I found the patch interesting with the delay of powerfull unit without nerf them to death, the up of useless ones (M5/S-mines) and the nerf of OP ones like IL2/TA/troop training/early T70 with windustry.
But the way to play need to be modify because wait call-in without at least T2 tech is almost suicide now.
3 ppsh is indeed strong but it will come later against PG and G with LMG so i am not sure it is so OP
KV1 front againt elefant, i would say 3 hits maybe 4.
the way to kill elefant depends also a lot of the map and if it is protected or not.
If not protected even with his high armor elefant is an easy target. Conscript AT nade (elefant is not good to kill infantry), flank ram with T34, and ziz to finish him. Even without killing him, you won't see him before a long time.
If protected it is something else ! But use a lot of infantry and hide tanks behind house or thing like that. Don't give elefant the angle to shoot you. Use his slow mobility