After some calculation on 20 range without vet. Did you know that a Penal_squad gets 14,86% more dps per invested menpower than an Obersoldat_squad?
That is even worse than Cons versus Obersoldaten. Which get only 12,75 less dps per menpower.
Mid range focused squad with no AI weapon upgrade does more mid range DPS then unupgraded long range squad that isn't supposed to be used without an upgrade?
Oh boy! What an imbalance! Oh the injustice!
So, does that comparison of yours have a point or you just wanted to compare 2 completely random squads with completely different intended engagement distance?
They aren't role equivalents at all and each time you compare unupgraded obers, you're invoking obvious bias.
You want to compare penals with obers, then STG obers is what you are looking for here.
Go compare it now and return with results.
They arrive nearly at same time as Grenadiers arrive. And Grenadiers are without vet and upgrade as cost-effective as Obersoldaten. So you can also say, that Penals are ~20% more effective as Grenadiers at vet0 and 20 range.
So you can say, the are OP as fu**. So even if you say they are more expensive, they have to be better. But they are 14% more effective as a Grenadier squad per menpower.
20 range:
1*Penal (one man) = 4,433 dps => 6*Penal (one squad) = 26,598 dps / 300 (price) = 0,089 dps/mp
1*Gren (one man) = 4,374 dps => 4*Gren (one squad) = 17,496 dps / 240 (Price) = 0,073 dps/mp
You will have 2 grens on field when first penal hits.
You're also comparing apples to oranges and completely ignoring the fact that
-grens have native 0.91 rec acc, while penals have 1
-grens are long range oriented, not short range and 20 range is optimal distance for penals against grens, not grens against penals, who want to stay at max range at all times
-you will always have more grens then penals for the same menpower cost, unless you don't want to.
Also, you must really be losing your marbles about riflemen, who have similar DPS, very good weapon ugprades and vet that actually makes them durable.