Command & Control and Shock

[Mike D]

Will CM have some mechanism to model the initial shock and corresponding potential lack of command and control during the initial turn(s) of an attack? Perhaps as an option if nothing else. For example, during the Battle of the Bulge the American units on the front lines were woefully unprepared for the German attack that came on Dec. 16, 1944. Chaos and most likely a total lack of command and control must have reigned supreme for the American defenders at a tactical level during the intial minutes of this attack (at an operational/strategic level it was probably more like hours or even days). Could this perhaps be simulated by some/all of the defenders units being under computer control for the first couple of turns (minutes) of the game? This could help simulate the realities of the command situation more fully where the company / battalion commander (i.e. we arm chair generals) didn’t have complete control of our troops and the situation in general during the first minutes of an attack until the tactical situation became more apparent and the initial shock of the attack had "worn off". Might be particularly applicable to the "campaign" games where a "local" offensive is being protrayed in CM.

Mike D.

aka Mikester

[Guest Big Time Software]

Good points, but this is more of a "strategic" effect than a tactical one. Confusing orders, miss allocated reinforcements, inadequate reserves, etc. However, the troops on the ground fought the Germans no differently than they would have in any overbalanced local counter attack. In fact, the early stage of the battle the US forces fought like dogs in places because they figured that they were the only ones being attacked. The thinking was that any second the Germans would be tossed back by someone else. Only later did the units realize what was really up, and they were therefore mentally prepared for what was happening.

Most of the problems in the Ardennes front line was the direct result of largely green units (106ID and 28ID) being at the center of the attack. Experience was low, leadership varried, and cohesion poor. This can be simulated in CM, BTW, by simply giving the US less expereinced troops. We are also going to have some kind of global morale modifier that simulates the general feeling of the troops going into the battle. Other modifiers will set starting physical and supply conditions. But it is the actual combat that will really determine what happens to the troops on the ground. Hit the defender hard, fast, and with great effect and their forces will fold and colapse. Fail to do this and the defender has a chance.

So, in short, CM will simulate what you want even if it isn't quite what you expect it to be like.

Steve

[Mike D]

Sounds good to me.