Yeah my mistake that was news to me. Didn't even realize they could do that
Has any unit ever had that changed before? Just curious, I remember a couple of rotation changes for other units because of crushing (cromwell i believe?), but don't remember this feature being mentioned
Both T-70 and Valentine could crush and it was removed.
Do you think the buffs are okay if human crush is removed?
Not really.
The suggestions are far from "a slight adjustment" and it changes the role of the vehicles to "Kiter".
Now if one actually want to turn the unit into a "kiter" one simply can not leave the gun with such a long range, accuracy and penetration and one has to redesign the gun to be more similar to that of Puma with low accuracy/penetration fire that significantly improves in closer ranges.
But is see no reason for a change in role.
The unit has become less attractive for a number of reason that has little to do with performance of the unit like:
Most unit it can counter can also be countered by T-70 early and SU-85 later
T1 provides no tech AT in the form of PTRS/AT satcel
T2 become cheaper and easier to back tech
T4 become far more attractive since it has access to all doctrinal tank and has a bonus to conscript.
Generally speaking most tech/powerful units have been accessible earlier leaving little room for "transition units" to pay up for their investment.
The unit has great ROF/Accuracy/Penetration and it if remember correctly it has quite good TTK vs meduims tanks,as for the Barrage it is superior to that of Zis with more shell more damage and range with veterancy.
What I would try would probably be the following:
Increase XP value which is very low and allow the unit to vet very fast
Remove tracking it can be used to selfspot for barrage
Remove the vet bonus damage to barrage, there is no reason to be more lethal than zis
Maybe increase acceleration to 2.8-3 and rotation to 32 to become a bit more responsive
Maybe lower power level making it cheaper (60 fuel?) while lowering far penetration accuracy
Increase armor so that it less prone to attack from 222
Replace accuracy buff with an HP
Barrage:
Either move it vet 1 and make it free
or
Offer a munition discount for every vet level achieved
Other changes in the faction so that more reason to build it:
Make some of the specialized vehicles available without the T4 like the KV-8 so that has the option to go KV-8s/SU-76 combo. (KV-8 might need to have power level reduced becoming cheaper and less powerful)
Revert the changes to T2 fuel cost so the back teching is less attractive, add a tech cost to PTRS/AT satchels and buff other part of the faction.
Imo the unit currently performs cost efficiently and the problem has to do more that there is little reason to built since there are better units out there like the T-70/SU-85.