night casualties

[David Chapuis]

Is it just my imagination, or do casualties occur faster in night battles than daylight battles. I suppose it could be the reduced LOS causes casualties faster, but I have played in rain and fog (which is about the same LOS as night) and the squads doesnt seem to go to eliminated as fast as they are in this night battle I am playing.

Am I imagining things?

[KG_Jag]

I suspect that the increased casulties are the result of the opposing forces being so close during combat. That means high firepower numbers and fewer misses by the "big" guns.

[Denwad]

people sticking their heads out too far in attempt to see the enemy, and catching a round in the process?

[jeffsmith]

Friendly Fire also is a factor at night

[Grimthane]

That's an understatement jeff.

Anyone who played St Ed's in ROWV can tell you that you can easily kill more of your own than theirs, especially if you use Area Fire for suppression while assaulting a building...

[Dschugaschwili]

Doesn't even have to be area fire. Firing at a seen enemy in a house hits the back of your assaulting squad(s) just as well.

Dschugaschwili

[melb_will]

does it? I thought that that was not moddeled. Or is that just mg fire?

[Kanonier Reichmann]

The other thing to consider with night time fighting is that troops tend to panic much quicker when under fire then run away which of course is suicide when being fired on at close range. I think that is a fair part of the problem leading to increased casualties at night time.

Regards

Jim R.

[Kanonier Reichmann]

Originally posted by Grimthane:

That's an understatement jeff.

Anyone who played St Ed's in ROWV can tell you that you can easily kill more of your own than theirs,

Tell me about it. I had my best German Company commander rush into a heavy building to assist friendlies in their attempt to clear it out only to be gunned down to a man from the cross fire from two "friendly" squads. That particular bungle would have cost me big time in victory points.

Regards

Jim R.

[JasonC]

It is mostly short range. The only other factor may be more unbalanced suppression, but I suspect it is small. By that I mean the side getting the worst of it pins more thoroughly, thus fires back less, thus suppresses the shooters less. The flip side and the reason I suspect it is small, is one shot can suppress the shooters pretty efficiently.

As for friendly fire, while I have certainly encountered it the worst of it comes from any attempt to use area fire. At night, don't user area fire. As for the idea running away causes it, I doubt it. Breaking contact is actually a reasonable thing to do in short LOS fights, when you are getting worse than you are giving.

My own experience is that all short LOS fighting tends to be (1) bloody (2) lopsided, meaning complete kills for the loser (3) quality and command skill dependent, meaning vets beat greens and humans beat AI and good humans beat less experienced humans. Short movements to get differential LOS, many on few, are the win-driver.

[Kip Watson]

I disagree. Use area carefully, most definitely, but area fire at night from just outside LOS spooks the enemy very effectively. With lashings of grazing fire you stop an attack dead before it has really begun, and all your opponent will see is a sound contact.

[Moon]

During the night, troops are also more brittle than during the day, i.e. they're more likely to panic when shot at, which could also attribute to higher casualties.

Martin