Line Objects
These were added with version update 2.538. See also the "Obstacles_And_Fortifications" article.
Note that the "Terrastan" map features some additional wall types which are not user-placable.
Types
Jersey Barrier
A Jersey barrier is a concrete or plastic modular barrier used to separate lanes of traffic, reroute traffic during highway construction, and - for military purposes - to provide temporary or semi-permanent traffic control and protection against vehicular attack, such as vehicle-borne IEDs. Typically, Jersey barriers are 81cm (32") tall.
- This barrier can not be breached.
- Infantry is able to cross it.
- Protects against small arms, all calibers of HE and HEAT rounds, and all AP rounds up to 14.5mm.
Bremer Wall
Similar in shape to Jersey barriers, Bremer walls are 3.7m (12') tall semi-portable reinforced concrete walls used for blast protection. Also known as "Texas barriers", these, along with the 6m (20') "Alaska barriers" are employed as perimeter walls on many Forward Operation Bases.
- This barrier comes in two flavors: one is a five panel section with a short sub-grade foundation, and the other is a foundation-less single panel section. Both versions can occasionally be breached with large caliber (105mm and up) HE, HESH, and HE-Frag rounds, but multiple rounds may be necessary, and a breach is not guaranteed.
- This barrier can not be breached by vehicles.
- Infantry can not cross it.
- Blocks LOS.
- Does skew with the terrain.
- Protects against small arms, all calibers of HE and HEAT rounds, and all AP rounds up to 14.5mm.
HESCO Bastion
Originally designed for erosion and flood control, HESCO Bastions are collapsible wire mesh containers lined with heavy duty fabric and filled with sand, soil, or gravel, and used by military forces as a barrier against explosions or small-arms fire. In Steel Beasts Pro PE, these come in two variants, a single-height and a double-height barrier.
Note that in the map editor, one additional row is displayed (the single height shows with two rows, the double-stacked barrier with 3 rows - in the game the lowest row is sunk into the ground to deal with eventual terrain irregularities.
There is also a "HESCO fort" map object which fits very nicely with these bastions.
- This barrier can not be breached.
- Does not skew with the terrain (since there is not a single container object available this object should not be used on steep slopes)
- Protects against small arms, all calibers of HE and HEAT rounds, and all AP rounds up to 20mm.
Fences
There are two types:
- All fences can be breached.
- Fences do skew with the terrain.
- Fences offer no cover versus weapons fire, but can provide limited concealment.
Brick Walls
There are three variants:
- All walls can be breached.
- "Flint and Brick" and "Brick" walls do not skew with the terrain. On very rough ground you should use the shorter wall segments since these will "fit" the terrain better.
- Although these walls protects against small arms fire up to .50 cal, they may be penetrated by any larger AP round and breached by large caliber HE, HESH, and HE-Frag rounds.
Gameplay Considerations
Please note that this section is - even by wiki standards - work in progress
- If a (in principle breachable) obstacle can be breached depends on the vehicle's mass and speed when hitting the obstacle. Generally, you should only hit walls and fences at low speed.
- When designing "checkpoints", you should not place Jersey barriers directly in the path of traffic since AI units will not slow down when traveling on roads, and only once they have hit the barrier will the obstacle avoidance kick in.
- As noted above, all walls (even HESCO barriers) can be shot through.
- Infantry can cross fences - note that there is no "jumping over the fence" animation, they just seem to "tunnel" through it.
- Line objects will not show up on the map page (F5), nor in the mission editor! The reason for this is that fortifications are often of a temporary nature (so would not appear on printed maps) and could not be hidden from the other side (so it would have "perfect intelligence" and could use this to plot artillery missions etc. Mission designers should instead add informational map overlays to show (relevant) fences/lines/barriers.
Considerations for Map Makers
The "wider" line objects do not fit too well on steeper terrain slopes, use the "short" versions instead:
- Note that for HESCO barriers no "short" versions are available
- Fences, country walls, Jersey barriers and Bremer walls skew with the underlying terrain
- It seems that the wall is placed at the elevation of its center part
References
Wikipedia - Jersey Barrier
Wikipedia - Bremer Wall
Wikipedia - Hesco Bastion