Primary
Primary weapons are the main weapon slot in a player's loadout. They are usually the weapon you rely on most of the round, while Secondary weapons, Melee, Equipment, and Grenades and Throwables fill backup or utility roles.
Primary choices depend on class, faction, and game mode. A Gunner does not draw from the same weapon pool as a Sniper, and U.S., VC, and ANZAC loadouts can give different options even when the weapon family is similar. For the full sortable list, see Weapons of Vietnam.
How Primary Weapons Work
- Primary weapons are selected during loadout selection after choosing a team and class.
- Most primary weapons use the main firearm stats shown on weapon pages, including Ammo, Damage, Fire Rate, Bullet Spread °, Range Modifier, and weapon Weight.
- Some primary weapons have extra behavior, such as Bayonets, Rifle Grenades, scopes, suppressors, high-capacity magazines, or launcher attachments.
- Some weapons appear only in Special Loadout, Zombies, or other modes instead of normal class loadouts.
Class Access
The table below follows the regular `vietnam_loadout.txt` primary weapon categories. Special Loadout, year loadouts, and Zombies can change what is available.
| Class | U.S. Primary Types | VC Primary Types | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Assault |
Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles, Bolt Actions, Carbines, SMGs, Shotguns | Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles, Bolt Actions, Carbines, SMGs, Shotguns | The broadest normal primary pool. |
 Medic |
Carbines, SMGs, Machine Pistols | Carbines, SMGs, Machine Pistols | Carries lighter primary weapons alongside First Aid. |
 Gunner |
LMGs | LMGs | Built around sustained fire and ammo support. |
 Engineer |
SMGs, Machine Pistols, Shotguns | SMGs, Machine Pistols, Shotguns | Pairs close-range primaries with engineer tools and explosives. |
 Radioman |
Carbines, SMGs, Machine Pistols, Shotguns | Assault Rifles, Carbines, SMGs, Machine Pistols, Shotguns | VC Radioman has assault rifles in the normal loadout; U.S. Radioman does not. |
 Sniper |
Sniper Rifles, Bolt Actions, Miscellaneous | Sniper Rifles, Bolt Actions, Miscellaneous | Uses precision rifles with a small misc primary category. |
Weapon Families
| Weapon Family | Usual Role | Browse |
|---|---|---|
| Assault Rifles | General-purpose automatic rifles for medium-range fighting. | Full assault rifle list |
| Battle Rifles | Full-power rifles that usually trade control for stronger hits. | Full battle rifle list |
| Bolt-action rifles | Slower rifles with high damage and careful shot placement. | Full bolt-action rifle list |
| Carbines | Lighter rifles used across several classes and factions. | Full carbine list |
| Submachine Guns | Close-range automatic weapons common on support classes. | Full submachine gun list |
| Light Machine Guns | High-capacity support weapons used by the Gunner. | Full light machine gun list |
| Shotguns | Short-range weapons with pellet damage and strong close-quarters use. | Full shotgun list |
| Sniper Rifles | Scoped precision weapons used by the Sniper. | Full sniper rifle list |
| Grenade Launchers and Rocket Launchers | Explosive weapons that may be class-limited, mode-limited, or tied to special loadouts. | Full grenade launcher list / Full rocket launcher list |