And does anyone know if suppression is range related? I want to say no it isnt but I am unsure. If it isnt this may be another good thing. The closer you get to the MG the faster you get pinned.
Suppression is range related, at long range it's weaker, at mid-range it's stronger, at close range it's very strong. The exception is on the Kubelwagen, which is strong at long range and weak at close range, due to it's bursts becoming shorter at close range. Presumably to make charging the Kubelwagen less punishing, particularly one that has just "set up" halfway through the charge.
Or increase the close range damage, 1200 rounds per minute at 6 guys one meter away should be a slaughter, but in this game the damage doesn't seem to change at all.
The damage is much higher, but suppression is also instant cover that slowly degrades over time. So even though the damage is a lot higher, it doesn't feel that way because the squads become suppressed so quickly and thus resist the extra damage, which of course does lead to the problem of squads taking few casualties as they crawl into grenade range of a nearby HMG.