Look at their list of equipment. I don’t think they should get AT packages or M1 carbines. I’d rather see them use weapons that they used in real life.
to a 7-person whine, do you want to add Penals with a flamethrower whine? There will be talk of God, it’s 6 people with self-loading rifles and a flamethrower. Maybe would make them Mosin and a flamethrower? Then these are steroid engineers, or maybe then we’ll give them PPSh? Then why would the Shock Troops be needed?
And who cares about the whining? Axis has plenty of powerful infantry, no reason they should be axis exclusive.
They are not starting. They are consistent, you do not lose other units choosing between the Grenadiers and PanzerGrenadiers. At the Soviets, you adjust your gameplay to the unit that is better at the moment and choose between T2 and T1. Grenadiers and Panzergrenadiers complement each other: Grenadiers main unit and ranged, Panzer Grenadiers melee-medium battles and AT support. In the Soviets, this is divided into commanders: the shock troops - CQC. Guard - AT support. In any case, either the Penalties or the Guard are superfluous.
Well my point is a design where cons are the defensive unit and penals are a niche offensive unit could work. It would have to come alongside a T1 redesign.
There must be only one: no matter what roles you come up with for the two starting infantry units, one unit will always be preferable and unit will overlap the role of the other unit, and tug of war will continue. Two starting units are a very bad design.
Grenadiers and panzergrenadiers work though. I think more expensive penals with flamethrowers would work well with conscripts. Obviously this would require an extensive rework of penals and T1 to work side by side with cons build instead of replacing it.
Spamming SVT drops means no munitions for mines or AT nades. Flame halftruck might not be a bad idea, just beware of a 6min Dshka and try to keep the opponent away from the muni points.
Soviets are fine, maybe T1 and maxims need changes to become viable, it’s okw and ostheer that need tostop crutching on heavies and improve. Same with UKF.
Fix heavies (more CP and more expensive) and soviets will be fine.