Don't have A favourite nation, but for extra oomph I like AA guns or derivatives (eg 88mm). Big stationary guns to deal with armour, light, mobile, multi-barrelled stuff fo soft targets (quad .50, moebelwagen)
Finnish 350mm coast artillery fortress is nice, if you only can afford one. It effectively deals with both tanks and infantry, often with tremendous results.
I really like Jagdpanther. Fast, great gun, even decently armoured. Sometimes they have been my last issue and the tool to victory. However, there is nothing which compares to heavy artillery. Jesh!
After that, the rest of my forces are just used to clean up the mess:)
Although I have learned, heavy artillery must be used with more finesse against human opponents.
I have also learned smoke is more effective than HE. You can't get shot if they can't see you. Works wonders for going places without regard to movement.
I LIKE that my life bothers them,
Why should I be the only one bothered by it eh.
Some weapons are great against an AI yet worthless against a human opponent.
I have played a few games where I bought nothing but 88s with support points to go with my 4 88s of my core force.
I position my armour on ridges and then string out the 88s.
In most cases I set up my infantry in the same way you string out theater seating.
The AI enemy just drives into massed 88s to total oblivion.
Now that trick would fall flat if used against me. I would just carpet the 88s with a massive barrage of smoke and make it so they were of no value.
I therefore think, that it's not weapon damage that counts, but weapon performance that matters.
I have noticed for instance, that 150s and 75s are best for artillery. 150s on defense because you can hit em with smoke or he, and 75s on attack, because they seem to have a better smoke coverage somehow.
I LIKE that my life bothers them,
Why should I be the only one bothered by it eh.
Large caliber assault guns. Throw a round or two of 95/105/150mm in there before you advance...you'll get guaranteed suppression and usually kills, even in adjacent hexes. If your opponent isn't in your LOS, z-firing at an adjacent hex does the job too. And unlike arty there's no rally attempt before your units come crashing in
IS tanks. Nothing beats them unless you get lucky, and they kill just about anything. I once played a game where 4 IS-2s held the center Vhexs against a swarm of Tigers and Elephants. Slowly they got knocked out, but thanks o my katayusha the Tigers very got those hexs.
"History admires the wise, but it elevates the brave."
-Edmund Morris
75mmPaK40. Place a few of these just behind your lines, and they can cause quite a havoc in attacking tank armadas. MG42 is a excellent choice in every situation likely to involve infantry - however, it's capability is seriously hindered in cities or rough terrain.
And of course there is a one thing which works against AI - masses of panzerfausts/bazookas/schrecks or any other AT teams. Just place these between enemy attack lines and VHs, and AI geniously rushes it's armour to certain doom. Also, the legendary "scores of 88" works just fine against it. AI sux.
Paratroopers, when they deliver to where they are supposed to go and have a little time to get ready. Nothing freaks people out like a well defended position in their rear echelons.
"They couldn't hit an elephant from this dist--"
--John Sedgwick, failing to reduce suppression during the Battle of the Wilderness, U.S. Civil War.