Yea, it does, virtually, require a purchase of air power for Russia, but to be honest, I almost always buy some air power for Russia anyway so I don’t have to spend expensive artillery and armor trading land. If you use a fighter instead of an artillery in 10 combats, you’ve paid for the fighter, right? (2 Inf + 1 Fig or Inf + Art.) Not to mention, you have better odds of success!
And yes, as I said, there is a use for it, but how often do you get to use it? Generally, the submarine sits there as a potential threat convincing Germany not to even build the destroyer and allowing England or England + America to conduct their bombardments. But even then, is it not serving a purpose? I mean, since it’s there and we’re kinda stuck with it!
On another note, why did Russia lose the transport after Classic???