So far this patch looks terrible for USF. It's about as bad as the one a couple of patches ago that nerfed UKF into the dumpster.
The dozer blade has been removed from Reserve Armor due to the effectiveness of the 76mm Sherman. WTF - they are going to nerf one unit because a different one is too good? First of all, it's been weeks since I've seen anyone get 76mm Shermans, and that person did terrible in the game. It doesn't have good AI, and at best it trades roughly equal to the OKW PIV. Nobody ever confuses it with a Panther. Lastly, USF needs more access to a brawler tank, not less.
The Easy 8 buff won't do much to make the commander more viable. It still has microscopic AOE for the main gun.
For a commander update, this doesn't really do anything for USF. Both axis factions have non-doc access to a good brawler tank and rocket arty. USF has neither, and often has to make defensive choices for their commanders.
E8 used to be good ages ago, idk what happened to it in the past 6 years. I remember it having great AI and AT both. It was a spammable tank.
I think it needs good AI more than range.
This commander updates really didn't address the core issues with USF.
Here is the problem with USF:
Going commanders other than Infantry, Airborne, Tac Support, or Urban is a death sentence because the other commanders are so bad. USF relies so heavily on Calliope for team games that going something like Greyhound or Wolverines is rarely ever worth it. After WC51 nerf and now the 76mm dozer nerf, Mechanized will be another dead commander
The Pershing needing repairs totally messes up with the flow for USF. Normally you never need a Rear Echelon to do repairing because vehicles have vehicle crews. We need the Calliope, Priest, and ESPECIALLY the Pershing to have a self repair ability. USF has been designed with vehicle crew repairs and I think it fits the design that these units can repair themselves.
Rifle company is absolutely dead because USF is already munitions starved and shooting flares is not worth it. The Easy 8 is lackluster, it needs to have good AI so that it can be used as a brawler like said in replied post.
Rifle company needs to help Riflemen. They used to give Riflemen vet and then nerfed to give them flamers. And then nerfed again to give flares. Riflemen need something great from that company. Give them the smokes that were taken away, Riflemen were designed to be versatile. That's why USF never had a mortar. Smokes were already provided by Rifles.
USF cannot rely on a mortar for smoke, it doesn't fit their style. Mortar is too static. Riflemen need to be mobile, that's why they have smoke grenades. At least give them smokes via this Rifle Company. It would really become my favorite company and I'll probably always use it. I am 100% certain Rifle Company will not be a dead commander if simply given the smoke grenades instead of flares.
Armor company needs help. Maybe with the Bulldozer changes it will be popular again we will see. Do vehicle crews get increased repair speed? If not, they should be added.
Another dead company is Recon. Now that Pack Howie is nerfed its not that good. IR pathfinder nerf will literally make this commander worse than Armor Company. Greyhound comes too late. IR Pathfinder barrage is supposed to be strong, its expensive and belongs to a dedicated arty unit.
They are called IR Pathfinder for a reason. By design their arty should be good. Yes calling it on MG42 ensures MG42 death, but that's spending a lot of munitions to kill a MG42. If players really don't like this due to lack of counter, then fine increase time to first shell, BUT compensate by adding another shell. Do not literally nerf the ability. The ability just suffers from guarantee wipes, that's it.