smoke nades requires teching or shocks to counter mg42, like all mg, they shine when used at max range, firing from the fog makes mg42 very powerful. given the lack of sprint, it takes a while for rifles/shocks to get close on the mg42 even if they pop smoke. in the mean time, focus on the squads attempting to rush mg42s.
i'd be glad to make that trade with you. paks dont just have a slightly faster rof, it has a significantly higher rof that makes it does about 45% more dps than a zis. allied paper thin armour makes no difference when heavy tanks come into play. a zis will struggle against a tiger before the tiger gets behind it or slugs it out, but a pak have a pretty good chance of destroying an is2 due to its much higer firing rate.
the only reason why you prefer the mg34 is the insta pin which the mg42 cannot do, that arc trumps over maxim's arc anyday.
lastly, rifles. in the vacuum, grens < rifles. but ostheer t1 >>>>>>>>>>>>> USF t1. usf has only got rifles to count on, but ostheer has got mg42 to pin rifles down. you need to take advantage of this fact, before you go into unit stat differences. 3grens + 1 mg42 > 4 rifles, all unupgraded, even when bars are thrown into the picture, grens have lmg42 and it does not screw with the equation. bars need tech, while lmg42 are free with bp1 that unlocks even more units.
and volks, they are cheaper and equally durable. its a pretty even fight with rifles as long as sturmpios are there to keep rifles from closing in. mg34 in t1 @ 210mp is also a steal, okw has no issue against infantry at all.
In all honesty, who doesn't upgrade to grenades. I'm serious, that's screaming suicide. Yes, those squads don't have sprint but they can still easily flank MG42s. They're other counters to it which I listed before besides running up like an idiot.
Penetration of PAK: 210.0/200.0/190.0
Penetration of Zis: 200.0/190.0/180.0
Hardly a difference penetration wise, plus the significantly faster ROF occurs when it's at vet. Like I said before, a vetted pak is by far superior than a vetted zis. Also Paks still have a hard time with IS2s, IS2 frontal armor is 375. Yes few shots will manage to penetrate but by then my IS2 will obliterate the support weapon or my shocks will.
Also you mean Germans T1>USF T0. It's always been like that even with the soviets. Plus that scenario where 3 Grens + MG fighting 4 riflemen. The Germans won't win that every time. Maybe if I throw all 4 of my riflemen like an idiot then maybe he could win. But 1 smoke nade would make that MG useless. Even then, that's if someone plays like an idiot. If 2 riflemen flank the MG (toss a nade) and the other riflemen move up once the MG is getting attacked or taken out, the 4 riflemen win the engagement. In these scenarios, you're forgetting a huge factor, which is skill.
Volks-Grenaiders, yes they are a damage sponge until they get veterancy, but they do so little damage...
Volks 0 Range: 3.43
10 Range: 2.47
20 Range: 1.9
Compare that to the riflemen that I posted before. This is why many players don't run up with Riflemen against volks, because they know they will win the engagement regardless. If the sturmpio decides to run up to my riflemen, goodbye sturmpio, because sturms lose a lot of dps on the move and are more vulnerable cover wise.
The MG34 is doctrinal and is by far the best Machine Gun in the game. It's the only reliable suppressing weapon that the okw has besides kubel. If you play or even watch 2 vs 2 games or higher, you will see that okw have a hard time
early game against allies. It's mainly because riflemen/sovs combo. Unless they get very lucky or they are playing against bad players.
Plus Allies just have dirty tactics to dominate early game. FHQ, Good Support Weapon Spam, my beautiful Rifle Company, and Snipers.