Profile of Gbpirate

I played a 1v1 game yesterday on Langreskaya winter, and my soviet opponent managed to get an ISU-152 on the field when I only had a P4. I had to say, I was winning, but I never knew it. When the ISU-152 came out, after looking at the replay, my opponent only had two vet 3 guards (although he was floating ~2000 MP due to a sniper + SC start).
Overall, I had more fuel income than he did, however, the manpower drain I suffered as a result of the snipers (men retreating through deep snow...) cost me the game. When the ISU-152 hit the field, it's first shot killed a full health AG squad... the second shot killed a full health Grenadiers squad, and soon after another AG was killed. It was extremely infuriating. I almost killed the ISu-152 with a P4; I got behind it while a friendly gren squad engaged the AT gun. With only one man left on the AT gun it fired (I think that was a bug; when weapon teams have one man, they run away, right?) and killed my P4... then he got another ISU-152. Against two, the best strategy is to surrender. Perhaps heavy vehicles (Elefant, Tiger, ISU-152, IS-2, and maybe KV-1/8 should be limited to one at a time in 1v1 games?
I think that was the reason I lost the game... I had plenty of fuel for three panthers, but not the manpower. I didn't realize how few squads he had left and how little resources he had (besides manpower). In 1v1 I find my teching to be slow. Although the new patch helps my infantry out, getting armored vehicles to me seems an unnecessary MP cost because I am generally winning my engagements with infantry, so why get vehicles? Is there something I need to do to get them faster, or is it simply actually realizing that I can get vehicles and that I should get them?

I played 3 or 4 games with the new patch yesterday; lots of Soviets whining how the patch favors the Germans?
Is it just my PE-influenced infantry micro that dictates non-blobbing and putting men behind all sorts of cover to create kill zones (think the right side of Langreskaya by the muni point)?

The spread of DPS at 35m has increased (there is a higher range of DPS among all the weapons types), so, in theory, it should benefit both factions.

I can tell you as a user of this strategy that the best counter is actually grenadiers.

Grenadiers have the rifle grenade to begin with, the hard counter to snipers. Secondly their long range firepower causes significant damage to snipers out of cover and also are the chepest unit to reinforce that aren't engies.

Assuming the Soviet player is relying almost entirely on snipers for AI then simply blob a few grens together and walk forwar: when the snipers are forced out of their cover to fall back the grens will fire at the sniper which will likely heavily damage of kill an entity, forcing the retreat/getting the kill.

The light vehicle rush is expected, get 1 FHT maybe and don't fall for the trap of spending all your fuel trying to counter their snipers mid game with light vehicles. Use the HT to reinforce your grens as they move forward, this is more effective than trying to rush the FHT in which will more than likely result in a dead FHT.

Thank you so very much
Maybe now I will refrain from destroying my desktop Still waiting for that update scheduled for today... when will it come? We shall see.

This thread got off topic and has been uncommented on for three months... but. Still a current topic. A 1v1 build order I use is Gren Gren MG MG Gren T2. Two MG42s is a pain to deal with. I use them in tandem, either suppressing one area with both arcs of fire, or leaving one behind the other to cover it in case it gets rushed by conscript and molotov.
There are certain weaknesses, however:
1) MG42 in a building is a nightmare. On maps like Semoskiy, even Kholodny Ferma, or Road to...something map, putting an MG42 in a building is suicide because (to my knowledge) you cannot select targets to fire at when inside the building; the cursor changes not to the normal crosshair, but to some crosshair and a strange symbol. Upon right clicking, the MG42 proceeds to exit the building. When rushed with a conscript and molotov, the MG42 can take the order to exit, but often sets up outside the front of the building and dies (the bug still hasn't been fixed, or am I not microing it properly?).
In certain maps (like Langreskaya) NOT having a squad in a building can be advantageous to the soviets, who can go building hopping to gain ground and flank MGs. It really is a lose-lose situation
2) A double sniper opening is the death of this strat. 3 Grenadier squads against two snipers does not win. Assuming there is a conscript squad (or more) and later at least one shock or guard squad, three grens may not get far. When two men die instantly, the squad is in danger of being wiped out both from the snipers' second volley and the supporting squads. Same goes for the MG42 squads; two men down in seconds forces their retreat. Having all or most of your men retreat means lost ground, lost resources, and an early or crushing loss.
3) Poor micro ruins this. If my MGs are out of position, they are easily flanked and dispatched. The long setup time provides little room for error which leads to casualties and/or lost ground.
The advantages of the strategy include...
1) Potential for control of large amounts of territory. The MG42s can cover large areas of territory and/or cutoffs when put together (middle of Langreskaya, Minsk Pocket, Kholodny Ferma).
2) Mutual Support. The MG42s can fend off one or two squads (or more if your enemy likes blobs), however, they work best when supported by at least two Gren squads (and even a sniper to add insult to injury). When in the best situation, the MG42s can cover the front or the bulk of the enemy forces while the grenadiers can cover the flanks and lob grenades into the suppressed Russian soldiers.
The MG42s, if deployed parallel to each other, can cover the outside flank of the other MG if close enough. For example, if a conscript comes out from behind a hedge and your right side MG42 is going to get molotoved, just turn your other MG to face your MG. Bullets don't count as friendly fire (i don't think) so no danger of killing your buddies.
3) AP Incendiary rounds. The AP incendiary rounds, when used correctly, can wreak havoc against enemy light and medium vehicles. A poorly microed, non-rushing scout car is toast, so is the half track. A scout car or HT with a damaged engine is equally as vulnerable. In certain situations, an MG42's ammo can be used against T3 armor. The rear of the T34 takes a lot of damage, as well as the T70. I think (THINK) that the AP rounds can pierce the front of the T70 and T34, however, a damaged engine on an armored vehicle trying to flank your position is even better toast when you can fire on the rear armor.
That being said, the SU76 and Katyusha, I'm sure, are vulnerable to the AP rounds as well; maybe even the back of the SU85. Any heavy armor is simply a quick retreat button.

Two MG42s are both robust and effective, but risky when countered effectively. One MG42 can be good with different build orders, but I prefer two in most situations.

I remember about six months ago when the Maxim opening was popular... It was a horrible time for 1v1 as Germans and I was destroyed frequently.
I played two games in a row (against the same person in random 1v1s). The first game I used a Gren Gren MG MG Gren start, followed with a sniper after losing a Gren squad. I then saved up for a PG squad in the 250 HT, but I sent that out just as the T70 rolled into my base.

The second time around, I used a Gren AGren MG Mortar Gren start, and managed to do much better, albeit a T70 still appeared at the nine minute mark. I also upgraded my pio to a flamethrower (though it ended up blowing up on the poor bastard's back...) and an un-upgraded SC.
Both games were on Minsk pocket; I started in the North the first game, and South the second game.

I know that G43s are good at range and effective counters to snipers, but they are at 3 CPs.
The build order my opponent used was Engineer MG MG MG Mortar (flamer). the second game, in response to a scout car, he built an AT gun.
The first game I surrendered at about 10 minutes and the second game we disconnected (a problem I've experienced in 3 of the four games I've played in the last hour).

A link to the replay: http://www.coh2.org/replays/15038/german-v.-t2-t70-start