Should MG42s have some riflemen?

Should MG42 squads have a 1-2 soldiers carrying weak rifles?

The reason is not for gameplay changes, but that... it just seems odd that there are 3 guys with mp40s. For a standard infantry unit it doesn't seem like a balanced composition, and it kinda makes them look like they're a bunch of clones.

The original 3 man squad, with 2 mp40s was OK though.

Historically crew served weapons generally were equipped with light weapons such as smgs and pistols (hello pak38 dude with a dinky pistol).

When serving something like a machine gun, the personnel are carrying things like ammo belts, spare barrels, lubricant, coolant, etc. Holding a full size battle rifle is a bit contrary to that.

Historically, one assistant used a rifle, and if not why not include a guy with a pistol then? There are usually roughly 2 SMGs. None of the composition are standard/historical anyway, but Logistically I doubt so many soldiers would have mp40s.

I was bringing this up because it feels like they cloned an extra soldier, when they added an extra mp40 soldier for balance.

For historical accuracy, yes.

But the personal weapons carried by Support teams have reduced stats anyways, and frankly their DPS is so small, in either faction, is barely worth mentioning.

As I understand it, they would have carried rifles on both sides, one per man, no matter what team gear they where carrying.

SMGs are more expensive and complicated to produce, use and maintain and where generally handed out to units with assault tasks. A rifle is a far more versatile weapon, whereas SMG has a very short effective range.

And infact, contrary to popular belief, only a small fraction of any infantry company is actually trained or assigned assault tasks. There are soldiers, and then there are the "real" fighting men, the most fit, trained and disciplined, who do the serious offensive actions.

Weapon teams wouldnt have had use for them, since mortars and ATGs should be screened and defended by dedicated rifleman units. An HMG position even less. In this era, equipment was less replaceable than manpower...

Otherwise each squad may have had perhaps one, usually carried by the squad leader. Pistols where not common. Officers had them, and some soldiers who may have procured them individually from somewhere.