Is the StuG E worth it?

[Landsknecht und Deutscher Ritter]

Been playing Ostheer recently. Half cost of a brummbar with half the armor and firepower too. and it's doctrinal. Anything i'm missing that turns this into a god unit?

[The Quban]

The StugE and StugG have the same armor and health. In fact, the smaller target size of the StugE actually makes it more survivable than the StugG variant. Curiously, both get the 'target weak point' ability at veterancy level 1, though for the E it's primarily a defensive measure. As for the differences:

StugE veterancy requirements are ~50% that of the StugG and Brummbar.
StugE target size is 17 vs 20 for StugG (vs 22 for Brummbar).
StugE costs 15 fuel, 20 manpower, and 10s less to produce than the StugG.
StugE has 8 pop cap vs 10 for the StugG (vs 14 for Brummbar).
StugE has no top gunner upgrade (both StugG and Brummbar do).

StugE/G get 1.3x armor, 0.85x reload time at vet 2 vs 1.2x armor, 0.9x reload time for Brummbar.
StugE costs half the fuel and mapower of the Brummbar.
StugE max range is 50 meters vs 35 for Brummbar.
StugE reload time is 6 seconds vs 8.25 for Brummbar (5.1 vs 7.4 at vet 2).
StugE projectile speed is 45 m/s vs 29 for Brummbar.
StugE has 560 health vs 800 for Brummbar.
StugE has 140/70 front/rear armor vs 240/105 for Brummbar.
StugE has slightly better acceleration and top speed than Brummbar.
StugE penetration is 55/50/45 vs 140/120/100 for Brummbar.
StugE damage is 80 vs 160 for Brummbar.
StugE area of effect is 4 meters vs 6 for Brummbar.


With cost, range, and reload time in its favor, the StugE is specialized for long range infantry obliteration whereas you have to get close to deliver the goods with the Brummbar. The enemy will rarely be able to react before the first shot from a StugE whereas they will always be able to react before the first shot of a Brummbar. The Brummbar has a distinctive appearance that makes it difficult to surprise the enemy whereas the two Stug variants are harder to distinguish, which can be used to advantage though it cuts both ways (i.e. you can mix them up just as easily as your opponent). Lastly, I find the Brummbar to require more micromanagement than the StugE - both on the offense to be effective with its abilities and on the defense to escape the insane anti-tank attention every Brummbar seems to attract.