wow...have i really been gone this long? could be a sign that i am "getting a life".
Nick, as regards your observation about the "# of men in a hex", you are correct, to a point. i.e. larger UNITS will sustain more casualties than smaller ones. however, i believe when MULTIPLE UNITS are in the same hex no consideration is given to TARGET DENSITY. each squad is checked sequentially and casualties are assessed squad by squad. the result is that each squad's casualties are assessed as if they were the only squad in the hex; i.e. dispersed throughout the hex.
this ignores the fact that a crowded hex should produced more casualties PER UNIT because of the target density.
this can be tested by firing at a unit that is the sole occupant of a hex and comparing those results to firing on hexes that are packed with multiple squads. my testing indicates the RATE (% of total men in hex) of casualties per squad does not vary as target density increases. e.g. a single squad hex will take one casualty and a hex with 10 squads will take 10 casualties.
this is especially true in the case of arty/mortar fire on packed hexes which should produce much higher casualty RATES
as proportionally more men would be within a shell's blast radius.
best,
vic