However, there's no denying that UKF Tank Commander & Emergency Warspeed are a bit over-the-top.
Emergency Warspeed should function like the Ostheer version:
- Lighter tanks get better version of the ability than heavier tanks
- This is why the OST Panther seems balanced, whereas the OKW Panther turns into a race-car (OKW Combat Blitz behaves like an Emergency Warspeed on steroids)
- I have no opinion about the availability (small munition cost? require the engineers to repair longer to activate?)
Regarding Tank Commander, the bonuses are also too much. The cost is so incredibly tiny too, that it makes the upgrade a no-brainer.
- Veterancy-gain should probably gtfo
- Detection radius should be moved to the AEC. The UC is a terrible sniper hunter. This doesn't mean that the Cromwell fleet should detect invisible units though. Better give it to a dedicated unit.
- The ability should retain its Accuracy bonus (so that it remains reasonable to upgrade all tanks (including Fireflies)
- The LOS bonus is questionably high, and could go down. Currently it gives Cromwells/Comets the same sight-range as Volksgrenadiers (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing)
Now, regarding the fact that Brit tanks have no pintle MG. Think about it. Does pintle MG help USF, when:
- Panzerschreck range equals MG range? (do you want to spend all your time repairing?)
- We have Pak-walls
Reducing the benefits of a no-brainer upgrade until it fits the cost doesn't stop it from being a no-brainer upgrade. I'd suggest keeping the current sight and accuracy bonuses while increasing the cost to 40/45 munitions. This makes upgrading an actual choice while keeping the incentive to upgrade a Firefly, which doesn't have trouble hitting tanks at any range (0.08/0.07/0.05 N/M/F accuracy).
Losing the detection and veterancy bonuses is for the best; detection diluted unit roles and the veterancy bonus simply isn't needed by UKF tanks (with the possible exception of the Comet).
Your suggestions for Emergency Warspeed seem reasonable.
ukf have mortar pits, bofor barage, 2 free howies witch with some commanders counter all non veichle based arty, and can even shoot in the FOW and be buffed buy the anvil specialization. i would take this over the pwerfer or stuka any day.
tell me would you rather have the mg or the buffs that the tank commader gives? i think all of us would pick the tank commander.
thing is that ukf does everything other armies do but it does it better.
double brens, double pitas, best healing in the game, 5 man upgrade, repair unit high dps for low cost witch can take two brens and an lmg with anvil, can destroy cover, a sinper that can couter the 222, an at gun that has more accuracy then other at guns, has fast and cheap teching, best medium tank in the game for its price, best tank destroyer (+tulips), best repairs in game, a pak 43 copy with brace witch can pen world objects with its special shot and spot for its self with units inside or when near the retreat point, a retreat point where you can take wepons and upgrade it to a repair station with a commnader and it can drop arty, best offmaps in the game etc.. the list goes on and on. this shows that if brits lack one thing like a snare on the main inf they make it up with 3 more things.
the point is these two abilites are the same but one is soooooo muche better that its op while the other is usless.
"ukf does everything other armies do but it does it better" is perhaps not the most considered opinion on the faction. While you have identified several balance issues with UKF (Sappers, Cromwell price, Bofors barrage, Heavy Engineers, PIATs), most of your list is composed of non-issues (Forward Assembly, 5-man upgrade, 6-Pounder accuracy bonus against light vehicles, cheap tech, dual-Brens) or a misunderstanding of unit stats or the faction (Firefly, Sniper, 17-Pounder, 'free' 25-Pounders).