Soviet SMG PPSh

Q: Why is the printed range of the Russian SMG is "6", while both factions range of long rifles was "5"? I would have expected the opposite since the SMGs typically have shorter barrels, are less accurate, are less aimed, and have an increased rate of fire that results into more firepower at the expense of reduced accuracy beyond short range.
A: A unit's firepower is the "effect" it had at the stated ranges. Even though average rifle troops had a greater theoretical range and accuracy, the effect they had at distances of 250 m + decreased significantly. SMG troops portrayed here are supposed to represent elite troops with a 35% PPSh composition. They were often better trained, calmer under fire, and knew how to "rain down" their greater firepower onto soft targets at ranges under 300 m. So both fire power (FP), cost to activate in APs, and range are all inter-related to portray WWII combat results. In hindsight, I should have named these units differently. A pure PPSh squad should have a range of 3 (not 6) and a cost to fire of 3 (not 4).

The same goes for tanks, which have very short stated ranges in the game. Again, we are nudging players to conform to tactics used during this period through mechanics, not rules. Panzers had a very long fire range, but data compiled by Wehrmacht indicates that most Mark III's in 1941, for example, fired at over 70% of targets that were under 300 meters range.