My initial impressions is that the MG change brought us back to launch date in terms of balance of them. While this change may have been necessary for blob control it is going to solidify Axis superiority in narrow maps. Nearly all Soviet indirect fire has been nerfed and they lack smoke (except for Shock Troops). Interesting times a head.
mortars have smoke... Problem with the initial HMG was the fast traverse speed, that hasn't been changed.
Means you still win against a HMG if you use two squads attacking from both sides of the arc of fire. The MG42 can't change targets quick enough.