T-54 | |
|---|---|
| Country | URSS |
| Type | Char |
| Topic | Album of 117 photos walk-around of a tank T-54 |
Photo gallery of a tank T-54, The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, and others. T-54s and T-55s were involved in many of the world’s armed conflicts during the late 20th and early 21st century.
See also:
The **T-54** is a Soviet-designed medium tank introduced shortly after World War II. It formed the basis of the T-54/T-55 family, which became the most produced tank series in history. Its design emphasized a low silhouette, rugged simplicity, and effective firepower, setting the standard for Soviet armored warfare during the early Cold War era.
Key Characteristics
- Role: Originally designated a medium tank, it later became classified as an **Main Battle Tank (MBT)**, capable of balancing firepower, protection, and mobility.
- Firepower: The main armament was the **100 mm D-10T rifled tank gun**. Later variants introduced the T-54A/B, which featured a bore evacuator (fume extractor) and gun stabilization systems to improve accuracy on the move.
- Protection: A hallmark of the T-54 was its protection. It featured a heavily sloped hull and a distinctive **low-profile, hemispherical cast turret** which offered excellent resistance to contemporary anti-tank fire due to the effective angling of its thick armor.
- Crew: The tank utilized a **four-man crew** (commander, gunner, loader, and driver).
Design Legacy and T-55 Evolution
The T-54 was a robust, simple, and easily maintainable design, which made it ideal for mass production and export. Its evolution led directly to the **T-55**, a nearly identical-looking but strategically significant upgrade:
- The T-55 incorporated an improved engine.
- Most importantly, the T-55 was the first tank series in the world equipped with an integrated **NBC (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical) protection** system, reflecting the Soviet focus on combat operations in a post-nuclear landscape.
Due to the similarity and continuous field upgrades, the T-54 and T-55 are often grouped together as the T-54/T-55 series, remaining one of the most widely operated tanks globally well into the 21st century.
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