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+1
Here's a wild thought though: What if E8 had 'improved smoke grenade launchers'. Extra +10 range on the smoke grenade launcher and it costs 0 muni to use in exchange for +15s cooldown. That way, the E8 becomes solidified as a infantry support tank, high cost in exchange for saving munis, it will still struggle against heavies but at least it can drop smoke on a dime (and saving you a dime). Rifleman squads should have increased infantry power by being able to pick up more BARs and having easy access to smoke. This somewhat makes the E8 take over the role of the Scott because of the free smoke but I think it is a good change. Now the E8 becomes a chimera of the sherman, jackson and scott combined.
A bit wild but maybe.
On the paper the EZ8 has some niche, but what's probably the issue is that it falls just short in all categories.
- +1 shot it can take? Very nice
- 215 armor? Good for the mid phase, scales mediocre into the late game. 215 is in a weird spot of letting you bounce unvetted ATGs, but you get guaranteed pens by Panthers and vetted ATGs.
- AT performance? Nice, closes the gap vs the P4. Not the best deal vs OKW T3 and Ost T4 though because too unreliable. Slow ROF, so no surprise burst damage. Especially if it cannot be reliably followed up by an ATG.
- AI performance? A lot worse than the flexibility you get with the normal Sherman. With MG upgrade okay. I think this is the long term deal breaker. Once late game units arrive, mediums usually transition more into an AI role. The EZ8 can't do that while having only "okay" AT for the phase.
I see two possibilities:
Either make it a infantry support unit with support abilities. Or strengthen the brawler role and make it a "Panther light" -> health to 880 or 960, armor not quite sure (maybe leave as is with the vehicle crew), penetration to 200/180/170 with +10% with vet, range 45-50 (potentially 45 +5 with vet?), MP cost to 420-440, FU cost 160, pop to 16.
This way it would have a distinct role as a different AT unit from both Jackson and 76mm, while Axis could still counter it because it gets damaged reliably by dedicated AT units. Scaling into the late game would also be improved with at least a ~70-75% pen chance vs higher tier armor which is still less than the Jackson to not outclass that unit. At all times it would lose to a more expensive Panther while still being a threat to it with support.