ROBIN HORSFALL:
How was the Kerch Bridge taken down? Since the report that the Kerch Bridge was down today, I have read many theories about how the bridge could have been destroyed. Some were feasible, most were not. During my military service I had considerable training in explosives and understand some of the requirements to bring down those sections of bridge that were damaged. The shock wave from high explosive travels at over 27,000 feet per second. At this speed the pressure created shatters inflexible targets but will push or lift steel objects like the Kerch Bridge. Explosions reflect and bounce and take the easiest route of escape. If they are on a road the force will be directed upwards leaving a small crater. If on a wall, the wall will reflect the force outwards directing a sideways hit on a target. In the air the force is spherical traveling in all direction unless shaped and directed. In water the charge is absorbed quickly unless it is initiated while in contact with the target. If this happens the water works as a buffer directing all the force into the target. If we consider this brief explanation and view the video coverage again. It appears that the sections of bridge were lifted from below causing them to twist and fall into the water. It is my opinion that the best way to achieve this would be by initiating a device on the surface of the sea, using the water to reflect the force upwards beneath the bridge. To achieve this effect, it may be that a remote-controlled boat was positioned beneath the bridge and activated. A boat can carry sufficient materiel to create the size of explosive seen in the coverage and enough to lift the spans. There is some video coverage that suggest a boat arrived under the bridge just before the event. I qualify this by saying that this is my evaluation based on the information available, video imagery and my personal knowledge. I could be in error. Time will tell.
