The T-54 and T-55 main battle tanks were the Soviet Union's replacements for the World War II era T-34 tank. The T-54/55 tank series is the most produced in the world, with estimates of over 100,000 units manufactured, and very widely employed, especially by former client states of the Soviet Union.
The T-54 and T-55 tanks are very similar in construction. The T-55 introduced NBC protection, a more powerful engine, increased ammunition stowage, and an improved transmission.
General Characteristics
Armed with a 100mm rifled gun, the T-55 weighed approximately 36 tonnes and could reach speeds of 50 km/h on roads. Its low silhouette and rugged construction made it well-suited for export, and variants were produced in Czechoslovakia, Poland, and China (as the Type 59).
Combat History
T-54/55 tanks have seen combat in virtually every major conflict since the 1950s, including the Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, Vietnam War, Iran-Iraq War, Gulf War, and numerous African conflicts. Despite being outclassed by modern Western tanks, upgraded variants remain in service with many nations.