The T 62 was put into service in the late 60s by the former soviet army to operate side-by-side with and replace the old T 54s and T 55s, thousands of which were used by the red army and by the armies of the allied countries of the Eastern Block. With its low, receding shape, offering significant ballistic protection, the T 62 was also highly mobile which, combined with its excellent cannon, made it a dangerous opponent for the similar means employed by the NATO countries. Conversely, its armour was inadequate, being too thin to provide sufficient protection against the latest types of ammunition.