And you don't think two BARs are ridiculous? Let's just take a closer look at that. Keep in mind that the numbers here are maximums, and that Rifleman numbers are calculated with double-BAR upgrades (3x Garand, 2x BAR per squad). The numbers are taken from stat.coh2.hu:
DPS (vet 0, raw damage w/o rec. accuracy factors) | Rifleman Squad | Grenadier Squad |
close range | 38.30 | 24.88 |
close range w/ LMG | 52.38 | 26.32 |
long range | 9.20 | 9.64 |
long range w/ LMG | 15.52 | 14.42 |
So two BARs take away any advantage that the LMG 42 gave Grens on Riflemen. Okay, but what about actual numbers, that matter in the game (i.e. numbers with received accuracy factors)?
DPS (vet 0, raw damage w/ rec. accuracy factors) | Rifleman Squad | Grenadier Squad |
close range | 34.85 | 24.13 |
close range w/LMG | 47.67 | 25.53 |
long range | 8.37 | 9.35 |
long range w/LMG | 14.12 | 13.99 |
This. Ost Grens are getting D*cked by riflemen, from early game to late game. That's even without the mortar that forces Grens to
move around, thus not using their LMG, while the roflmen melt them away,
while walking around. The 5th man makes them
less wipeable and the
+10% vet bulletin gets them vetted up quicker than grens.
Add to this the free infantry squads the USF gets with tech, RE with double BARs and Ost's lack of a light tank and you get some nasty disbalance.