If you see T1 be it penals, snipers or M3's rush a puma, even if they get guards or conscripts, you just have to micro it and play smart.
Hell I'd even argue a fast Puma vs T2 can work too if you can get behind Maxims before Zis hits.
If you can slow the Soviets fuel income and cap and hold at least 1 fuel, you might even be able to rush a Luchs but it's really map dependant and very micro heavy.
