Not having a problem with it. Just stating that it's strange from game point of view o have a gun that serves well 2 purposes: AI and AT.
And why would that be? Debates if ZiS-3 is AT gun or artillery gun go up to this day without an agreement as it served equally as both. Its also strange from game pov that FHT can reinforce, its strange that parked trucks magically generate income and so on and so forth.
Many of sov units offspec somewhere, because its needed from the gameplay pov, because they will never have as varied unit selection as ost does.
And dodging the barrage is not a problem for any mobile unit. For an mg though, it is: if first projectile kills the gunner, even if you hit the retreat buton, your squad has a good chance to die, because of the animation - next soldier will take gunner's place, then they will think a little bit, then they will pack the gun, then they will retreat. In all this time, ZIS will fire (due to the good ROF)at list 3 barrage shots.
Only "if" it kills the gunner. And that is a big if. Otherwise its just as easily as with any other squad, I've had numerous barrages where it did absolutely jack to MG that simply repositioned 3 steps to the side.