The T-54 and T-55 tank series were main battle tanks designed by the Soviet Union. The first prototype T-54 appeared in 1946 shortly after the end of the Second World War. It was the successor to the T-44 and a direct descendant of the T-34, considered by many to have been the "finest all around tank of the war"Miller, David The great Book of Tanks Salamander Books London, England 2002 338-341 ISBN 1-84065-475-9. The tank entered full production in 1947 and became a mainstay of Red Army armored units, the Warsaw Pact countries and many other armies as well. T-54's and T-55's were involved in many of the world's armed conflicts. Following a series of major improvements the T-54 was designated the T-55 in 1955. The T-55 has been described as the "most popular tank in history" Halberstadt, Hans Inside the Great Tanks The Crowood Press Ltd. Wiltshire, Eng