Tank origin

The Korean War led the U.S. military to reevaluate its vehicle strategy and embrace the concept of light, nimble tank destroyers that could stem the tides of Soviet tanks. This decision yielded two new tank destroyers: the M56 Scorpion and the M50 Ontos. The M50 Ontos boasted a unique design, with six recoilless 105mm rifles (later 106mm M40A1C rifles) mounted to its body. Ultimately, the vehicle was embraced not by the U.S. Army but by the Marine Corps, which used it as an infantry support vehicle throughout the Vietnam War.