One glaring problem in Hell Let Loose Vietnam is the limited arsenals found on both sides. I find myself wanting to play NVA more because they have a slightly larger arsenal than the U.S. the 2026 Roadmap shows us some promising weapons on the way and I am genuinly excited. We should be seeing the SKS and M14 soon within a week. 

One suggestion I have to add some spice to both factions' arsenals is adding some variants. The XM177E2 carbine to the U.S and the Type 56-1 underfolder for the NVA.

The XM177E2 was a shortened M16 carbine used by Air Force security and special forces like Navy Seals and MACV-SOG. It usually featured a 10.5-11.5 inch barrel and a distinctive moderator on the end of the barrel. This dampened the sound of the weapon slightly. This could play into the game by giving it a distinct sound when firing. Sound is already an important part of HLLV and the XM177E2 could play into this. The weapons shorter barrel and collapsible stock could be translated as a slightly lighter weapon. I believe it could easily be a 3-weight point weapon, giving the soldier more flexibility in their loadouts. I've taken a reproduction XM177E2 to the range and can attest to it being extremely light and low recoiling. Soldiers joked in Vietnam that Mattel made the M16 becsuse it was lightweight. If only more of them tried the XM177E2. It could be a weapon available to Squad leads, Engineers, and pilots uniquely. Of course its weight should be compensated with a slightly less effective range than the M16A1. There were 25 round mags and these could be used uniquely for this carbine. 

Another weapon I think needs to be in HLLV is the Type 56-1, an underfolder variant of the Type 56 AK. Underfolders were typically carried by tank crews and drivers. Short barreled AKs weren't fully adopted at this time, but folding stocks had been a thing for decades by the 1960s. Like the XM177E2, the Type 56-1 could be a 3 weight point weapon. It would be slightly less controllable while firing on full auto. Of course the rifle would be available to tank crews, maybe grenadiers and specialists on the NVA side as an alternative Type 56 variant to allow for more flexibility when planning one's loadout. Tankers somstimes used smaller more compact 20 round magazines, perhaps these could be the default magazines for the Type 56-1 with a possible upgrade to a 30 rounder. 

Adding the XM177E2 & Type 56-1