If the commander was that bad, and everyone knew it, after action reports will show it. If he was in control but just messing up, then the lower ranked guys are going to get busted a bit. If the officer was a nut job or just emotionally gone, then there will be a quiet removal of him from future orders, and a promotion for the officer who saved the day.

The main officer will lose either way however, his career is doomed either way.

"Lets suppose that a military unit is suddenly attacked by superior forces, and death is a likely possibility. The leading commander is a total idiot, is freaking out, and no one trusts him to guarantee their victory and survival. Lets then suppose that a more intelligent and charismatic member of the unit assumes command, simply because the soldiers trust him more and admire his control over his emotions. The resulting outcome is he develops a strategic and tactical plan to defeat the enemy, and is victorious with minimum losses. What happens to the military unit, the commander who emotionally broke, and the lower ranked man who assumed command?"

Strategic orders aren't issued at the field unit level.

Any noncom with a wimp for an officer is trained to grab the wimp into a huddle and twist his balls until he issues the noncom's plan as the officer's orders.

An officer hell-bent on suicide will be abandoned by his men.

If its an American unit, barring direct involvement by the White House, air support will be forthcoming.

Deci, there are no civilians just enemy irregulars who haven't enlisted yet.

when the shit hits the fan and a firefight is going on, its going to be the person with the biggest voice who leads, regardless of rank. Hopefully that would be an officer or sergeant, however privates have shown some presitine leadership under contact with the enemy. Todays proffesional militaries are tought to think for themselves and take the initiative, when warranted. IF your given an order however you will follow through with it. im speaking striclty on the basis of lack thereof of leadership. or leadership not taking charge.

so no senario for defeat? I cannot believe that for any trained organised army in the world. Esp not from that size.

Um read the River and the Gauntlet by SLA Marshall about the battle of the Chongdong river

US 2d infantry division of about 10,000 with some ROK forces routed by a chinese army of 300,000 in a suprise attack

US forces held out on the hilltops until their ammo ran out, then they had to run back two miles to get more.  Whole companies were annihilated, finally US forces fled by destroying their equipment and driving over their own wounded after 3 days of fighting

Phillipines 1942 was also a disaster for 80,000 troops.

Difference is, if TIME had run a special issue HOW JAPAN WILL WIN in 1942 their office would have been burnt down and the editors lynched in the rubble