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LVT(A)5 -- Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored) (Mark V)

There were two variations of this LVT, the (A)-4 and the (A)-5. The main difference was that the (A)-5 had gyro stabilization and a power traverse weapon station. There were 1,890 (A) 4s built and 292 (A)-5s.

Besides the tanks used extensively in Korea, there was one other armored vehicle that saw significant field modification during the Korean War. Like the tanks, the US Landing Vehicle, Tracked, Armored 5 (LVT(A)-5) saw service at the end of World War II and then was employed in Korea. The LVT(A)-5 began and ended production in 1945 as a replacement for the workhorse LVT(A)-4 that both the Marine Corps and Army used for amphibious operations in both theaters of war. Only 269 of the LVT(A)-5s were constructed. Between the wars some LVT(A)-5s received minor modifications to improve turret ergonomics and other minor aspects of performance. Both the modified and original versions of the LVT(A)-5 saw similar field modifications during the Korean conflict. Following the war, the Marine Corps withdrew the LVT(A)-5 vehicles from service.

The LVT(A)-5 served as an armed, lightly armored companion to the tracked amphibious troop carriers that US forces employed in wide numbers to land infantry during amphibious operations such as the landings at Inchon and during river crossing operations during the counteroffensive in 1950-1951. The Marines used the heavy firepower of the LVT(A)-5 to support assault troops with direct fire from its main armamentas well as in a secondary role as indirect fire support.

LVT(A)-5s carried a six man crew in a fully tracked amphibious vehicle. A small turret mounted a 75-millimeter howitzer. On most models three .30-caliber machine guns provided secondary armament. One .50-caliber machine gun replaced one of the smaller caliber machine guns in a few models. Weighing about 40.5 tons, the LVT(A)-5 could reach speeds of sixteen-miles-per-hour on land or seven-miles-per-hour in the water. The LVT(A)-5 protected its crew with very light armor, in no places more than one-half inches thick. The Marines systematically added one-quarter or one-half inch armor plate during pre-invasion preparation to critical areas for added protection. Even with the improved armor the LVT(A)-5 provided limited protection for its crew.