Hell Let Loose Vietnam Update 1.5 Adds New Weapons and Balances Existing Ones

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is on the verge of receiving the game’s first major update, and it’s definitely one to write home about. Update 1.5 goes live tomorrow, September 16th, introducing brand-new weapons, balancing existing ones, and fixing a long-list of bugs and issues reported by the community.

There’s definitely something special at the heart of HLL: Vietnam, and it may very well be one of the best Vietnam games we’ve seen in decades, but user reviews remain mixed due to technical problems and an overall lack of polish.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Receives Wave of Crucial Improvements

Alongside the intensity of 50vs50 guerrilla warfare battles between the US Armed Forces and the North Vietnamese Army, one of the main selling points for HLL: Vietnam is the authenticity of the weapons and vehicles in the game.

Publisher Team17, and developers Expression Games have been working closely with the Royal Armouries since 2024, capturing images, audio, and video of weapons, to create a historically accurate experience in their game, and they’re not finished yet.

Update 1.5 builds on this foundation of realism, by replacing the existing fictional helicopter with an officially licensed Bell UH-1 Iroquois, also known as a Huey.

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is the first member of the infamous Huey helicopters, and the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter service with the US Military. To ensure the Huey is properly represented in HLL: Vietnam, the developers are deploying a helicopter update that includes:

• New Pilot HUD Icons
• Upgraded M60 Ammunition: M61 AP rounds can now damage boats and tunnels. Ammo capacity increased from 400 to 500 rounds.
• Cockpit Alarm: Alerts players when hull health is low.
• Rotor Blades Rework: Rotor blades no longer destroy friendly or enemy structures.
• Death Sequence Improved: When the helicopter is destroyed, occupants will no longer die instantly, but will ride with the helicopter until it crashes into the ground.
• Helicopter Radio: Music can be toggled on and off and will be heard by everyone inside the helicopter.

The cherry on top for the helicopter update comes in the form of a US Pilot uniform that will be free for all players who log in during Update 1.5. This cosmetic will later be available for purchase so be sure to claim it while it’s free.

New Weapons and Weapon Balancing

Two new weapons are hitting the frontlines: the M14, and the type 56 SKS. Here are the details for both of the new weapons being added in HLL: Vietnam Update 1.5:

M14:

• Semi-Automatic Rifle
• Uses 7.62 x 51 mm rounds
• 20-round magazine capacity
• 4 magazines upgradeable to 8.
• Available to Squad Leader, Rifleman, Specialist & Engineer at level 3.

Type 56 SKS:

• Semi-Automatic Rifle
• Uses 7.62 x 39mm rounds
• 10-round internal magazine capacity
• 6 Clips upgradeable to 12.
• Available to Squad Leader, Rifleman, Specialist & Engineer at level 3.

As far as balancing the weapons that were already in the game, the developers have stated, “We’ve increased the M16’s default ammunition from 4 to 6 magazines, bringing its starting ammunition capacity in line with the Type 56 AK. Players can also now increase the M16’s magazine allowance to a maximum of 10 magazines through the loadout system in the Barracks, compared with a maximum of 7 magazines for the Type 56 AK.”

There’s also over 100 fixes and quality of life improvements included in this update, which will hopefully be the layer of polish players have been hoping for. You can check out the full list, here.

Next up is Update 2.0, which will introduce three more weapons, and a brand-new map called Khe Sanh. According to the devs, “This new battlefield will offer a very different and dramatic look and feel compared to the maps currently available in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, bringing new environments and tactical challenges for both sides to overcome.”