Official sources do not currently agree on the role count in Hell Let Loose: Vietnam. Steam and PlayStation list 17 specialized roles across six unit types. Team17's official game page still says 19. Until those pages match, the 17-role store roster is the only complete list that players can verify role by role.

The disagreement does not change the basic structure of a match. Each 50-player team still depends on command, infantry, recon, armor, helicopter, and mortar units working through the same chain of command. What changed after launch is the list of names that can be confirmed publicly.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam launched on August 13, 2026. The release guide covers its platforms, price, maps, and cross-play setup.

The 17-Role Launch Roster at a Glance

  • Command: Commander.
  • Infantry: Squad Leader, Rifleman, Grenadier, Engineer, Medic, Specialist, and Machine Gunner.
  • Recon: Spotter and Sniper.
  • Armor: Tank Commander and Crewman.
  • Helicopter, US Forces only: Logistics Officer and Pilot.
  • Mortar Squad: Observer, Support, and Gunner.

That adds up to 17. Team17's game page advertises 19 roles but does not publish a matching 19-name breakdown. The older five-person helicopter description is therefore not treated as a confirmed launch roster here.

Command Unit

  • Commander: Directs the full team through squad leaders, sets the broad attack or defense plan, and manages the abilities available to command.

Commander is a poor first-match choice. The role only works when the player understands map flow, spawn pressure, resources, and the information arriving from several squads at once. A confident shooter who ignores command chat can still make the entire team less effective.

Infantry Unit

  • Squad Leader: Keeps an infantry unit organized, relays orders, marks useful information, and connects the squad to command.
  • Rifleman: Offers the cleanest way to learn movement, gunfights, objectives, and squad spacing without taking a rare specialist seat.
  • Grenadier: Brings explosive pressure to the infantry unit. Team17's official role showcase specifically presents the Grenadier as a threat to vehicles.
  • Engineer: Handles the building and battlefield-support work that turns supplies into a stronger position for the team.
  • Medic: Keeps wounded players in the fight and is most useful when staying close enough to the squad to reach them safely.
  • Specialist: Appears in the current store roster, but the store description does not define one permanent loadout. Check the in-game role screen before treating an older beta kit as current.
  • Machine Gunner: Provides sustained fire that can hold a lane, protect a movement, or stop exposed infantry from advancing.

Rifleman is still the safest starting point. Medic is a useful second choice for a player who stays with the group. Squad Leader and Engineer become far more valuable once the map and the squad's logistics make sense.

An infantry squad moving through dense jungle in Hell Let Loose Vietnam
Infantry roles work best when the squad stays close enough to share information and support the same objective. Image: Expression Games and Team17.

Recon Unit

  • Spotter: Leads the two-person recon unit, chooses useful targets, reports movement, and gives the Sniper a purpose beyond collecting distant kills.
  • Sniper: Supplies accurate long-range fire in support of the Spotter's plan. Taking the slot and leaving the Spotter removes much of the unit's value.

Recon seats are limited, so both players need patience and communication. New players are better served by learning the main battle first instead of spending a first match far from the squad network.

Armor Unit

  • Tank Commander: Directs the vehicle crew, watches the map, calls targets, and decides where armor can help without becoming isolated.
  • Crewman: Fills the vehicle seats and follows the Tank Commander's calls. Driving, aiming, watching sectors, and keeping the vehicle alive are shared work.

A tank is team equipment, not a private vehicle. Armor becomes much stronger with a complete crew on voice chat and information from infantry outside the hull. Crewman can be a reasonable learning role when an experienced Tank Commander is willing to explain the seats.

Infantry walking beside a tank in Hell Let Loose Vietnam
Armor crews need communication inside the vehicle and information from infantry outside it. Image: Expression Games and Team17.

Helicopter Unit - US Forces Only

  • Logistics Officer: The current store roster names this as the second helicopter role alongside Pilot, replacing the older Crewman-and-Gunner breakdown used before launch.
  • Pilot: Controls the helicopter and is responsible for getting the aircraft, its passengers, and its supplies where the team needs them.

Helicopters affect more than the people inside them. A bad landing can waste transport, supplies, and several players' time at once. Finish the flight tutorial before claiming Pilot in a live match, then listen to the Logistics Officer and the squads waiting below.

Mortar Squad

  • Observer: Finds targets, checks friendly positions, and corrects the mortar team's aim from the battlefield.
  • Support: Keeps the mortar unit supplied so it can continue firing from a useful position.
  • Gunner: Operates the mortar and adjusts fire from the Observer's information instead of guessing at distant targets.

Mortars can reach areas the crew cannot see, which makes careless calls dangerous. The Observer and Gunner need to check friendly movement before every series of shots. This is a coordinated unit, not a shortcut to firing explosives across the map.

Best Roles for New Players

  • Start with Rifleman if you want to learn the map and infantry rhythm with the fewest specialist duties.
  • Try Medic if you naturally stay near the squad and pay attention to teammates instead of chasing every gunfight.
  • Try Crewman only when the Tank Commander is communicating and willing to teach the vehicle seats.
  • Wait before choosing Commander, Squad Leader, Pilot, Tank Commander, Spotter, or Observer.

You do not need to master the entire roster. One dependable infantry role teaches more than jumping between rare seats because their weapons or vehicles look interesting. Learn where the team spawns, how the squad communicates, and why an objective matters before taking responsibility for moving everyone else.

For spawning, voice chat, movement, and first-match habits, start with the Hell Let Loose: Vietnam beginner guide. The comparison with the original Hell Let Loose explains how helicopters, tunnels, boats, and the 3D tactical map change those responsibilities.

For now, 17 is the roster that Steam and PlayStation enumerate. The 19-role claim remains on Team17's own game page, so another update may still be needed when the publisher aligns its listings or names the two additional roles.