as you said, the USF's main (and probably) sole advantage over the OKW are the rifleman and the .50cal. In virtually every other aspect the OKW is either equal or superior.
In your build, the USF noticeably lack LT, and therefore no .50cal either, so the sole advantage is really the rifleman. By comparison the OKW have gotten everything, including the Tech require to build a King Tiger.
and really it's the terminator veterancy on the rifleman that keep them relevant. The OKW volks is stronger now and they also have access to Ober as well.
unless the rifleman get captain America serum at vet 3 something else needs to be done. I hate the terminator veterancy to begin with but it's really their only saving grace at this point.
Personally I think if Relic either increased Volk Shrek Cost or introduced a slight Muni penalty (maybe somewhere halfway between old penalty and 100%) that OKW would be less obnoxious. The only real issue I have with it now is that every game feels like the number of Shrek volks reaches some critical mass if the game drags on too long and it makes Allied vehicle play too difficult. Not to mention the buffed Volk AI makes it more difficult to counter a Volk blob with infantry.
Either that or add some group penalty that increases Shrek cost if a certain number of Shrek volks exist. The 100% Munitions just feels way too much. Another option might be to remove free SWS truck buffs and make Healing or Mechanics a token MP/Fuel/Muni side upgrade cost.
I would rather they remove the schreck and replace it with faust.
Schrecks would be delayed till t4 then which is too late. In addition the vet bonuses and abilities don't make sense for that. Obers are hard counter for infantry, I don't think they be made into a hybrid abomination.
panzergrenadier basically have the same problem. It's also the same problem that keep panzergrenadier schreck blob from becoming too strong.
and the flaktruck isn't that late. in between the puma, raketen, and faust I think the okw will have enough for use against early vehicles. Even the luch is useful as a meatshield against the t70 and the stuart. Yes the t70 and stuart will win against a luch, but the luch is durable enough to serve as meatshield. That 400 hp takes a while for the t70 and stuart to burn down.
so basically what you're saying is, you want the AEC to win a straight up 1v1 against medium tanks. alright, i want the 222 to take on an M36 in a 1v1, so pls buff :-(
btw, despite clearly not being an anti infantry vehicle, i think you underestimate the AECs capabilties against infantry (it's not a whole lot worse than a 222, i did some testing of AEC/222 AI last patch). It also is very capable of finishing off any retreating tank that is sufficiently damaged.
The puma will win in a 1v1 fight against medium tank. that extra range and acceleration makes a big difference.
The sad fact is that the OKW have one of the best light tank hunter in the game but rarely use it because they just spam schreck. Meanwhile, the british have one of the worst light tank hunter in the game combined with the PIAT that can't hit light vehicle.
"it's not a whole lot worse than a 222" is pretty faint praise. We are talking about one of the cheapest vehicle in the game.
so you want to buff a unit that is in a perfect spot vs. one of the factions, but not against the other(s)... there's no way this could go wrong, right?
in a perfect spot vs which one of the faction? The AEC is good against maybe two units in the entire game, the 222, and maybe the luchs.
It doesn't have the AOE or the coaxial to kill infantry and lack the acceleration and range to take on medium tank.
Then why arent pgrens as strong as commandos? Mandos can be dropped everywhere with a free reinforce bunker... they can cloak, throw nades and smoke and on retreat pop smoke as well. All my pgrens get is a 120 ammo double schreck upgrade. :-(
In case it isnt obvious, i am mimicing your aec/puma rant.
let's not get side track. The whole doc vs non-doc argument doesn't apply to okw puma vs brit aec anyway.
there's also another benefit from the king tiger being a call in instead of built, instantaneous build time. Once you have enough fuel you can call it in right away.
even if the call in start on recharge, you will effectively run it down waiting for the 260 fuel.