They perform ok, but NOT in the first min of game. Give them worse start weapons, old weapon profile with a 30mun mun upgrade.
After that we can balance Cons, Maxim etc.
imo a nerf to volks clone mosins x 260mp with an optional DP/PTRS upgrade is best... they can function as long range infantry and sync well with the ppsh conscript so that they dont obsolete each other... can trade well and win earlygame and lategame vs grens and volks... but not overwhelmingly so as of today...
Penals are the bullies of COH2, they can dominate early to midgame to a point its almost impossible to recover. Obers take care of penals but not vetted penals, also the latter gets really fast xp because of sticky satchels and high dps.
Im not against them i just point out they really do all the heavy work by themselves, thats why they get spammed.
ill be honest... they get spammed because sov has no other choice... remember sov was the worst allied faction before the penal buff... theyre the worst because T2 and conscripts suck soo bad theyre essentially useless