Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Tunnel Guide

Tunnel networks are the North Vietnamese counterpart to American air power, and they change how every objective is fought over. This guide covers using them as the communist side and dealing with them as the US. For the mechanic itself, see tunnel networks.

Using tunnels (NVA & Viet Cong)

Tunnels reward patience and misdirection:

• Reposition unseen. Use tunnels to shift to a flank or behind an attacking squad, then strike from a direction they aren’t watching.
• Spring and fade. Hit hard from an ambush, then disappear underground before the counter-attack lands — don’t get greedy and over-commit.
• Combine with the terrain. Tunnels are strongest paired with prepared positions and the dense cover the factions guide describes.

Countering tunnels (US)

You can’t see underground, so you fight the effects:

• Assume nowhere is safe for long. A cleared area can be contested again from a tunnel exit minutes later.
• Cover the exits. Learn where tunnels tend to surface near objectives and keep eyes — or fire — on those approaches.
• Use your mobility. Helicopters let you reposition fast when an objective is hit from an unexpected angle.
• Stay in cohesive squads. Lone players are exactly the prey tunnel ambushes are looking for.

The mind game

Tunnels are as much psychological as physical: they make the US team second-guess every secured position. Lean into that as North Vietnam, and refuse to be rattled as the US. Exact tunnel mechanics are still being detailed, so we’ll update this guide as they’re confirmed.