17 battle roles
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Roles — All 17 Battle Positions
Explore Hell Let Loose: Vietnam's 17 battle roles across Command, Infantry, Recon, Armor, Mortar and Helicopter categories. Learn each role's job, who should pick it, and which ones work best for beginners.
17 battle roles
Every Role At A Glance
Roles are organized by category. Each squad has limited slots for a given role. Beginners should start with the Recommended entry-level roles.
Commander
- Category
- Command
- Focus
- Command, coordination, resource calls
- Primary Loadout
- Pistol + binoculars
- Good for beginners
- —
Oversees the battle, directs all Squad Leaders, calls in airstrikes, recon planes, supply drops and leads troops to victory.
Browse RolesSquad Leader
- Category
- Infantry
- Focus
- Leadership and squad positioning
- Primary Loadout
- Rifle + smoke
- Good for beginners
- —
Leads each squad with a direct line to the Commander; builds Garrisons, Outposts and Tunnels (if NVA).
Browse RolesRifleman
- Category
- Infantry
- Focus
- Reliable line infantry
- Primary Loadout
- Service rifle
- Good for beginners
- Recommended
The bread and butter of the game. Takes orders, carries ammo boxes, a hammer for defenses and grenades.
Browse RolesMedic
- Category
- Infantry
- Focus
- Supporting and reviving allies
- Primary Loadout
- Pistol / SMG + medical kit
- Good for beginners
- Recommended
Revives downed teammates back to full health; carries medical supplies, bandage refills and smoke cover.
Browse RolesSpecialist
- Category
- Infantry
- Focus
- Adapting gear to squad needs
- Primary Loadout
- Flex loadout incl. flamethrower
- Good for beginners
- —
A flexible spot with lethal and utility items; unlocks unique options like the flamethrower at higher role levels.
Browse RolesMachine Gunner
- Category
- Infantry
- Focus
- Suppressive fire and area denial
- Primary Loadout
- Light machine gun
- Good for beginners
- Recommended
Locks down positions with light machine guns; NVA variant can set up an anti-air emplacement against helicopters.
Browse RolesGrenadier
- Category
- Infantry
- Focus
- Breaching, armor counter
- Primary Loadout
- Rocket launcher / AT
- Good for beginners
- Recommended
Uses rocket launchers, AT mines, grenade launchers and satchel charges against armor and entrenched positions.
Browse RolesEngineer
- Category
- Infantry
- Focus
- Structures and resource generation
- Primary Loadout
- Rifle + tools
- Good for beginners
- —
Establishes defenses, builds resource nodes for the Commander, and shapes the battlefield with cover and obstacles.
Browse RolesTank Commander
- Category
- Armor
- Focus
- Tank awareness and command
- Primary Loadout
- N/A — tank command role
- Good for beginners
- —
Sits on the periscope, calls out targets, directs the driver, and stays in touch with other tank crews.
Browse RolesTank Driver
- Category
- Armor
- Focus
- Driving and crew coordination
- Primary Loadout
- N/A — crew role
- Good for beginners
- —
Navigates the armored vehicle across terrain and communicates with the crew during battles.
Browse RolesTank Gunner
- Category
- Armor
- Focus
- Turret accuracy
- Primary Loadout
- Cannon + coaxial MG
- Good for beginners
- Recommended
Aims and fires the turret's cannon and coaxial machine gun at targets marked by the Commander or Driver.
Browse RolesSpotter
- Category
- Recon
- Focus
- Scouting, marking and spawn support
- Primary Loadout
- Binoculars, flare gun, rifle
- Good for beginners
- —
Communicates with Command, marks targets for the Sniper with flares, and deploys spawn beacons in hostile sectors.
Browse RolesSniper
- Category
- Recon
- Focus
- Long-range precision fire
- Primary Loadout
- Sniper rifle
- Good for beginners
- —
Engages targets at extreme range alongside the Spotter for the Recon duo role set.
Browse RolesObserver
- Category
- Mortar
- Focus
- Target acquisition for mortars
- Primary Loadout
- Rifle + flare gun
- Good for beginners
- —
Mix of Engineer and Spotter; calls targets, marks enemies with flares and helps place the mortar position.
Browse RolesMortar Support
- Category
- Mortar
- Focus
- Reload support
- Primary Loadout
- Mortar assistant
- Good for beginners
- —
Assists the Observer by reloading quickly between shots to keep the barrage timely and efficient.
Browse RolesMortar Gunner
- Category
- Mortar
- Focus
- Indirect fire accuracy
- Primary Loadout
- Mortar
- Good for beginners
- —
Aims, ranges and fires the mortar at locations scouted by the Observer in coordination with the team.
Browse RolesLogistics Officer
- Category
- Helicopter (US Only)
- Focus
- Airborne logistics
- Primary Loadout
- Flares, maps
- Good for beginners
- —
Talks to Command, marks targets and landing routes, drops off supplies for the helicopter crew.
Browse RolesPilot
- Category
- Helicopter (US Only)
- Focus
- Piloting + support MG
- Primary Loadout
- Helicopter controls + M60
- Good for beginners
- —
Flies the helicopter to and from the Logistics Officer's marks; mans the M60 machine gun for support fire when idle.
Browse RolesBeginner Picks
Best Roles For Beginners
These roles let you focus on shooting, positioning and squad flow before stepping into command-heavy jobs.
| Role | Short Job | Primary Loadout | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rifleman | Core infantry | Service rifle | Reliable line infantry |
| Medic | Squad support & revive | Pistol / SMG + medical kit | Supporting and reviving allies |
| Machine Gunner | Suppression specialist | Light machine gun | Suppressive fire and area denial |
| Grenadier | Anti-armor & demolition | Rocket launcher / AT | Breaching, armor counter |
| Tank Gunner | Tank crew | Cannon + coaxial MG | Turret accuracy |