Hell Let Loose: Vietnam — Complete Field Manual & Game Wiki

Welcome to the definitive tactical reference for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, the 50v50 hardcore shooter from Expression Games and Team17, built on Unreal Engine 5 and launched on 13 August 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S with full crossplay.

This manual covers verified mechanics, modes, maps, roles, weapons, vehicles, resources, and commander abilities—correcting widespread misinformation and focusing on what actually wins matches.

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1. Core Overview

• Developer / Publisher / Engine: Expression Games / Team17 / Unreal Engine 5.
• Platforms: PC (Steam/Epic/Microsoft Store), PS5, Xbox Series X|S; crossplay enabled at launch.
• Match scale: 50 vs 50 (100 players).
• Design pillar: Objective control, suppression, and squad coordination matter far more than individual K/D.
• Factions: United States Armed Forces vs North Vietnamese Army (NVA) / Viet Cong, with asymmetric tools (US air mobility; NVA tunnel networks and ambush play).

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2. Game Modes & How to Win

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam ships with four modes at launch.

Mode	Battlefield shape	Win conditions	Key notes
Warfare	Linear front with 5 sectors; one active capture zone at a time.	Capture enemy HQ or hold more sectors when 90 minutes expires.	No morale penalty on death; focus on pushing the active sector.
Offensive	Attackers vs Defenders; one active objective per phase.	Attackers must take each objective within 30 minutes per phase; defenders win by running out the clock.	Capturing an objective resets the 30-minute timer for the next phase.
Conquest	Cross-pattern of multiple points; morale-based.	Drain enemy Morale to zero by controlling more points; overtime rules apply if a team hits zero morale first.	Every redeploy ticks your team’s morale down—sustainable spawns matter. sportskeeda
Domination	Three central objectives; unlock enemy HQ when you hold the majority.	Capture enemy HQ first or control more points when time expires.	No morale; all three mid-map points can be taken in any order. wikipedia

Tip: In modes without morale (Warfare, Domination), aggressive redeploy is fine. In Conquest, every respawn costs your team—protect garrisons and manage spawns.sportskeeda

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3. Resources: Manpower, Munitions, Fuel

Commanders spend three core resources to enable spawns, strikes, and vehicles.

Resource	Primary use	Typical regeneration	How to boost
Manpower	Infantry spawns (garrisons, outposts, NVA tunnels).	Steady base rate.	Holding defensive sectors.
Munitions	Artillery, mortars, commander strikes (napalm, recon, strafing), supply drops.	Moderate base rate.	Capturing supply-heavy zones.
Fuel	Vehicles (tanks, boats) and US helicopters. youtube	Slowest base rate.	Controlling river access points / key sectors.

Resource nodes appear on the tactical map; enemy nodes being visible from long range has been reported as a UI issue.

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4. Spawn Infrastructure: Garrisons, Outposts, Tunnels

Spawns decide map control. The big three:

• Outposts (OP): Squad-level forward spawn placed by the Squad Leader; low cooldown; fragile if enemies get close.
• Garrisons: Team-wide, commander-enabled spawn structures; require supplies and spacing rules; central to sustained pushes.
• NVA Tunnel Network: Faction-unique underground spawn/fortification system; includes emergency tunnel commander abilities and hidden entrances that complicate US counterplay.

A notable Vietnam addition is the Commander Outpost ability, letting commanders place their own forward spawn.

Counterplay: US clears tunnels with explosives/flamethrowers and by contesting entrances; NVA protects tunnel mouths with overlapping fields of fire and concealment.

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5. Factions & Asymmetric Play

• United States: Air mobility (UH-1 Hueys), heavy fire support (napalm, strafing), and armored pushes (M48 Patton).youtubehell-let-loose-vietnam-wiki
• NVA / Viet Cong: Tunnel networks for hidden spawns and flanks, strong anti-air ambushes, and lightweight, high-camouflage infantry play.

Victory comes from leveraging asymmetry: US controls tempo with air and armor; NVA bleeds US morale/resources with ambushes, AA traps, and tunnel reinfiltration.

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6. The 17 Roles (Official List)

Steam and official guides list 17 roles across six units.store.steampowered

Unit	Roles
Command	Commander
Infantry	Squad Leader, Rifleman, Grenadier, Engineer, Medic, Specialist, Machine Gunner
Recon	Spotter, Sniper
Armour	Tank Commander, Crewman
Helicopter (US only)	Pilot, Logistics Officer
Mortar Squad	Observer, Support, Gunner

Notes:

• “Grenadier” is the primary anti-vehicle/explosive specialist (not “Anti-Tank” as a separate role).hellletloosevietnam-wiki
• Helicopter unit has Pilot and Logistics Officer (not a separate “Gunner” role).store.steampowered
• Mortar squad is a three-person team: Observer (calls targets), Gunner (fires), Support (ammo/logistics).nextgameguide

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7. Weapons & Ordnance (Verified Highlights)

Both factions field historically inspired arsenals with realistic ballistics and suppression.

US small arms (examples)

• M16A1 (standard rifle), M60 (LMG), M40 (sniper), M79 (grenade launcher), M72 LAW (anti-armor).hellletloosevietnam-wiki+1
• Sidearm: M1911A1.hellletloosevietnam-wiki+1

NVA small arms (examples)

• Type 56 (AK-pattern rifle), RPD (LMG), K50M (SMG), RPG-2 (rocket launcher), Type 53 PU (scoped sniper), LPO-50 (flamethrower).hellletloosevietnam-wiki+2
• Sidearm: Type 54.hellletloosevietnam-wiki+1Ballistics: Head and upper-torso shots are highly lethal; suppression from nearby fire degrades aim and vision.hellletloosevietnam-wiki

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8. Vehicles & Aerial Units

Vehicle	Faction	Role
UH-1 Huey (transport/supply/gunship variants)	US only	Troop insertions, supply runs, fire support, recon. youtubehell-let-loose-vietnam-wiki
PBR Patrol Boat / armed skiffs	Both	River control, flanking insertions, fire support along waterways. youtubehell-let-loose-vietnam-wiki
M48 Patton	US	Armored breakthrough and infantry support. hell-let-loose-vietnam-wiki+1
T-54 / PT-76	NVA	Armored support; PT-76 is amphibious and suited to riverine maps. hell-let-loose-vietnam-wiki+1

Helicopters are high-value: US must protect LZs and flight paths; NVA should layer AA (RPGs, concentrated MG fire) around likely approaches.youtube

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9. Maps: The Six Launch Battlefields

Official launch maps (not operation titles) are:

Map	Terrain highlights	Tactical focus
Vạn Tường (Operation Starlite)	Villages, dense jungle, river system.	River crossings, jungle ambushes, village CQB.
Cam Ranh Port	Docks, military zone, coastal waterways, dunes.	Boat skirmishes south; industrial close-quarters; open dunes.
Quảng Ngãi	Monsoon flooding, cliffs/caves, bamboo forests, lowlands.	Mixed verticality; cave/ridge fights; flood channels.
Huế Outskirts	Urban fringe, fortress walls, courtyards, streets.	Room-to-room CQB, satchel breaching, multi-story strongholds.
Đắk Tô Airfield	Airbase perimeter, runways, revetments, mangroves.	Long sightlines on tarmac; armor/sniper duels; runway pushes.
Thanh Hóa Bridge	River, bridge chokepoint, jungle/mountain high ground.	Bridge as killzone; high-ground control; river ambushes.

Tip: On river-heavy maps (Vạn Tường, Cam Ranh, Thanh Hóa), boats decide flanks. On airfield/urban maps (Đắk Tô, Huế), armor and sightline control win sectors.

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10. Commander Abilities (Toolkits)

Commanders convert resources into battlefield-shaping effects. Verified ability categories include:

• Supply Drop: Parachutes supplies to a marked location.
• Airhead: Mobile forward spawn for the team.
• Recon Plane: Reveals enemy positions/icons on the tactical map.
• Napalm: Area-denial fire strike that clears jungle/structures.
• Precision Strike / Artillery: High-explosive barrage on a grid.
• Strafing Run: Aircraft gun run along a vector.
• Resource Conversion: Swap between Manpower/Munitions/Fuel as needed.
• Vehicle/Helo Spawns: Bring tanks or supply helicopters into the match.

NVA-specific options include emergency tunnel spawns and other asymmetric tools that complicate US rear-area security.

Usage: In Warfare, Airheads and supply drops sustain the push; in Conquest, recon and precision strikes protect morale by denying enemy caps.sportskeeda

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11. Role Playbooks (How Each Role Wins)

Command

• Commander: Manages resources, places garrisons/airheads, times strikes, and keeps officers synchronized in command chat.nextgameguide

Infantry

• Squad Leader: Places outposts, relays commander intent, marks targets, keeps squad on the active objective.nextgameguide
• Rifleman: Flexible frontline; carries ammo/grenades; holds capture zones.nextgameguide
• Grenadier: Anti-vehicle and explosive support; destroys spawns/fortifications.hellletloosevietnam-wiki
• Engineer: Builds nodes/defenses, lays mines, demolishes enemy structures; key for tunnel counterplay.gamewatcher
• Medic: Revives and drags; keeps squad presence in the hard cap.gamewatcher
• Specialist: Fills squad gaps (often resupply/utility); exact kit varies by patch.nextgameguide
• Machine Gunner: Suppresses lanes and caps; pins enemies so squad advances.gamewatcher

Recon

• Spotter: Deep intel, backline spawn destruction, target marking for snipers/commander.nextgameguide
• Sniper: Removes high-value targets (MGs, SLs, tank commanders, helo crews).gamewatcher

Armour

• Tank Commander: Calls infantry support, spots threats, coordinates with officers.gamewatcher
• Crewman: Drives/guns; performs field repairs; keeps armor alive.gamewatcher

Helicopter (US)

• Pilot: Executes inserts, supply runs, and fire support while managing threat corridors.youtube
• Logistics Officer: Manages drop mechanics, coordinates with commander/infantry, maintains helo readiness.youtube

Mortar Squad

• Observer: Calculates targets, adjusts fire, prioritizes enemy spawns/MGs.nextgameguide
• Gunner: Fires missions; manages tube readiness.hellletloose
• Support: Feeds ammo, maintains mortar position security.nextgameguide

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12. Advanced Mechanics That Matter

• Suppression: Near misses darken vision, add sway, and mute audio; MGs create “suppression bubbles” that shut down return fire.
• Capture math: Being inside the hard cap grants ~3× capture power versus the soft zone—win fights in the circle to flip sectors fast.sportskeeda
• Water traversal: Swimming is possible on river maps; heavy roles tire faster and may drown if stamina empties.
• Drag & revive: Downed (not gibbed) teammates can be dragged to cover before reviving—medics should pre-place smoke and use trenches.

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13. Strategy Guides by Faction

US Forces

• LZ discipline: Insert beside, not on, hard caps; use tree lines and terrain masking to avoid AAA/RPG ambushes.
• Air-ground sync: Time Huey drops with artillery/smoke; keep fuel flowing for continuous armor/air pressure.youtube
• Tunnel denial: Engineers and grenadiers must clear tunnel mouths during pushes; don’t leave rear entrances active.

NVA / Viet Cong

• Concealment & ambush: Use elephant grass, water channels, and low-profile movement to bypass open kill zones.
• Tunnel depth: Layer multiple entrances feeding a hub to create multi-directional reinfiltration; protect mouths with overlapping MG/RPG fields.
• AA traps: Place RPG teams and heavy MGs around likely LZs and river approaches to punish Hueys and PBRs.youtube

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14. Quick Reference Tables

Modes at a glance

Mode	Timer	Morale?	HQ rush?	Best for
Warfare	90 min	No	Yes (endgame)	Large-scale pushes
Offensive	30 min/phase	No	Yes (attackers)	Coordinated assaults
Conquest	90 min	Yes	Indirect (morale win)	Attrition and spawn control sportskeeda
Domination	90 min	No	Yes (after 3 points)	Fast mid-map fights wikipedia

Resources cheat sheet

Resource	Spend on	Don’t waste on
Manpower	Garrisons, outposts, tunnels	Random solo spawns far from objectives
Munitions	Artillery, mortars, napalm, recon, supply drops	Uncoordinated strikes without spotter intel
Fuel	Tanks, boats, Hueys	Idle vehicles; unprotected helo loitering youtube

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15. Common Myths (Debunked)

• “Six special modes like Riverine Escort / Firebase Siege”: False. Only Warfare, Offensive, Conquest, Domination ship at launch.
• Map names are operation titles: False. Maps are Vạn Tường, Cam Ranh Port, Quảng Ngãi, Huế Outskirts, Đắk Tô Airfield, Thanh Hóa Bridge.
• 19 roles: Steam and official guides list 17 roles across six units.store.steampowered
• Exact numeric mechanics (node yields, crate counts, cooldowns): Many precise numbers circulating online are unverified or outdated; treat them as heuristics unless shown in official docs.

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16. Loadout & Progression Notes

• Roles unlock additional weapon variants and equipment as you earn XP in that role; focus on one or two roles to progress faster.
• The game uses a weight/loadout system that affects stamina and movement; lighter kits swim and sprint better, heavy kits sustain fire longer.sportskeeda

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17. Final Tips to Win More Matches

1. Spawn smart: Keep garrisons/outposts/tunnels alive near the active sector; don’t overextend spawns into undefended areas.
2. Fight in the hard cap: Three times the capture power means wins are decided by who holds the circle, not the periphery.sportskeeda
3. Protect resources: In Conquest, every careless respawn costs morale; in all modes, losing fuel-heavy vehicles hurts commander options.sportskeeda
4. Use commander tools early: Recon before strikes, smoke before pushes, supply before assaults—tempo beats brute force.
5. Communicate: Officers in command chat, squad leaders in squad chat—call targets, not just enemies.