1. LMG42 with T4, true.
2. Cheaper but worse in colose-range. Shouldn't be a problem.
3. We are speaking about Osttruppen, you will eat them in close-combat with or without upgrade.
4. You have to build T1 or T2 for Faust. Passive-tech.
5. Cons can build structures too, in my opinion better as trenches. You have Molotoves to deal with such emplacements.
6. In cover they become "normal" units, push them and they are cheap XP.
7. The question about support assets: MG42 is needed versus Allii-infantry-blobbs. Why? Because you don't get negative multipliers and have close-range grenades and abilities Ostheer doesn't have.
Normally a MG42 vs Maxim battle looks so:
MG42 pinns Maxim, kills 2-3 men. Than MG42 gets suppressed, stops shooting and gets raped by Maxim. If that doesn't happen something got wrong.
I also put every Maxim I find with my Osttruppen. Same as Vickers. This things are OP as fu**. Ignoring suppression and have enough dps too deal with most units.
Cons are good as they are. Maxim is good as it is. Zis is also good as it is.
You knwo whats the real problem is why you think they are so bad? Because Penals are simply OP until Panzerwerfer or Brummbär arrives.
Lmg in battlephase 3*
Worse at long range soo meh*
But lose at long range with or without upgrades
If you think a 25 fuel sidetech is equivalent to a 10 fuel techup that gives u mortars grens and snipers then you are smoking some strong weed
Ostruppen builds sandbags aswell... and can build trenches and bunkers... infact ost builds better sandbags than cons.. and mollys suck vs bunkers
Cheap xp is a plus for ost... enemies gain less exp killing models
I understand why the mg42 is powerful... i dont understand why cons and maxims have to be shit when sov T2 has no nondoc elite infantry to speak of
Mg42s win with or without cover... tested on cheatmod 2... your experience is simply taken in a non vacuum situation or with confirmation bias
The vickers??? Op as fuck???? L2P...
Lastly penals are strong but its not like ost cant counter the penals... grens mg42 and snipers are great vs penals...