As one of the oldest Premium vehicles in World of Tanks, the KV-5 can be considered as a true classic. Despite being a KV tank, it's fairly different from its peers, so let's have a look at it!

The KV-5 benefits from Preferential Matchmaking, which means it will not see any Tier X vehicles. When playing in a platoon, however, pay attention to the vehicles your comrades choose. If one of them uses a vehicle without Preferential Matchmaking, you can end up in battles with Tier X opponents.

Gameplay

Tanks of the KV series are mostly known to be very resilient and can take a lot of punishment thanks to that, and the KV-5 is no exception. Both the hull and the turret are tough but there is one very famous frontal weak spot: the massive Radio Operator's cupola, also called 'R2D2' by the community. To make it as difficult as possible for the enemy to penetrate it, we advise you to occasionally use 'reverse side-scraping'. It's similar to normal side-scraping but with your rear facing the wall, instead of the front. 

The mobility is rather average, which for this tank is quite a positive surprise, given the fact the KV-5 is among the heaviest vehicles in the game. Every once in a while, you'll have the opportunity to use the good top speed for very effective ramming attacks. On the other hand, the agility is not great at all, making the KV-5 feel like driving a train.

Its 107 mm gun will do its job. Everything around the gun is alright, such as the rate of fire, damage per shot, and penetration power. The accuracy is a bit of a lacklustre, expectedly so for a Soviet tank. You'll get the best results by engaging in close combat, using your armour and survivability to your advantage. Thanks to your size, you can hit the commander's cupola with ease, making it easier to penetrate the opponents you face.

Equipment

Recommended Setup

Hover your cursor over the images for more information on each piece of equipment.

The pieces of equipment above are mainly focussed to increase the gun's performance by raising the potential damage per minute as well as the gun's reliability.

Crew Skills

Commander
Gunner
Driver
Radio Operator
1st Loader
2nd Loader

Hover your cursor over the images for more information on each crew skill or perk.

Choosing proper crew skills for the KV-5 is fairly easy. As with any heavy tank fighting at the front, having Repair is crucial to keep your tank running. Later skills improve certain aspects of the vehicle, such as gun performance, and a bit of survivability.

Adrenaline Rush

Decreases the gun reload time by 10% if your vehicle's HP drops below 10%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Band of Brothers

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100% for every single crew member.

Also works if other crew members have Brothers in Arms / Sisterhood of Steel.

Call for Vengeance

Reports the enemy vehicles' location for two more seconds after the destruction of the own vehicle.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Clutch Braking

Increases the traverse speed of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Concealment

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Controlled Impact

Increases the ramming damage dealt and decreases damage taken by ramming.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Deadeye

Increases the chance of landing a critical hit.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Designated Target

Keeps targetes vehicles visible for two more seconds.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Eagle Eye

Allows you to identify damaged/destroyed modules as well as injured crew members of an enemy vehicle by hovering your mouse over it for several seconds.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Firefighting

Reduces the duration and damage taken by fire.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Intuition

Grants a slight chance of changing the shell type without having to reload again.

Doesn't work with autoloaders. Works also while reloading.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Jack of All Trades

Reduces the performance penalty of wounded crew members.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Mentor

Increases the Crew XP gained for each member apart from the commander.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Off-Road Driving

Increases the mobility on medium and soft terrain.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Preventative Maintenance

Reduces the chance of taking fire.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Recon

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Relaying

Increases the signal range of your allies' vehicles within your signal range.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Repair

Reduces the repair time of destroyed modules.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Safe Stowage

Increases the durability of your vehicle's ammo rack.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Signal Boosting

Increases the signal range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Situational Awareness

Increases the view range of your vehicle.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Sixth Sense

Shows a lightbulb three seconds after you've been spotted.

Works only if the skill progress has reached 100%.

Smooth Ride

Reduces the dispersion penalty while driving.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Snap Shot

Reduces the dispersion penalty of traversing the turret.

The higher the skill progress, the higher the effect.

Additional Grousers

Increases the mobility on soft and medium terrain.

Binocular Telescope

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 25%.

Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.

Camouflage Net

Increases the camouflage value of your vehicle tremendously.

Your hull must stand still for at least 3 seconds.

Enhanced Gun Laying Drive

Reduces the aiming time of your gun by 10%.

Coated Optics

Increases the view range of your vehicle by 10%.

Tank Gun Rammer

Reduces the reload time of your gun by 10%.

Spall Liner

Decreases damage taken by ramming and high-explosive splash.

Toolbox

Decreases the repair time of destroyed modules.

Cumulative with the Repair skill.

Improved Ventilation

Increases the training level of your crew members by 5%.

Vertical Stabilizer

Reduces the dispersion penalties of hull and turret traverse, as well as driving by 20%.

"Wet" Ammo Rack

Increases the module HP of your ammo rack.

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