Patience -it's all in the Game

[Dog Soldier]

The idea behind the loss of half strength is documented as prisoners being taken in the design notes and elsewhere. In the situation described in this thread, the losses seem credible to the community, not because half the men or vehicles will just give up when faced with over stacking. I would look on this situation as the unit losing cohesion in an uncontrolled retreat while in contact with the enemy. Many in fact would be take prisoner, and losses do mount exponentially when an assault fails since the attackers have little covering fire as they retreat. The defenders naturally know this is an excellent opportunity to inflict losses. In game terms the unit simply will not collect back the strength it previously had.

Historically the 4th para rgt of the 1st AB took terrible losses when they tried to break through to Frost on Arnhem bridge only a short way from the disaster in the game documented here. In that case it was 20mm AAA guns which had moved up prior to the attack to support the defense that ripped the 4th para rgt to shreds as it tried to disengage. Think abourt trying to get out of range or in a dead angle from those guns when they are on the only high ground in the area. Small trees and bushes would not provide enough cover.

To be sure this is a gray area mechanic of the game. The idea is to discourage huge killer stacks from roaming the battlefield at will. That happens in games, but really not in this level of a simulation of history. I think it is a fair risk when a player forms a stack with either many units or with very large units that a retreat route should be planned, just in case success is not achieved.
That is the details a good commander and player should sweat. The game mechanic imposes this quite well, IMHO.

Aiteus is quite right if the facts are as he states. In MG44, the Allies will have a hard time winning if the Waal crossings are held in force by the Axis and Arnhem bridge is unobstructed. While the Allies have the capability to cross the Waal River without the Nijmegan bridges, it is my experience they will be hard pressed to rescue the 1st AB.

The Axis receives enough reinforcements to isolate and crush the 1st AB. It does take a lot of time for the Axis to methodically wear down the excellent morale ratings of the 1st AB. These ad hoc Axis units from KG von Tettau were of less quality mainly because they were ad hoc and had not worked as units before. Others were made up of men with no real infantry training. These units suffered heavy losses in the historical battle. They did not prevent some of the 1st AB from escaping at the end across the Rhine. They were too worn down by that time. To expect more than that in the game is asking for trouble.

The time required is has to be bought by holding the Waal River line. Axis losses below the Waal can be managed by the Axis player regardless of what the Allies do there so enough VP will not exist for an Allied win without crossing the Waal River.

Dog Soldier