@ Pluralitas, yeah, a smoke barrage would be nice. Stats do exist for them, so it is a possibility. The IS would need two flares though with a shared cooldown. I unfortunately can't see what you're suggesting being implemented, because that means the 25pdrs will be the most effective as they fire the most shells over the largest area, while other guns like the LeFH don't as much. Unless you made the 25pdrs unique in that regard, which may be an awkward idea. I'm unsure about the forward observer officer, maybe it could get a commander of it's own, rather than removing the conc. barrage from the Royal Artillery, since it can fire in the fog of war and is one of best uses of those howitzers.
Maybe it could be like: either Reconnaissance Regiment or Royal Horse Artillery Regiment.
1-2cp: Infantry Sections Mills Bombs get replaced by a rifle-grenade-like 2 inch mortar, that gives increased range and is able to launch over obstacles.
3-4cp: Forward observer Officer: Functions like the wehrmacht artillery officer, armed with Lee-Enfields.
4-5cp: Valentine light tank: not unlike the Royal Artillery one, comes armed with a HE mortar as well as a smoke mortar (stats for the that actually exist)
6cp: Stand fast: emplacements repair themselves
10cp: Either artillery barrage or an AVRE.
Though I would like to point out that I'd rather see the 25 pdrs improved as they are rather then getting another commander.
Smoke is the one i think is the most possibility to be implemented as the pyro upgrade is useless now. The time to first shell is too long and the damage is lacking. Aggressive, mobile british play could get bog down by german defensive plays and pyro smoke itself would make giving one section the pyro upgrade desirable for a aggressive british player.
If my idea of a suppressive arty bombardment comes, then conc. barrage will be too OP, which the FO comes in. The FO have a limited range to "call in" arty barrages (or smoke) like pyro sections but without dropping flares. FOs should be able call in when in range regardless whether the target location is in sight or not and the barrages should include not only the base arty but other arty in range as well like the german arty officer. This allows synergy between the valentine's IR maphack/early warning flares and sextons. Sneaking in a FO after spotting a enemy hardpoint for a barrage could cause havoc behind enemy lines and forcing a mass retreat. It would be OP if the shells landed like a stuka barrage but fortunately for the 25pdrs, the time between shells is long enough that retreating through the barrages will allow enemies to survive.
Yes, my idea is to give EVERY large caliber arty (M1 75mm is not a large caliber arty) and arty barrages (scavenge arty, assault arty for example) suppression while reducing the AOE damage pe shell, this does not affect air delivered bombs such as the RAF air supremacy or flame barrage (SU) however. While other guns like LeFH have a even longer delay between shells, they could still be used as a AOE indiscriminate suppression platform. Firing those arty into enemy base in hope for cheesy wipes will be reduced in effectiveness largely and the arty would be far better used on enemy positions. 2 rounds landing around a unit should pin it in open or red cover, forcing the enemies to place units in yellow or green cover defensively or they have to call off an attack by mass retreating depending on its use. The arty suppression however should affect every unit (friend of foe) in the vicinity and running your troops or tanks in to crush enemies are possibly highly rewarding but very risky.
This is just my 2 cents, dont take it too seriously........