Honestly I’d like to see a complete rework of the pack howitzer.
The US mortar is already fine and it’s only never used in its intended role as an auto fire and lift barrage weapon because it is outshined by the pack howitzer.
If you reworked the pack howitzer into basically a clone of the LefH howitzer with barrage only, but less damage and range than an immobile howitzer. Give the new version a set up ability that locks it in place and cannot fire it’s barrage unless it is set up. By this I mean that it should have a fairly long set up and tear down that takes several seconds and once it is set up it becomes just like other buildable howitzers, except a little weaker and with less range. This makes it much more like a howitzer and less like a “super mortar”. USF also lacks a regular howitzer and I think this is a way to help make the USF mortar, pack howitzer and Scott more different from each other.
Agree except for the part about the mortar - the mortar isn't used because the only thing it's adequate at is dispensing smoke and barraging buildings, and 240mp is usually a little steep for that at that point in the game. The AOE profile is simply too jank to be useful for dealing damage, even with the barrage, which is itself no more accurate or reliable than the autofire.
I'd welcome a change to the Howie that removes autofire if it also makes the barrages recharge quicker and the barrages themselves perhaps a bit more potent. Veterancy might also need a look into in that case.
Setup and teardown times could be increased - but if they are, I think the RA of the crew needs to be reduced from 1.25 to 1.00, like every other howitzer and the leig.