imperial Russia and especially in Soviet Union. Zveroboi means "beastslayer", as a hunter, especially a marksman fur hunter. Considering the german "beast" tanks, i believe, it's where it all came from.

[@gore0ru]

“The Beastslayer”, by analogy with “The Deerslayer” by Fenimore Cooper.

[@mhos6940]

Another great vid Johnny & great timing as I'm half way through building Tamiya's 1/35 Isu-152.👍

[@GrahamWKidd]

Great vid Johnny. Love the facts you find!!

[@Chiller01]

Stay away from nuclear reactors! That’s why I subbed this channel. It’s those little kernels of wisdom you just can’t put a price on.

[@piney4562]

Another awesome video Johnny

[@dumpsterfire42]

YAY a vid about one of my favorite (and underappritiated) spg's

[@alexhofer6418]

Love your videos man👏

[@TheSpritz0]

AWESOME channel I just subscribed- you might be the BEST on all of KZbin for military weapon history!!!!! I am a VET and happy to watch every video!!!

[@comradesam975]

Wow! Never knew the part about the ISU-152 being used in Chernobyl, must’ve been a very short period of usage i guess

[@yopnickcheater1781]

A little detail about it's ammunition - explosive material was loaded separately, so it is not as hard as you might think.

[@urbanarcheology7346]

Neat video! I just subscribed to your channel after watching this! Keep up the great work, I look forward to seeing more! 🤘😎

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks so much. More to come!

[@grubblepidd2567]

A great video! You should do a video on either the KV-1 or KV-2

[@vitoscaleta439]

Love the vids😎👍🏼

[@brothercaptainwarhammer]

One of the Durp/Derp Tanks in the Tank Warfare Gaming Community (WoT, Warthunder, etc.) An Icon of Soviet Heavy Engineering, alongside Legends like the KV-1 and 2, T-34-76s and 85s, and IS-2s, these Monstrous Killers of Tigers, Panthers and other similar Beasts, are certainly the Embodied of Soviet Strength and Firepower, Truly a Monstrous Beast Killers in its own Right! Tank you (Heh) for Tackling on one of my Favorite SPG/Tank Destroyers of World War 2! Keep up the Damn Fine and Amazing Work Johnny! Keep the Good Shit Coming, my Friend!

[@SGT.-Vodak]

Nice Video, This Channel is always Entertaining to watch :)

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

Thanks, Johnny

[@pauls5706]

Great vid

[@BHuang92]

Interesting Fact: The last combat usage was during the Iraq war where Saddam Hussain had a couple of ISU-152s as SPGs!

[@kevinvanderstoep3638]

Like your vids Johnny nice and short. Keep m rolling please 😊

[@ivanstepanovic1327]

It was designed to take out fortifications, so slow reload wasn't much of an issue; the fortification isn't going anywhere... It had a panoramic sighting device for out of line of fire shots. However, it was occasionally used against German tanks, though it wasn't designed for it. If it did hit and German tank, it would be a good night for any Nazi machine...

[@02Tony]

I didn't know any tanks were used in Chernobyl. Thank you for that reference and thank you for the sombre music when referring to the liquidators whose role was so vital and deadly.

[@MGB-learning]

Great video

[@zali13]

Dude, they were in White Tiger too! I love this battering ram. If I could bring just one vehicle back to the medieval period to smash castles and other fortifications, it would be this, the Sveroboy!

[@CamoTheGuy]

Oh yeah, that's the actual Bunker on treads.

[@ricolosanes9751]

This guy gives me shivers whenever I face one in WoT. Such a beautiful beast!

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

In our Axis&Allies Global 1940 house rules the Soviet player can develop these with the right R&D. They move 2 and hit on a 3 like Armor but also provide Infantry with a +1 Attack Bonus like Artillery and it has Target Selection on a roll of 1.

[@TellySavalas-or5hf]

Outside in front of the nuclear power plant of Chernobyl 2 ISU-152 are parked with which radioactive material has been towed. Highly radioactive, unfortunately, these specimens can never be ridden or put in a war museum.

[@Danger-Tater]

there is an authentic one inside the royal tank museum in Jordan, which I visited, that thing is huge!

[@clavididk1236]

Love this Chanel 🙌 🙌 thanks 😎

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Thanks for the support 🙏 ❤️

[@clavididk1236]

@@JohnnyJohnsonEsq ofc 🙌 🙌

[@BobSmith-dk8nw]

Yeah. I can remember playing against those things in _Steel Panthers_ . They were really hard to kill. .

[@TF2Scout..]

My favourite in my opion it is one of the coolest lookin tanks

[@filipbonek8629]

I ask about ISU-152 movie footage and shortly after JJ uploads a video on them. Very sus...... Thanks Johnny!

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I got you

[@raigarmullerson4838]

Love the content. Cheers from Estonia

[@toxicbunny4596]

didn't expect to see company of heroes 2 here

[@boris8787]

I still prefer the British Universal Carrier as seen in the WW2 movie town of Chillingbourne.

[@lukaswilhelm9290]

Oh no the Germans invented Tiger and Panther tank! What we gonna do? Soviet tank designer: "just put heavy artilery on tracks that should do it"

[@Mr-Y]

Mr. Beast trembles in fear while watching this...

[@aurathedraak7909]

More Soviet self propelled or tank destroyers. Plz.

[@mladenmatosevic4591]

During preparations for Kursk battle Soviets needed weapon which could take German heavy tanks head on with one shot. Since high velocity guns 100 and even 85mm were not ready, they took excellent 152mm howitzer. It had no long range precision of German KwK 88, but could blast off turret from Tiger tank and kill crew by spalling armor. Even more important, it proved to be excellent weapon against fortified buildings, because it would collapse whole building with few shots. See about Battle of Budapest. IMHO, if Germans had some of those in Stalingrad story of Pavlov's house would have been rather short.

[@the2wheelsnowman]

I appreciate the Sabaton reference

[@rebeccadewitt5467]

The ISU 152 was used for beaching fortifications.namely hard points. Hard points being bunkers . Not for directly taking on armour

[@victorvarganov876]

can you do next a video about the gewehr 43?

[@abeyroad0487]

Next video suggestion. Make a video about the Browning 1919 machine gun belt fed

[@MontagneMainSkibi]

Yessss I love this vehicle

[@heavyjuggernaut3912]

Cool that you mentioned the abandoned ISU at Chernobyl

[@crazyeen1564]

love how you use one of Bo Time Gaming videos to show it off XD i watch his videos

[@kenmartin7713]

How did u get that inside isu tank footage it looks like a game ?

[@fredlandry6170]

That beast killer IS a beast!

[@liberatete]

I saw one of this monsters in museum nearby my home.

[@mcintoshpc]

Stay away from nuclear reactors? Well it’s summer and I can’t find a job what the hell else am i supposed to do?

[@Jin-Ro]

56KG shell, I wouldn't want to be handballing those in the heat of battle.

[@Legoman2224]

Can you do the f101 voodoo next

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

I will forsure! Maybe in the next 10 videos... I'm a bit backed up

[@ATruckCampbell]

I would have loved to see an ISU variant with the B4 crammed onto it.

[@1228carlito]

Johnny I have to ask this question after seeing so many of your videos. Is BO Time Gaming your son or brother? I see a lot of their video clips in your videos.

[@JohnnyJohnsonEsq]

Just a cool cat. I like his videos, and he is supportive of me using them.

[@zachfrancisco8185]

You should make a video on the IS2 which was more of a beast killer

[@hansmerker5611]

I suggest videos on the: Winchester rifle Beretta 92 Smith and Wesson Schofield

[@JB_Shryke]

You need to watch Garand thumb's video about tank firing point blank at a ballistic gel dummy. They have a russian 152mm gun. You should see what it does to a ballistic gel dummy.

[@panthera6750]

This is giving me some War Thunder flashbacks

[@kenmartin7713]

How are you looking inside a tank???? What app is that???

[@Heisenburger-rv3xg]

can you make a video about of austrias most famous firearms: the Steyr Mannlicher Arme Universal Gewehr (AUG) and the Glock Pistols

[@hallamhal]

"The nuclear plants gone critical, what do we do?" "I know, let's blast it with some 56kg shells, what could possibly go wrong?"

[@williamzk9083]

They might have started by telling the Ukraine population of the massive release of radioactivity so that children could be given iodine tablets and evacuated and precautions taken such as not eating leafy green vegetables harvested in the area. The Russians that ran the plant didn't tell anyone but hushed it up. Oligarchs and hushing up incompetence has been the way of Russia under the Tsars, Under Lenin, Stalin and the Soviet. The first indication of a nuclear accident was radiation sensors in Swedish Nuclear Plants on the other side of Europe.

[@ryleeculla5570]

Wasn’t a good idea for a two peace or three in tank on tank combat but it works

[@scockery]

LIQUIDATORS...MOUNT UP!!

[@Minboelf]

Ah yes the soviet version of "Deleted from existence"

[@karlwalther]

С моим отцом работал ветеран, воевавший на ИСУ-152. Да, он говорил, что спать в ней было удобно. И еще рассказал, что у них в установке убило замкового откатом орудия 03:14. Замковой - член экипажа, ответственный за открывание и закрывание поршневого затвора пушки.

[@TrickiVicBB71]

Ahhh, the Troll Cannon as Mighty Jingles calls it

[@interpl6089]

It is to be said, It's 152mm (ML-20S) was so strong it could take the turret clean off a Tiger or a Panther, It would even disable the Tiger II easily.

[@John14-6...]

The crews that were called "liquidators" were most likely later on "liquidated" from the radiation

[@mihaelvulchev7003]

Company of heroes ❤

[@doberman.srb89]

Best tank killer ever

[@andrewpeterson6526]

Should have played the video when those dudes got an old usu-152 running after it was suck in the ground for who knows how long

[@duyduc6293]

3:36 Using artillery to solve problems might be the most Soviet approach to date.

[@crislenardquindoza4334]

Isu-152 in real life: scary to the germans Isu-152 in wotb with the 286 pen gun: give me mini heart attacks

[@geordiedog1749]

Big buggers! And that’s about it.

[@davidbradley3227]

So sad that the footage of the liquidators running out onto the roof isn’t gleaned from movie footage.

[@Ihavpickle]

It should be called "The kitty killer"

[@trouserarmadillo8616]

Those gentleman at 2:43 were a bit too close to the muzzle, methinks.

[@itsjohndell]

Available across Tennessee