Hell Let Loose Vietnam Build and Connect NVA Tunnels
Tunnels are not spawn points. You need a garrison first, then link them on the tactical map. Here is the exact placement, connection, and tutorial fix that new SLs keep missing.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam
NVA Tunnels
Field Pad
Tactical Map Link
10-Min Cooldown
Tunnels are not spawn points. New SLs keep placing tunnels instead of garrisons, then cannot figure out why nobody can spawn or why the tutorial will not advance. You need a garrison (or another linked tunnel) first. Connecting happens on the tactical map, not by walking up to the hole.
Who Can Place a Tunnel
NVA Only
Roles that can place: Squad Leader, Commander, Recon Spotter.
No Supplies Needed
Place in friendly, neutral, or unlocked enemy territory. Locked enemy sectors will refuse it.
1Build the Tunnel
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1
Play NVA as SL, Commander, or Recon Spotter
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2
Equip the Field Pad (notebook) with the scroll wheel or its bind
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Scroll to the Tunnel option
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4
Hold left click (PC) or R2-RT (console) to place
Cooldown is 10 minutes after Patch 1.3 (was 5). Plan placements. You cannot spam a new network if the first one dies.
2Connect It (the step everyone misses)
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1
Open the tactical map (M on PC)
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Zoom out if you do not see icons
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Click the tunnel icon
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Click a second tunnel or a garrison
A line appears. That is the route. Repeat to grow the chain.
You cannot link garrison to garrison. There must be a tunnel in between.
Tutorial "Connect a Tunnel to a Garrison" specifically: Do not run to E5. Command already placed a tunnel there. Build your garrison, open the map, click the E5 tunnel icon, then click your garrison. Walking toward E5 fails the training timer.
3How You Actually Use It
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1
Walk up to a connected entrance (or use it from a linked garrison)
You get a cutscene and time skip. You never crawl the tunnel. Longer distance equals longer skip.
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After Patch 1.3, you cannot travel to a destination that is "hot"
Same rule as garrisons. If the exit is contested, the link is blocked.
4Key Decisions
Garrison first or tunnel first
Garrison first
If you need a spawn. Tunnel first only if a garrison already exists within connection range and you want a free fast-travel hop. Community consensus: garrisons first, tunnels as the highway.
Where to put the next node
100 m min, ~400 m max
Use a relay tunnel if the front is farther than one hop. Hide the entrance. US players hunt and dismantle them.
Who reconnects
SLs link, Commander re-routes
SLs can create links. Commander can delete a connection (click the line on the map) and re-route when the front moves.
Tunnel cap
12-15 tunnels max
Do not burn the team's tunnel cap on redundant nodes. Plan the network.
Fight Demonstration
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating the tunnel as a garrison or spawn. It is only a link. You need a garrison first.
- Trying to connect while standing next to the structure instead of using the map. Open M, click the icons.
- Building in locked enemy territory. It will refuse the placement.
- Linking two garrisons with no tunnel between them. The link will not form.
- Ignoring the 10-minute cooldown and burning the team's tunnel cap. Plan placements.
- Leaving the entrance in the open. Helicopters and infantry can delete the node and break the chain.