Hell Let Loose Vietnam Mortar Guide - How to Use Mortars (Gunner, Observer & Support)

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam gives every team a dedicated Mortar unit — the only squad in the game built around indirect fire. A three-man crew of Gunner, Observer and Support can shell a contested capture point from safety, break up NVA tunnel rushes, and counter enemy machine-gun nests without ever exposing themselves to a rifleman's sightline. It is also the easiest way to kill your own team if you skip the steps below.

This is the mortar guide for launch: what each of the three roles actually does, how to build and aim the tube, how the Observer turns grid squares into falling steel, and the target list that makes a mortar squad worth its slots.

Here's what you'll learn:

• What the Mortar unit is and how the three roles split the work
• How the Gunner builds, aims and fires the mortar
• How the Observer reads the map and calls in corrections
• Why the Support role keeps the whole operation alive
• The best (and worst) targets for mortar fire, plus counter-mortar basics

Official resources: Steam store page · Official site · Official blog · IGN game page

What Is the Mortar Unit in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam?

Per the official Steam store listing, each 50-strong team is built from multiple squads across six unit types: Command, Infantry, Recon, Armour, Helicopter and Mortar. The Mortar unit exists specifically for indirect fire support — it is the infantry-level artillery that can be positioned almost anywhere the Gunner can reach.

A mortar squad is a three-person operation:

• Mortar Gunner — builds the tube, aims it, and drops shells.
• Mortar Observer — the eyes. Watches the target, reads the map, and talks the gunner onto the target with grid coordinates and corrections.
• Mortar Support — hauls supplies and ammunition, keeps the tube fed through a long barrage, and defends the position.

Unlike the WW2 Hell Let Loose artillery system (fixed guns at HQ that the Commander uses), Vietnam mortars are player-deployed field pieces: you choose the position, you build the tube, and you carry it through the whole match. The trade-off is that a mortar crew is completely helpless in a close-range fight — which is exactly why the role split exists.

Mortar Roles: Gunner, Observer and Support

Mortar Gunner

The Gunner is the only role that can build the mortar. The loadout includes the Hammer and Wrench tools (confirmed in the Dexerto role database), so the Gunner places the tube and can repair it if it takes damage.

On the firing line the Gunner does three things:

1. Set up — pick the position (see positioning below), place the tube with the build tools.
2. Aim — adjust the tube's direction and elevation. The in-game mortar calculator links the tube angle to the range: raise the angle for a shorter drop, lower it for longer reach. You read the numbers off the calculator UI and match them to the Observer's reported range.
3. Fire — drop the shell down the muzzle; the Support keeps a steady rhythm of shells coming.

Mortar Observer

The Observer carries binoculars, a radio, and a sidearm or compact rifle — the Dexerto role data shows the Observer kit leaning on the Type 54 pistol for the NVA and the M1911A1 for the US. The Observer's job is to be the gunner's eyes on the target:

• Read the Tactical Map and report the target's grid coordinates plus the direction and estimated distance from the mortar.
• Mark the target so the whole team can see it.
• Watch the fall of shot and call corrections — "left 50, drop 25" style adjustments until the rounds land on target.
• Confirm with the Squad Leader or Commander before firing near friendly positions.

The whole point of the Observer is that the mortar itself doesn't need a line of sight to the target. The gunner aims at numbers; the observer supplies the numbers. A well-drilled observer can put rounds within about 25 metres of the point with corrections (community figures from the launch playtest put uncorrected fire at roughly twice that spread — treat these as rough guides until more data is published).

Mortar Support

The Support role is easy to undervalue and impossible to replace: it carries the Supplies and Ammo Boxes that keep the operation alive. Without a Support player hauling shells, a Gunner goes dark after a handful of rounds exactly when the barrage matters most.

The Support also handles the unglamorous work: watching the rear for NVA flankers, guarding the tube, and resetting the position if counter-fire comes in. If you're new to the Mortar unit, Support is the best seat to learn the rhythm from — you see every fire mission from the inside without owning the aim.

How to Set Up and Aim the Mortar

Step 1 — Pick the position. Good mortar positions have three properties: cover from direct fire, a clear arc to the target sector, and a hard-to-guess location. Jungle fringes on Quảng Ngãi, the tree line beside the Nam Ma River on Thanh Hóa Bridge, and the hills ringing Huế Outskirts are the natural early spots — see the all maps guide for where each map pushes the fight.

Step 2 — Build. The Gunner places the tube with the build tools. Building takes a few seconds; do it before the enemy recon learns where you are, not after the first shell goes out.

Step 3 — Get the numbers. The Observer reads the target's grid from the Tactical Map, then estimates range and direction from the mortar's position. This is where the mortar calculator comes in: match the reported range to the elevation value and set the bearing to the reported direction.

Step 4 — Fire and correct. The Observer watches the fall, calls corrections, and the Support keeps shells coming until the target is either destroyed or the Observer calls "cease fire." Then either stay silent (you're now a counter-mortar target) or displace to a second position.

Best Mortar Targets in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

Not everything deserves a shell. The target list, best to worst:

Bottom of the list: single riflemen, moving infantry, and anything inside 100 metres of your own team. Mortars are area weapons — they punish clusters, fixed positions and spawn infrastructure, not individual players.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do mortars work in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam? A three-player Mortar unit builds a field mortar and uses indirect fire: the Observer reads grid coordinates from the map, the Gunner matches range and direction using the in-game mortar calculator, and the Support keeps the tube fed with shells. Rounds arc over cover and land on a map grid rather than requiring line of sight.

What are the mortar roles in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam? Three roles: Mortar Gunner (builds and fires the tube, carries Hammer and Wrench), Mortar Observer (binoculars, radio, map reading and fire correction), and Mortar Support (carries Supplies and Ammo Boxes, feeds and guards the position).

How do I aim the mortar in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam? Use the mortar calculator: set the tube elevation to the range reported by the Observer and the bearing to the direction, then fire and have the Observer call left/right/up/down corrections until rounds land on target.

What should the Mortar Observer do in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam? Read the Tactical Map, report grid coordinates plus range and direction to the Gunner, mark targets for the team, watch the fall of shot, and call corrections. The Observer also confirms targets with the Squad Leader or Commander before firing near friendlies.

What are the best mortar targets in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam? NVA tunnels, enemy garrisons and outposts, machine-gun nests, enemy mortar positions, and capture points ahead of an infantry push. Avoid firing at single infantry or anything close to your own team.

Related Guides

• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Squad Leader Guide
• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Tank Guide — Crew Roles & Targets
• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Sniper Guide — Recon Duo
• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam All Maps Guide
• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Weapons Guide
• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Push to Talk Guide

Last updated: August 14, 2026.