diff --git a/changelog/snippets/fix.7153.md b/changelog/snippets/fix.7153.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c9ac1e031f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/snippets/fix.7153.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- (#7153) Add a delay before ACUs explode when their player disconnects. This should fix replays cuttting off at the first disconnected player.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lua/SimUtils.lua b/lua/SimUtils.lua
index 399ff1236d..3e97b7f8b4 100644
--- a/lua/SimUtils.lua
+++ b/lua/SimUtils.lua
@@ -992,8 +992,19 @@ end
 -- shortly thereafter due to the army being defeated (as is common), we then
 -- have an opportunity to see the final game state as observers before everything
 -- would have blown up.
+--
+-- This should be longer than `AbandonedArmyGracePeriod`
 EndGameGracePeriod = 10
 
+-- Seconds to wait after an army has been abandoned (the player disconnected)
+-- before processing its units. This gives a small opportunity to avoid the ACU
+-- explosion, and prevents disconnecting players from providing the server with
+-- a cut-off replay due to the sim on their client instantly killing all other ACUs
+-- and reporting a game over state.
+--
+-- This should be shorter than `EndGameGracePeriod`
+AbandonedArmyGracePeriod = 3
+
 -- Set to true in `AbstractVictoryCondition.EndGame` to prevent killing units after a
 -- team is victorious but before the sim is stopped.
 GameIsEnding = false
@@ -1010,6 +1021,16 @@ local function KillUnits(toKill)
     end
 end
 
+--- Kills all given units after a delay, if not already dead.
+---@param toKill Entity[]
+---@param delaySec number
+local function DelayedKillUnits(toKill, delaySec)
+    ForkThread(function ()
+        WaitSeconds(delaySec)
+        KillUnits(toKill)
+    end)
+end
+
 ---@param self AIBrain
 local function KillWalls(self)
     KillUnits(self:GetListOfUnits(categories.WALL, false))
@@ -1251,13 +1272,17 @@ MinimumShareTime = 5 * 60 * 10 -- 5 minutes
 function KillUnsafeCommanders(commanders, tick)
     tick = tick or GetGameTick()
     local safeCommanders = {}
+    local unsafeCommanders = {}
     for _, com in commanders do
         if com.LastTickDamaged and com.LastTickDamaged + CommanderSafeTime > tick then
-            com:Kill()
+            table.insert(unsafeCommanders, com)
         else
             table.insert(safeCommanders, com)
         end
     end
+
+    DelayedKillUnits(unsafeCommanders, AbandonedArmyGracePeriod)
+
     return safeCommanders
 end
 
@@ -1305,8 +1330,7 @@ function KillArmyOnDelayedRecall(self, shareOption, shareTime)
             local safeCommanders = KillUnsafeCommanders(sharedCommanders)
 
             if not table.empty(safeCommanders) then
-                -- note: this adds 3 seconds to the grace period
-                FakeTeleportUnits(safeCommanders, true)
+                ForkThread(FakeTeleportUnits, safeCommanders, true)
             end
         end
     end
@@ -1345,8 +1369,6 @@ function KillAbandonedArmy(self, shareOption, shareAcuOption, victoryOption)
         shareOption = ScenarioInfo.Options.Share
     end
 
-    -- Don't apply instant-effect disconnect rules for players/ACUs that might be defeated soon,
-    -- and might have intentionally disconnected.
     if shareAcuOption == 'Explode' or shareAcuOption == 'Recall' then
         local safeCommanders
         local commanders = self:GetListOfUnits(categories.COMMAND, false)
@@ -1354,7 +1376,7 @@ function KillAbandonedArmy(self, shareOption, shareAcuOption, victoryOption)
             safeCommanders = KillUnsafeCommanders(commanders)
         else
             -- explode all the ACUs so they don't get shared
-            KillUnits(commanders)
+            DelayedKillUnits(commanders, AbandonedArmyGracePeriod)
         end
 
         -- Only handle Assassination victory, as in other settings the player is unlikely to be defeated soon
@@ -1364,8 +1386,7 @@ function KillAbandonedArmy(self, shareOption, shareAcuOption, victoryOption)
 
         -- non-assassination modes can have armies abandon without commanders
         if shareAcuOption == 'Recall' and not table.empty(safeCommanders) then
-            -- note: this adds 3 seconds to the grace period
-            FakeTeleportUnits(safeCommanders, true)
+            ForkThread(FakeTeleportUnits, safeCommanders, true)
         end
 
         KillArmy(self, shareOption)