An excerpt from Section 11 of the TacOps user guide is shown below. In this text "unit" refers to a single map marker.
11. Combat Effects
11.1 Effect Symbols
Effective direct fire, indirect fire, mine explosions, artillery strikes, and air strikes usually
produce secondary explosions and or display symbols over the target to indicate the level of
effect.
H = hit or super-near-miss.
S = unit suppressed.
Skull = one or more infantry casualties, but unit not totally eliminated.
D = mobility or weapon damage.
Explosion blossom = one vehicle destroyed or severely damaged.
E = unit marker totally eliminated.
A = air strike aborted on final run.
If a symbol or a secondary explosion is not displayed over a visible target then there probably was no effect on the target. Effects include vehicle destruction, vehicle damage, weapon damage, personnel loss, and suppression. Suppression represents a momentary loss of maximum straight line speed and or combat efficiency resulting from such things as surprise, fear, confusion, reduced visibility, looking for more cover, looking for the firing enemy, looking for a better firing position, tending to wounded, fighting fires, paralysis of analysis, etc. The effects of suppression may last for several scale minutes. Effect symbols on unspotted friendly units will not be shown to the enemy player if the fog-ofwar option is turned on and the affected unit is not legally visible; secondary explosions and wreck markers will always be shown.
11.2 Effects On Infantry Units
Infantry units may sustain permanent casualties and or be suppressed. Permanent casualties are indicated by the display of a skull symbol. Suppression is indicated by an S symbol. Suppression may also be assumed when the skull symbol is seen. Suppressed infantry units immediately go to ground, lose all orders, have difficulty spotting, have a greatly reduced chance of firing, and fire with reduced accuracy. Exposed infantry antitank weapons are especially affected by suppression. Permanent casualties to an infantry unit cause suppression, reduce the number of personnel in the unit, and at some point will cause the unit to drop one organizational level and or be eliminated.
11.3 Effects On Vehicles
A secondary explosion will be shown if a vehicle in a unit is destroyed or severely damaged. If a vehicle is destroyed, a wreck marker will be drawn. Surviving members of the unit are automatically suppressed. Other units that are extremely close to the destroyed vehicle may also be suppressed. A secondary explosion and a "D" will be displayed if a vehicle sustains weapon or mobility damage but is not destroyed. Other members of the unit are automatically suppressed. Other units that are extremely close to the damaged vehicle may also be suppressed. A hit that does not destroy or damage will display an "H," and the unit is suppressed. If the unit is suppressed by a super-near miss, an artillery impact, or an air strike, an "S" will be displayed. Suppressed vehicle units advance slower, have difficulty spotting, have a reduced chance of firing protected weapons, have a greatly reduced chance of firing exposed weapons, and fire with reduced accuracy. If a vehicular unit has only one vehicle and a vehicle is destroyed then that unit will be eliminated. If a unit has several vehicles, the unit's strength will be reduced by one and the unit's ammunition supply will be reduced accordingly.