Bridge damage and destroying bridges

[WhiteWolf65]

Good morning gents,

I've only been playing the newest version of Combat Mission since the beginning of this year. In that time I have noticed that direct hits on bridges by large caliber artillery fire seems to do no damage to them, at least they haven't in any scenario I've played. Was this intentional? Also, it would be great if combat engineers could destroy heavier bridges that have pre-placed demolition charges (placed during the scenario set-up phase) and then be able to blow them sky high as the scenario is played. JMTCW.

**Chris**

Edited July 3, 2019 by WhiteWolf65
Getting better, only one edit

[WhiteWolf65]

5 minutes ago, WhiteWolf65 said:

Double posted for some reason.

 

Edited July 3, 2019 by WhiteWolf65

[Sgt.Squarehead]

Puny Infidel Bombs! 

[A Canadian Cat]

5 hours ago, WhiteWolf65 said:

I've only been playing the newest version of Combat Mission since the beginning of this year. In that time I have noticed that direct hits on bridges by large caliber artillery fire seems to do no damage to them, at least they haven't in any scenario I've played. Was this intentional?

It is actually causing damage. There are no partial damaged bridge models and skins so the bridge itself will go from looking brand new to destroyed without warning.

Yes, you can destroy bridges with artillery and direct fire.

Yes, that is intentional

As @Sgt.Squarehead pointed out (teased?), you can also use IEDs to destroy bridges.

 

5 hours ago, WhiteWolf65 said:

Also, it would be great if combat engineers could destroy heavier bridges that have pre-placed demolition charges (placed during the scenario set-up phase) and then be able to blow them sky high as the scenario is played. JMTCW.

This is an often asked for feature that BFC have so far declined to implement. Some threads that discuss this:

 

 

[Sgt.Squarehead]

1 minute ago, IanL said:

There are no partial damaged bridge models and skins so the bridge itself will go from looking brand new to destroyed without warning.

Which can be rather unfortunate if you have a platoon of tanks on it when that change occurs! 

Not sure if @WhiteWolf65 has CM:SF2 or not, but a Huge IED will make almost anything go away.....280 IEDs (& 45 VBIEDs) will do this:

 

[A Canadian Cat]

6 minutes ago, Sgt.Squarehead said:

Which can be rather unfortunate if you have a platoon of tanks on it when that change occurs!

Are you saying you would not cross a visibly damaged bridge? Are you sure about that

[Sgt.Squarehead]

I'd definitely put less tanks on it at any one time and that's a fact!

[A Canadian Cat]

Just fun'in with ya.

[MOS:96B2P]

An IED on a bridge can be used to simulate a demo charged rigged bridge in CMSF2.      

[WhiteWolf65]

I guess I just didn't hit hard enough with a big enough gun. Thanks to both of you.

**Chris**

[MikeyD]

All bridges are not created equal. You're never going to knock down the huge Arnhem and Eindhoven bridges in the CMBN Holland module . But bridge size & strength steadily decreases until you reach the tiny wooden walkway bridge which (I think) can be collapsed with a few hand grenades or satchel charges

[WhiteWolf65]

17 hours ago, MikeyD said:

All bridges are not created equal. You're never going to knock down the huge Arnhem and Eindhoven bridges in the CMBN Holland module . But bridge size & strength steadily decreases until you reach the tiny wooden walkway bridge which (I think) can be collapsed with a few hand grenades or satchel charges

Yes, I understand that you couldn't take out the bridge at Arnhem or Eindhoven. And I do understand now that other bridges can be damaged or collapsed much like a building does when it suffers damage from indirect or direct fire. Not sure about the grenade but a satchel charge definitely.

[WhiteWolf65]

20 hours ago, MOS:96B2P said:

An IED on a bridge can be used to simulate a demo charged rigged bridge in CMSF2.      

Yes, that could be done. However, we don't have IEDs in the World War II Combat Mission games, do we? Too tired to look and see right now. Rough day yesterday.

[Sgt.Squarehead]

Sadly not.   

Only CM:A, CM:SF & CM:SF2 currently have IEDs.....They can be used quite creatively with a bit of planning, for everything from suicide bombers through to ballistic missile strikes (or even 'Arc Light' missions in Vietnam). 

Edited July 4, 2019 by Sgt.Squarehead

[MOS:96B2P]

4 minutes ago, WhiteWolf65 said:

Yes, that could be done. However, we don't have IEDs in the World War II Combat Mission games, do we? Too tired to look and see right now. Rough day yesterday.

Nope, no IEDs in any titles except CMSF and CMA.  My friend @Sgt.Squarehead just ninja'd me as I typed. 

IIRC artillery of 150mm or larger may bring down a bridge.  Damage to a bridge is cumulative over time.  I once had a knocked out tank burning under a bridge.  When the ammo cooked off in the tank it brought the bridge down. 

But yes it would be cool if it was possible to intentionally demo bridges in all the titles.  

    

[WhiteWolf65]

56 minutes ago, MOS:96B2P said:

Nope, no IEDs in any titles except CMSF and CMA.  My friend @Sgt.Squarehead just ninja'd me as I typed. 

IIRC artillery of 150mm or larger may bring down a bridge.  Damage to a bridge is cumulative over time.  I once had a knocked out tank burning under a bridge.  When the ammo cooked off in the tank it brought the bridge down. 

But yes it would be cool if it was possible to intentionally demo bridges in all the titles.  

    

Too bad about the IEDs. Eh well, make do with what we have. Never know, they (BFC) could come up with something for us concerning this topic for the WW II titles in the future.

Midwest huh? I am originally from Toledo (born there) but have been living in the southeast for most of my life since my parents and I moved here in 1956.

Later guys. I gotta rest. Get these O2 sats up.

**Chris**

 

[Oliver_88]

Tend to resort to using the demolition gun on the AVRE to deal with the bridges in CMBN. At least the Sappers task gets to stay with them rather than being outsouced to the Gunners then.

[A Canadian Cat]

20 hours ago, Oliver_88 said:

Tend to resort to using the demolition gun on the AVRE to deal with the bridges in CMBN. At least the Sappers task gets to stay with them rather than being outsouced to the Gunners then.

That's a cool plan. How many AVRE rounds does it take to bring down a big stone bridge?

[MikeyD]

I tried to bring down a big span of a big 300 meter modern concrete bridge in CMBS using F15s but couldn't make a dent in it. Used against a smaller 56 meter span I was able to knock it down with one bomb. I could've sworn I've been able to knock down a big bridge in CMBS but I had no luck with it in this test.

CMBS and CMSF2 give you access to air-dropped two thousand pound precision bombs. CMFB and CMBN gives you some FO control over aircraft though their poor bombing accuracy is as liable to miss your bridge target as hit it. Battleship 14 inch guns are extremely accurate but take 19 minutes to call in. And how often in the CM titles do you get access to battleship artillery?

 

 

Edited July 9, 2019 by MikeyD

[Sgt.Squarehead]

Shame we don't have the really big bridges in CM:SF2.....Huge IED vs Huge Bridge Deathmatch!  Fight! 

[Oliver_88]

11 hours ago, IanL said:

That's a cool plan. How many AVRE rounds does it take to bring down a big stone bridge?

Do not have any specifics on numbers but safe to say the answer is quite alot. And should add that with the target command they do not of course realise your trying to demolish the bridge and so also waste a fair bit of rounds from thier Besa machine guns. Not an cheap solution either.

Also do not think I've tried on anything so big as in the screenshots posted above either, more this sort of size;

I sense a test coming on when I am on my time off work this month. Would be good to know specific numbers for various bridges. As then could have forces fighting the delaying action on the far side while the Sappers are pounding the bridge to near destruction. Pause the pounding in order to bring the forces back to the home side, and then have the Sappers deliver the last coup de grace rounds. Rather than the delaying forces being on the home side trying to hold the enemy back and protect the AVRE (hence the overwatching Cromwell in screenshot above).

[Oliver_88]

13 hours ago, IanL said:

That's a cool plan. How many AVRE rounds does it take to bring down a big stone bridge?

The Stone 56W bridge takes 13 rounds.

[Sgt.Squarehead]

Looks like the Huge IED is still the king.