During the Cold War, the T-54/55 tank series represented the most serious threat to NATO ground forces in Europe. Available in massive quantities, they formed the core of the Warsaw Pact armored forces strategy, which anticipated massive tank assaults against the weakest point of NATO's defense line.

However, the T-54/55 could be countered by smaller numbers of tanks with better technology and training, as demonstrated during the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when Israeli tankers inflicted severe damage on the Syrian army's T-55s. Despite these limitations, the T-54/55 was one of the most successful tanks ever produced, and this volume of the TankCraft series by Robert Jackson is the perfect introduction to it.

Apart from highlighting the history of the T-54/55, his book is an excellent reference source for modelers, providing details on available kits and photos of award-winning models, along with artwork depicting the colors applied to these tanks. Each section of the book is supported by rich archival photo material.