The T-62 has roots in the end of World War II, with the T-54 and T-55 (pictured above). The first T-54 was created in March of 1945, around six months before the conclusion of the war. This family of tanks would go on to serve as a potent weapon for a new era of global conflict.
As is so often the case with the development of military vehicles, the T-54 was built from an existing framework, a combination of old technology and the new. In this case, the body was adapted from that of the T-44, which itself had innovations for Soviet tanks incorporated into its design. These included a new and less intrusive position for the engine, affording occupants more room (which hadn’t historically been a major concern with Soviet tanks), and reinforcement and protection of the entry hatch.
Just as the T-44 was developed to improve upon the T-34, the T-54 was an advancement of the T-44’s capabilities. Its water-cooled diesel V-12 offered 500 horsepower (upped to 580 hp with the 1955 upgraded T-55), and with a 100mm anti-tank gun and 9M117 Bastion missiles, it was truly a main battle tank developed to bring the fight to its rival machines.
1961’s T-62 had huge shoes to fill — its predecessors went on to become the most prolific models in history, with up to 100,000 T-54s and 55s being built. Its specs marked yet more new ground, however.
