After the end of the Second World War, the world would find itself squarely in the grips of the Cold War for the remainder of the 20th century. Ironically, the new and haunting specter of nuclear annihilation made tanks seem to be a quaint mark of conventional warfare, despite themselves being the innovative breakthrough of modernity just decades earlier.
In the Soviet Union, tank development reached new heights as the Red Army sought to maintain a formidable armored force capable of countering the military might of the Western powers. Soviet tanks like the T-54 and its successor, the T-55, became ubiquitous symbols of Soviet military prowess, renowned for their reliability, simplicity, and adaptability to various combat roles.
At the forefront of Soviet tank design were the T-62 Battle Tank and the T-64, a groundbreaking main battle tank equipped with advanced features such as composite armor, a smoothbore gun, and an autoloader system. The T-64 represented a significant leap forward in armored warfare technology, setting the stage for the development of future Soviet tank designs.
In addition to conventional tanks, the Cold War saw the proliferation of specialized armored vehicles designed for specific roles, such as reconnaissance, artillery support, and anti-tank warfare. These vehicles, such as the Soviet BMP series, provided essential support for armored formations and contributed to the overall flexibility and effectiveness of modern armored forces.
