Hell Let Loose Vietnam Weapons — Full Arsenal Guide

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam keeps its weapon lists small and historically grounded — the Vietnam War simply didn't have the variety of the WWII European theatre, and the game leans into realism over novelty. What it lacks in count it makes up for in character: the US and NVA arsenals are not reskins of each other, with different recoil, magazine capacities and handling on nearly every gun. This guide covers the complete launch arsenal, what each weapon's job is, and how to pick based on your role and playstyle.

Here's what you'll learn:

• The full US arsenal, rifle to flamethrower
• The full NVA arsenal, including the Type series and K50M
• Which weapons fit which roles (rifleman, HMG, grenadier, anti-tank, sniper)
• The anti-vehicle options both factions rely on
• How the weighted loadout system changes what you carry

Official resources: Steam store page · Xbox store listing · Official site · IGN game page

How Weapons Work in Vietnam

The dev team's stated design: both factions have comparable weapon classes, but each firearm handles differently — "its own recoil, ammunition capacity and feel" — rather than mirroring the enemy's kit. The other big system change is the weighted loadout: weapons and gear carry weight, roles have carrying capacity, and heavier loadouts limit what else you can bring. Lighter rifles (M16A1, Type 56) keep you mobile; belt-fed MGs and launchers turn you into a slow, high-value target.

Per the official Developer Q&A from Expression Games: "Although both factions have access to comparable weapon classes, each firearm handles differently, with its own recoil, ammunition capacity and feel" — balance is maintained through ongoing playtesting, not mirror-match design.

US Armed Forces Arsenal

M16A1 — the American workhorse

Semi-auto and full-auto, the M16A1 is the US baseline. It's light on the new weight system, accurate to medium range, and the most forgiving American gun for new players — which is why the beginners guide points riflemen here. The M203 variant trades some handling for a built-in 40 mm grenade launcher, giving one soldier both direct fire and indirect blast — the classic "Vietnam combo."

M60 — suppression, not precision

The M60 ("The Pig") is a belt-fed monster. You win engagements with volume: dump rounds into treelines and villages to pin squads so your riflemen can move. Reload times are long and the weight is heavy — your position is your life. The NVA equivalent is the RPD.

M79 & M72 — the boom boys

The M79 grenade launcher is a single-shot 40 mm tube with a satisfyingly distinct pop — lob rounds over walls and into windows rather than point-blanking. The M72 LAW is the disposable US anti-tank rocket: one shot, then it's gone. Both are role-defining for Grenadier and anti-vehicle loadouts.

M40, M1911A1, M2A1-7, Model 77E

The M40 is the sniper's bolt-action rifle (paired with a Spotter in recon squads — see the roles guide). The M1911A1 is the classic .45 sidearm for officers and specialists. The M2A1-7 flamethrower and Model 77E shotgun cover close-quarters and bunker-clearing niches.

NVA Arsenal

Type 56 — the AK of the war

The NVA's standard rifle is an AK-pattern assault rifle: reliable, hard-hitting, and at its best in the jungle's short sightlines. It's heavier-recoiling than the M16A1 in feel but devastating in the bush. The Type 53 (Mosin-pattern bolt-action) covers the marksman role, and the N4 rifle-grenade variant turns it into a poor man's M203.

RPD & K50M — NVA automatic fire

The RPD is the NVA belt-fed equivalent of the M60 — same suppression job, different handling. The K50M is the wild card: a converted PPSh-style submachine gun (with a distinctive drum variant) built for the war's close-quarters village and tunnel fighting. On dense maps like Vạn Tường, a K50M squad clearing villages is genuinely scary.

RPG-02 & LPO-50 — the NVA specials

The RPG-02 is the NVA's anti-tank answer to the M72 — a rocket launcher that punishes tanks that push without infantry support. The LPO-50 flamethrower mirrors the US M2A1-7 for bunker and tunnel clearing. The IZH 58 shotgun rounds out the CQB options.

Best Weapons by Role & Playstyle

Anti-Vehicle Weapons & the Tank Threat

Tanks punish disorganised teams, so the anti-vehicle pool matters: US Grenadiers and anti-tank loadouts carry the M72 LAW, the NVA carry the RPG-02, and both factions can bring satchel charges and mines (the TM-46 AT mine on the NVA side, M21 on the US side) through Engineer loadouts. The general rule: one dedicated anti-tank player per squad is enough — five of you standing in a field trying to LAW a tank is how squads disappear.

Loadout Weight & Progression

The weighted loadout system affects weapon choice directly: belt-feds and launchers are heavy, so taking one means giving up grenades or extra medical supplies. Roles unlock loadout options through XP — the devs confirmed faster early progression and reduced weights on selected weapons post-playtest, so the useful loadouts arrive sooner. If you're new, run the light default loadout for your role; add weight as you learn what you actually use.

For which roles carry which weapons, see the roles guide. For how engagements actually play out (TTK, movement, the jungle's sightlines), the how to play guide covers it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many weapons are in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam?

Roughly 18 infantry weapons at launch across both factions — nine per side — plus bayonet and underbarrel variants. The US fields the M16A1/M203, M1911A1, M60, M79, M72, M40, M2A1-7 and Model 77E; the NVA fields the Type 56, Type 53, Type 54, RPD, K50M, RPG-02, LPO-50, IZH 58 and Type 53 PU.

What weapons does the US side use in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam?

M16A1 (with bayonet and M203 variants), M1911A1, M60, M79, M72 LAW, M40 sniper rifle, M2A1-7 flamethrower and Model 77E shotgun.

What weapons does the NVA use in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam?

Type 56 rifle, Type 53 bolt-action (bayonet and N4 launcher variants), Type 53 PU sniper, Type 54 pistol, RPD machine gun, K50M submachine gun (plus drum variant), RPG-02, LPO-50 flamethrower and IZH 58 shotgun.

What is the best rifle in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam?

For general use, the M16A1 (US) and Type 56 (NVA) are the balanced picks — light on the weight system, effective to medium range, and suited to the jungle's short sightlines. The M40 and Type 53 PU win the long-range fight but demand a recon squad.

Are there flamethrowers in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam?

Yes — the US M2A1-7 and the NVA LPO-50, both devastating in bunkers/trenches and highly vulnerable in the open.

Related Guides

• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Roles — All 17 Roles Explained
• How to Play Hell Let Loose: Vietnam — Objectives, Modes & Spawns
• Hell Let Loose Vietnam Beginners Guide: First Match, Roles & Survival
• Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Wiki — Overview, Modes & Maps
• Hell Let Loose Vietnam Maps: All 6 Battlefields Explained

Last updated: August 15, 2026.