how is this an advantage compared to the su76 that can fully use its 60 range and is a lot more safer to use?
I still consider additional range penetration and free arty barrages a way better deal.
It doesn't matter what you think. If its a LV hunter its badly overpriced with 2 222 or aec doing a way better job in pure cost efficiency. if its a medium tank hunter it simply has to little penetration. and i dont want a buff that will put it on par with other TD's because it does come earlier but i do expect it to be able to penetrate most medium tanks 66% of the time and not 40 % of the time it does now.
(on mobile so sorry this wont look as pretty as your reply)
60 range meant very little because it had garbage pen and it delayed your su85, it had garbage pen and lower damage (iirc the pen at min was something like 120-140 range) the su76 had 0 guarantee to pen anything short of a 222, the puma has enough pen to frontally pen a t34 100% of the time at point blank and a turret to ensure that it doesn't need to be it the firing line to do it.
The puma and the su76 (even the old one) have different designs for their intended roles, one is designed to flank, one is designed for long range support. I use the puma 100% of the game that I play as the okw, I use the su76 when I dont have t34/85s loaded because the Soviet t4 is (imo) not worth the teching and the su76 is sufficient. Another thing worth noting is that the allies have Tds that call be invalidated by a good flank with a puma, the paper mache Jackson, the Soviet casemates, the slow rotation on the firefly. And not to discount the utility of the muni free barrage on the su76, aimed shot has FAR more utility, when used on a machine gun it forces it to redeploy, it stuns at guns and assault guns, it locks the turret on tanks, im 90% sure it causes engine damage or something on light vehcles and it is a guaranteed kill on infantry targets... Oh and it is 100% accurate, ive used it to insta Gib a retreating brit sniper.. Try that with an su76..
On the topic of range, it is out ranged by dedicated hard AT, but it out ranges normal tanks and incredibly can utilize heat shells for increased pen and damage.... Seriously the ONLY way the su76 is better than a puma is a 1 on 1 fight with no micro..