Half the time I read these threads I wonder if it’s even worth writing anything here. Based off what other people have already posted. The 221 is super oppressive against USF/Brits (wouldn’t say its op). No one builds the WC51 because the commander and unit are now “trash”. Its pretty hard to lose the 221 to USF early and almost impossible after upgrading to the 223 (its vision +smoke +fog of war vehicle detection + health bonus at vet 3) The UC is a good stall until the 221 – upgrades into the 223 and then its useless. The 223 has a turret and almost takes no damage from small arms. It’s almost safer to go AAHT for USF and AEC for brits against it. Not saying build AAHT and AEC to kill the 223 but more so to protect your army from bleed/wipes. More so brits they have no snares on main lines and the 223 can easily out maneuver your AT gun and decrew it. Soviets have no issue with the 221. Either go T1 with M3 -> into guards inside or penals with PTRS. Or go cons and get a fast quad. This is all 2v2 experience. The unit is very good though. 221 has immense utility, on top of being a good combat supporting unit early game. Also has value throughout the game IE being a recon unit/or a “cache”.
The majority of this post is accurate but I have to point out somethings.
One should read post in the context they have been posted and in keeping in mind what they responding too.
The 221 has medic kit that are also available to SP so I am not use where it immense utility comes from. Compared to the stock Kubel it has the same sight but kubel can cap, so it comes down to capping over single medic kit.
In sort, one buys the 221 early on for its combat capability and not for its utility as some people have claimed.
As for 223 "cache" mechanism although it is good, it also worse than that Opel/zis tracks since it comes with a 20mp/30fu more cost and a pop 4.
Overall the unit is good and badly designed.
As for the claims that:
"It's supposed to be a utility vehicle not frontline."
"Kubel is also a debatably better combat wise than a 221, since it also meshes extremely well with Sturms."
"the 221 is finally just a utility vehicle that cost 220 /20 fuel and a large part of this cost should be for their utility, not combat capacity."
They are simply false/inaccurate.