The Ya-5M is a modified version of the Ya-5 minesweeper boat, which was developed and built at Yaroslavl Shipyard No. 345. Between 1942 and 1945, a total of 68 Ya-5 boats were produced in two variants: mortar boats and minesweepers. The boats were used by the Black Sea Fleet and the Volga Military Flotilla. In 1944, some of the boats became part of the Danube Military Flotilla. After the war, surviving boats were partially decommissioned or converted into minesweepers and transferred to civilians, where they were used as tugs and transport vessels.

The Ya-5M was introduced as a reward for the sixth War Thunder anniversary in 2018. In combat it struggles to fulfill the role of an artillery boat. A crew of ten and two DShK machine guns are insufficient, and although the rocket launcher is fairly powerful, the aiming is inconvenient.