Rail Bridges

[MadScot]

Is it correct to say that bridge engineer units cannot upgrade rail bridges, but if the rail bridge is blown (as at Arnhem) they can subsequently build the varying levels of road bridge at the now "crossing point"?

[Arjuna]

Correct![:)]

[MadScot]

Is that not a trifle odd - being unable to upgrade the rail bridge?

I mean, it had the carrying (load) capacity for heavy vehicles, so would you not be able to lay some kind of deck that covered the rails and made vehicular traffic easier? I'm assuming the engineers have the capacity to grade some kind of approach to the bridge that would deal with embankments that might be an issue. (They presumably have to improve the access to the water's edge for e.g. ferry type crossing points).

Also, still on vaguely engineering topics (perhaps this is more a "wish list" thing) - would it be possible for field engineer type units to prepare defensive positions for other units to occupy? I don't think they can now.

[Arjuna]

In RL when a large/heavy bridge was blown any new bridge constructed there invariably was built alongside of the old structure not on top of it. There was a whole host of reasons for this, not least of which was the damage to existing supports and rubble from the demolition. Speed was invariably the critical factor and so it was quicker to just build a pontoon next to or nearby to the original.

Re Field Eng helping out with field fortifications. Yep that's definitely a wish list item. Added. [:)]