How does reduce work?

[alwaysdime]

I assumed if I reduce a unit that strength point would form a new unit. I reduced a few points in a 6 point Huey unit down to 4 but those 2 strength points are gone. On top of it I score went down as if they were lost to the enemy.

[berto]

From the Manual:

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3.2.13 What is Reducing and Merging units?

It is now possible to merge lower strength point platoons into a larger strength point platoon. This is done
by selecting the two platoons from the same company you would like to merge, then pressing the Merge
Toolbar button or ALT+M on the keyboard.

There are some rules for this to work:

1. The two platoons must be from the same company.
2. They must be the same basic unit type. (For example, you can’t merge infantry with machine
gunners.)
3. If merging with the company HQ platoon (identified by the radio icon in the Unit Display), the
HQ platoon must be higher up the unit stack (as shown in the Unit List), as that is where the SP’s
will merge into.
4. The subordinate unit’s strength may not exceed the superior unit’s.
5. The subordinate unit must earlier have been reduced by combat.
6. Merging transports must not be loaded.
7. You cannot have more Strength Points than the platoon allows. You cannot merge a 4 Strength
Points and 3 Strength Points platoon together, as combined that would be 7 Strength Points,
which is higher than the default 6 Strength Points.
8. The superior unit must have non-zero APs.
9. If the superior unit is disrupted with lower morale, the merged platoon will maintain that superior
unit’s status.

You can also choose to reduce a unit, should the tactical situation call for it.

For example, if you have a 5 Strength Point Rifle Platoon and a 2 Strength Point Truck Platoon, you can
reduce the 5 Strength Point Rifle Platoon by one to allow it to ride in the Truck Platoon. Select the Rifle
Platoon and press the Reduce Button or ALT+E on the keyboard.

You might also reduce a platoon to enable it loading onto helicopter or water vessel transport. Or to
comply with Merge rule #4 above.

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In the Campaign Series, platoons are the game's "atoms", the smallest units in the game. There is no breaking down platoons into smaller sections, squads, much less individuals. (Exception: Leaders, which you should imagine to be an individual commander and entourage.)

So, Unit Reduce serves the narrow and specific purposes above. (Although other purposes might be discovered.)

[alwaysdime]

When you reduce should that act like a split rather than destroy the strength point you reduced? Should you loose points to the enemy as if the unit was destroyed by the enemy?

[berto]

That is how the game engine deals with it. You can interpret that as a disincentive to its misuse. Use it rarely, only when really needed.