       the t-54 and t-55 tanks are a series of main battle tanks (according to some sources) although not recognised as an mbt by soviet and russian sources, instead classifying them as medium tanks http://armor.kiev.ua/tanks/modern/t54/manual/ (the very concept of "main battle tanks" was applied only to tanks beginning with t-64a, armed with 125-mm tank gun) that were designed in the soviet union. the first t-54 prototype appeared in march 1945, just as the second world war ended. the t-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armoured 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 centuries. 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. they were replaced by the t-62, t-64, t-72, t-80, an
Cold_War_tanks_of_the_Soviet_Union Main_battle_tanks_of_the_Cold_War Main_battle_tanks_of_the_Soviet_Union Military_vehicles_1945a1949