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Hell Let Loose
Hell Let Loose
Dec 2, 2025
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Update 19 | Changelog | Smolensk, SPAs & Artillery Updates

5/5 Game-Changing

Update 19 introduces the massive Smolensk urban map, a dedicated Artillery Squad, and Self-Propelled Artillery (SPA) vehicles for all factions.

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Key Changes

  • 1New Eastern Front map: Smolensk, featuring dense urban combat and verticality.
  • 2Introduction of Self-Propelled Artillery (SPA) vehicles for all factions.
  • 3New Artillery Squad class (Observer, Engineer, Support) is now the only way to use artillery.
  • 4Static Artillery reworked: limited to 1 buildable gun that can be destroyed by enemies.
  • 5Anti-Tank launcher ammo increased from 2 to 3 for all factions.
  • 6Heavy Tanks can no longer destroy middle-tier fortifications like hedgehogs.
  • 7Recon Tanks received a significant buff to health, damage, and speed.
  • 8M1918A2 BAR and FG42 now feature deployable bipods.
  • 9Static artillery now uses a fixed ammo pool refilled by the Commander.
  • 10Fixed an infinite XP exploit involving supply boxes.

All Changes

🗺️Maps(3)

  • newSmolensk: Added Smolensk, a dense urban Eastern Front map featuring the Dnieper River and vertical combat in three-story buildings.
  • changeSmolensk: Implemented optimized fire VFX for Smolensk using a two-card rendering technique to reduce performance impact.
  • changeSmolensk: Added new fog volumes and haze effects to the day variant of Smolensk.

🚜Vehicles(9)

  • newSelf-Propelled Artillery: Introduced Self-Propelled Artillery (SPA) vehicles for all factions, including the KV-2, Sherman M4A3 105, and Sturmpanzer IV.
  • newSelf-Propelled Artillery: SPA main guns deal 950 AP damage and have a 31m HE explosion radius.
  • changeSelf-Propelled Artillery: SPA vehicles now cost munitions to spawn instead of fuel.
  • nerfHeavy Tanks: Heavy Tanks can no longer destroy middle-tier fortifications (hedgehogs, barbed wire, etc.).
  • changeTanks: Rebalanced Light, Medium, and Heavy tank top speeds to fix a bug where they were moving faster than intended.
  • buffRecon Tanks: Increased health, damage output, and top speed for all Recon Tanks.
  • buffRecon Tanks: Improved turret rotation speed and elevation rates for Recon Tanks.
  • buffTransport Vehicles: Increased top speeds for Half Tracks, Trucks, and Jeeps.
  • buffT-34: Adjusted high gear handling on the T-34 for better stability at speed.

⚙️Gameplay Systems(9)

  • newArtillery Squad: Added a dedicated Artillery Squad (max 2 per team), which is now the only unit capable of using static artillery or SPAs.
  • nerfStatic Artillery: Static artillery reduced from 3 guns to 1 gun per team, which must now be built using 50 supplies.
  • changeStatic Artillery: Static artillery can now be destroyed by the enemy, triggering a 5-minute rebuild cooldown.
  • changeStatic Artillery: Static artillery now uses a fixed internal ammo pool refilled by the Commander rather than draining the team's global munitions per shot.
  • nerfStatic Artillery: Disabled the ability for artillery loaders to swap seats while reloading.
  • buffAnti-Tank: Increased Anti-Tank launcher ammo count from 2 to 3.
  • buffBazooka: Increased Bazooka penetration values to match other faction launchers.
  • buffAmmo Depot: Increased Ammo Depot return ammo from 10 to 20.
  • buffCrewman: Added a supply crate to the Crewman Mechanic loadout.

🔫Weapons(2)

  • buffM1918A2 BAR: Added a deployable bipod to the M1918A2 BAR for improved stability.
  • buffFG42: Added a deployable bipod to the FG42 for improved stability.

🖥️UI/UX(2)

  • changeUI: Added settings to toggle off the killer's name and weapon on the KIA screen.
  • changeUI: Added an option to hide network icons from the HUD.

👕Cosmetics(3)

  • newCosmetics: Released the Smolensk Corps DLC featuring new Soviet and German uniforms and greatcoats.
  • newCosmetics: Added free 'Fallschirmjäger Airborne Veterans' helmets and the 'Soviet and British 8th Army Armor Pack' to all players.
  • changeCosmetics: Updated legacy character heads to match modern asset quality.

🐛Bug Fixes(6)

  • fixSupply Box: Fixed an exploit where supply boxes could be repeatedly picked up to farm infinite XP.
  • fixVisuals: Fixed player silhouettes being visible through walls at night.
  • fixGrenades: Fixed grenade collision issues when thrown on top of tanks.
  • fixAchievements: Fixed the 'Rain Hell' achievement requiring 10 kills with a single Katyushka shell.
  • fixGerman Transport Truck: Corrected the fire resistance value for the German transport truck.
  • fixLocalization: Fixed various localization issues across multiple languages and map names.

Summary

Update 19 is a transformative patch for Hell Let Loose, headlined by the introduction of Smolensk, the game's densest urban map to date featuring vertical combat and a wade-able river. The update fundamentally reworks the artillery loop by introducing a dedicated Artillery Squad (Observer, Engineer, Support) and Self-Propelled Artillery (SPA) vehicles like the KV-2 and Sturmpanzer IV. Static artillery has been nerfed to a single buildable gun per team to address long-standing community concerns regarding spawn camping and oppressive fire. Additionally, the update brings significant balance passes to all vehicle classes, increases Anti-Tank ammo counts, and adds bipods to the BAR and FG42.

← OlderExperimental Branch | Build #4 Live Now | Update 19 TestingNov 20, 2025Newer →Hotfix Live Now | Update 19Dec 11, 2025

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