Rifle VS SMG

[maxfra]

WHat are the differences between these 2 subformaton? They have the same stats.

[tweber]

I think their terrain modifiers are different and SMG does better in urban and fortress land types.   To see, go into the editor - look at sftypes, terrain modifiers (last sheet).

[mllange]

No need to enter the editor; while playing the game simply look in the bottom 1/4 of the screen at the subformation pictures and click on the unit picture to see extended information on that particular subformation type.  Once you are in the subformation info screen you can see stats vs SFTypes, vs Classes, or terrain modifiers.  If you do this for both SMG and Rifle you will see there are differences in each of the areas that tweber mentioned.  SMG can be useful in assaulting urban terrain, heavy forests and fortress/fortifications.  They have negative modifiers attacking in other terrain types, however.
 
You can also get to this same subformation info screen in the production screen.  Select the subformation type (i.e. SMG or Rifle) and then click the small '?' button in the bottom right of the screen next to the 'select' button.