Hell Let Loose Dev Brief #218 | Update 20 Notes (21st May 2026)

There are also a number of changes being made to specific tanks. The following are a handful of tanks being balanced to fit these new rules. All tanks have been balanced but here is a small preview of what is to come:

German Forces

Panther

This balance change is to make a clear distinction between the Tiger I and the Panther. While both classed as Heavy tanks, the Panther has kept its damage output as a Heavy but now has the health as a Medium. These changes are also reflected in its fuel cost and armor values detailed later on.

• Hull Health - 1170 → 930
• Turret Health - 990 → 850
• Tracks Health - 910 → 730
• Engine Health - 550 → 480
• Turret Rotation - 12 → 10
• AP Ammo Count - 40 → 45
• HE Ammo Count - 40 → 30
• Fuel Cost - 600 → 430
• Cooldown - 600 → 420 seconds

British/Canadian

Sherman Firefly

Similar to the Panther, the Firefly has had big adjustments. It now has the health of a Medium tank and changes to its armor values, however has seen a large increase to its damage. This is to reflect its role as a tank killer.

• Hull Health - 1180 → 900
• Turret Health - 1020 → 830
• Tracks Health - 920 → 710
• Engine Health - 580 → 460
• Turret Rotation - 10 → 12
• AP Damage - 850 → 920
• Fuel Cost - 600 → 560
• Cooldown - 600 → 630 seconds

US

Sherman Jumbo 75

During gameplay, players will still tend to lean towards the 76 version of this tank. With its adjusted values and cheaper cost, the 75 is now more of a point control menace. Its high HE count and large HE explosion radius, this tanks primary function is anti-infantry. If players aim to destroy enemy tanks, the 76 is still the go to.

• Hull Health - 1170 → 1230
• Turret Health - 1050 → 1020
• Turret Rotation - 14 → 12
• AP Damage - 700 → 710
• HE Ammo Count - 60 → 65
• Fuel Cost - 600 → 410
• Cooldown - 600 → 430

We will add even more information to the Update 20 Changelog, so be sure to tune in once it drops in June.

Armor Values

We have also made changes to armor values on tanks. These changes are to better reflect their real world counterpart but balanced within the world of Hell Let Loose:

Heavy Tank

Top of Heavy turrets decreased. Lights can now pen this armor.

• Panther updates:
• Side hull decreased. Lights can now pen this armor.
• Turret front increased. Only Heavies can pen this armor.
• Turret sides and rear decreased. Lights can now pen this armor.

• Front hull decreased. Mediums can now pen this armor.
• Side hull decreased. Lights can now pen this armor.
• Turret front, side and rear decreased. Mediums can now pen this armor.

Medium Tank

• Side hull of all Medium tanks decreased. Lights can now pen this armor.
• Panzer IV updates:
• Turret sides and rear decreased. Lights can now pen this armor.

Light Tank

• Front hull on all lights, not including the T-70, decreased. Lights can now pen this armor.

Recon Tank

• All armor on Recon tanks have been decreased slightly. AT launchers should destroy these tanks with 1 shot.

Armor resistance changes

All tanks now feature a new Armor Resistance system. Armor thickness now provides a percentage based damage reduction depending on its thickness. The values have been updated from feedback.

• Heavy frontal armor now provides a 32% resistance, up from 25%.
• Medium frontal armor and Heavy side armor now provides a 16% resistance, up from 15%.
• Light frontal armor, Medium side armor and all rear armor now provides a 8% resistance, up from 5%.

Fuel Balance

With the new resistance system and balance changes, a fuel cost balance was required. This involved updating armor fuel costs as well as other vehicles. All fuel updates apply to each category of vehicle, across all factions. The new values for vehicles are:

Half Track

• Fuel Cost - 300 → 150
• Cooldown - 300 → 240 seconds

Trucks

Supply

• Fuel Cost - 100 → 70
• Cooldown - 90 → 75 seconds

Transport

• Fuel Cost - 100 → 50
• Cooldown - 90 → 60 seconds

Jeep

• Fuel Cost - 80 → 30
• Cooldown - 300 → 180 seconds

Salvage Return Balance

Now that most of the vehicles have had a fuel balance pass, the amount of fuel and time taken to salvage have been updated. Here are the updated values:

• Heavy - 60 fuel in 12 seconds.
• Panther and Jumbo 75 - 40 fuel in 10 seconds.
• Medium - 20 fuel in 8 seconds.
• Light - 15 fuel in 6 seconds.
• Recon - 10 fuel in 4 seconds.
• Half Track - 15 fuel in 6 seconds.
• Truck - 5 fuel in 3 seconds.
• Jeep - 5 fuel in 3 seconds.

Smoke Launchers

We’re excited to announce that a select few tanks will be gaining a new weapon; smoke launchers.

Set in the Commander/Spotter seat, players will now be able to fire smoke grenades, pressing Spacebar on PC and Right Bumper/R1 on controller, for some extra cover.

Smoke launchers can be different on a tank by tank basis. Some fire internally, some fire externally and some generate smoke from their exhausts. We’ll reveal the full list on the Update 20 changelog, however test them out this weekend and let us know your thoughts!

Shell Unloading

As previously mentioned in Dev Brief #217, all tanks now feature the option to unload a fully loaded shell. If you are in a situation where you have the wrong shell loaded, you can now simply unload it. No more firing the shell and revealing your location.

Tank Commander and Crewman Loadouts

For each faction, both the Tank Commander and Tank Crewman have had all their loadouts updated meaning that they both now carry a hammer. This will allow them to help out in building structures and have an easier time salvaging vehicles as you play.

Anti-Tank Updates

We have also made changes to the Anti-Tank role, with the rocket count reduced to 2 whilst damage increases (330 → 420), as well as the Anti-Tank Gun for all factions seeing a significant damage increase (400 → 535).

Community Update

There is loads happening in the community currently. First up, tomorrow we will be livestreaming when the Exp Branch goes live over on the Hell Let Loose Official Twitch showing off the new update to the community. Be sure to jump into the chat and get chatting!

Introducing our New WCs

We have also been on a recruitment drive for the war effort, and we are excited to announce our next set of War Correspondents who have recently been drafted into the programme.

McBluffin

“McBluffin here! I have been playing Hell Let Loose for many years, on my channel you will find community/game analysis, updates on future projects and epic/hilarious gameplay all saturated with excessive sarcasm and buffoonery. See you on the battlefield.”

McBluffin can be found across YouTube, Twitchand TikTok.

Freckals

“Anti-Nonsense Nonsense Zone - Providing the hottest gameplay and coverage from deep down in the trenches to commanding in the back lines. We're here to game, but most of all, entertain and have fun with the community. Nonsense vibes encouraged. Content channels:”

Catch Freckals livestreaming on his Twitch, or on his YouTubeand TikTok.

MrMG42

“When I’m not deploying my machine gun, I spend my free time in admin cam, capturing footage from both public and private matches. I also take screenshots in the midst of the chaos, preserving the true visual fidelity of this game. You can find me on my TikTok account.

I also run a community of 66,000 on Facebook called “Hell Let Loose Fans”, dedicated to sharing those memories and clips of the battle. Join the community on Facebook today!”

Check out MrMG42’s latest cinematic video over on Reddit.

This is not all however and in our next Dev Brief we will share details on three more War Correspondents joining the battle…

Stay tuned to see more content from all our WCs very soon on both Hell Let Loose and Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

War Correspondents Content

As always, our War Correspondents have been on the front-lines creating some incredible content. Check out some of their latest releases below:

IronHeart:

TheFreshBakedGoods:

DasAltberg:

Gebatron:

Razbora:

SoulSniper: