Wait, if you want to utilize doctrine-specified unit. Sov can skip T2 smoothly by using lend-lease doctrine.
This saves them 10 fuel which is more than paid for with MP in a commander that really offers quite little. The weapons are great but tank traps takes up an entire slot on its own (the same ability offers trenches as well for Ost) and the light AP mines closest equal would be the OKW ability that allows volks to plant smines and build Bunkers. You literally get 3/5s of a commander in exchange for a good MG. There's a usf commander that 2 slots offers 4 vehicle options and Soviet have 2 slots that offer at most 2/3 of a commander ability.
The Maxim, costs the same as the vickers and the mg42 both of whom are t0 units yet is inferior by a large margin.
Similarily cons are outclassed by everything even remotely near their price point. But then we also have penals who are just bat shit OP right now.
The faction needs a rework where co s are made a proper option as well as maxims and penals instead of 1/3 being an option at any gi en patch but never 2 or all 3 being viable