Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the tanks category.
01 / Overview
T-54
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1946–1981
Quantity
96,500
Unit Price (current)
$2.4M↗ 1084% inflation · 1956→2025
Original Price
$200.0K (1956)
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
TANKS · EARLY COLD WAR
37
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
92
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
$2.4M
Original: $200.0K (1956)
Inflation: +%1084
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the tanks category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
- Tank ClassificationMain Battle Tank (MBT)
- GenerationEarly Cold War
- Combat Weight36 t
- Crew Size4
- Service Entry Year1947
◈Firepower11MOD.11
- Main Gun Calibre100 mm
- Main Gun TypeRifled
- Main Gun Length (Calibres)52
- Muzzle Velocity (Max)895 m/s
- Effective Range (Main Gun)1,800 m
- Ammunition Stowage43
- Can Fire APFSDSNo
- Can Fire HEATYes
- Can Fire HE-FragYes
- Can Fire ATGMNo
- Coaxial / Secondary MG Count1
▣Protection9MOD.9
- Armour TypeCast Steel
- Hull Front Thickness (Max)120 mm
- Turret Front Thickness (Max)200 mm
- Frontal RHA Equivalent (KE)120 mm
- Frontal RHA Equivalent (CHEM)200 mm
- Has ERANo
- Has APSNo
- NBC ProtectionNo
- Smoke GrenadesNo
◇Mobility8MOD.8
- Engine Power500 hp
- Power-to-Weight Ratio13.9 hp/t
- Fuel TypeDiesel
- Transmission TypeManual
- Suspension TypeTorsion Bar
- Max Road Speed51 km/h
- Operational Range (Road)325 km
- Fording Depth1.4 m
◆Dimensions5MOD.5
- Length (Hull)6.09 m
- Length (Overall, Gun Forward)9 m
- Width3.37 m
- Height2.4 m
- Ground Clearance0.425 m
▤Electronics & Optics8MOD.8
⬢Amphibious & Special3MOD.3
▲Production & Service4MOD.4
- Total Production Units35,000
- Years in Production23 year
- Current Service StatusActive Service
- Notable Variants Count10
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1946Production started
- 1981Production ended
- 1993Entered service
80
years in service
35
years in production
96,500
units produced
17
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country no longer actively operates it. 54 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
T-54 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
06 / Operators
Operator Inventory15country · 1,298units
1,298active
T-54SALES1records
| Year | Buyer | Quantity | Amount | Present Value (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — |  Egypt | — | — | — |
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
07 / MASS Score
TANKS RANKING Tanks · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
268TANKS37EARLY COLD WAR · TANKS1354RUSSIA · ALL WEAPONS50PRICE · TANKS582PRICE · ALL WEAPONS5PERFORMANCE/PRICE · TANKS
ⓘ Rankings are within theTankscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE10terms
Steel alloy cast into shape for armour applications.
Type of internal combustion engine fuel, refined from crude oil.
High-Explosive Fragmentation: ammunition that explodes on impact, releasing fragments.
High-Explosive Anti-Tank: a type of projectile that uses a shaped charge to penetrate armor.
A main battle tank is a heavily armored vehicle with a large caliber gun, used for front-line combat.
Manual: a tank transmission in which the driver selects gear changes manually, typically using a clutch pedal and gear lever to engage gears.
A fire control system relying on optical sights and manual input for aiming and range estimation without computer assistance.
Enhanced low-light visibility through specialized optics or sensors.
A rifled gun has spiral grooves cut into its barrel.
A torsion bar is a steel rod that resists twisting and serves as a spring in tank suspensions, with one end fixed to the hull and the other connected to a lever arm moving the road wheel.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources