I think someone already came up with this idea:
- replace penals with guards: this guard squad wont have PTRS, and DP 1928 can be researched as soon as T3 is built.
- penals which can be called in by commanders who were former guards commanders, are now fitting the same role as the British Tank Hunter Infantry Sections from this British Crocodile commander
The infantry in all faction must be diversed. It means that there must be close/mid range unit, long range unit, a unit good vs infantry and AT intantry. If we add guards soviets will lack of mid/close range unit like penals.
The idea is to make penals something like sturmpio, pgrens, so unit with diffrent role and style of playing that conscripts better on closer engagements.
Though if penals don't be balance and we won't find any solution, yeah guards could do
Plus they had to change half of soviet commanders (including names) -> penal motor doctrine lul
