User:Mzajac/T-54/55

The T-54 and T-55 tank were a series of main battle tanks designed by the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in 1946, shortly after the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank of the Soviet Red Army's armored units, as well as of the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries and other armies as well. T-54s and T-55s have been involved in many of the world's armed conflicts during the later 20th century.

The T-54/55 series eventually became the most-produced tank in history. Estimated production numbers for the series range from 86,000 to 100,000, and the series is still in use worldwide, having received sophisticated retrofitting. It has been described as the "most popular tank in history" and is the most widely used tank of all time.

The T-54/55 series was eventually replaced by the T-64, T-72, and T-80 in the Soviet army, but original and modernized versions continue to be used by up to 50 other armies today. T-54 and T-55 tanks never directly faced their NATO Cold War adversaries in Europe, however, their first appearance in the west in 1960 spurred the United States to develop the M60.

Predecessors: T-34 and T-44
The Soviet T-34 medium tank of 1940 is considered by many to have the best balance of firepower, protection and mobility of its time of any tank in the world. Its development continued throughout the Second World War and it continued to perform well, however, the designers could not include the latest technologies or major developments as the series production of the tank could not be interrupted during wartime.

In 1943, the Morozov Design Bureau resurrected the pre-war T-34M development project and created the T-44 tank. Thanks to a space-efficient torsion-bar suspension, a novel transverse engine mount, and the removal of the hull machine-gunner's crew position, the T-44 performed at least as well as the T-34, but with substantially better armour. The T-44's main drawback, however, was its small turret that was still incapable of mounting more powerful armament than its predecessor's 85 mm tank gun. A tank mounting a 100 mm gun was desired.