IA80024%MAINE.BITNET%CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (Nicholas C. Hester) (07/10/89)
From: "Nicholas C. Hester" <IA80024%MAINE.BITNET%CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU> In the moderators note concerning Depleted Uranium ammunition, Bill writes- >elaborate. Depleted Uranium, or DU, is the byproduct of the production >of enriched uranium (for reactors). It consists of the relatively >stable uranium isotope, and so is only mildly radioactive. DU is >extremely hard, and denser than tungsten (or lead); these two properties >make it an excellent choice for kinetic energy armor penetrators. It > > >nations. An added bonus of DU is that it is somewhat pyrophoric; >that is, it is easy to ignite (say, by slamming it into a metal plate >at a few thousand feet per second 8-); this gives it an added incendiary >effect, which may or may not be useful against tanks. - Bill ] This is interesting in that the Army is going to add DU to the armor of the M1. Will this help protect the tank, or possibly create a greater incendiary situation? I tend toward the former, though the latter might be possible if the area hit is of thinner protection (the rear, for instance). What do tankers on the list think? =Nick= ia80024@maine.bitnet ia80024@maine.maine.edu [mod.note: My understanding is that the DU component of the Abram's Chobham armor will be a small percentage of the total; I seem to recall hearing that it was to be a mesh between two layers of the composite. I'd be grateful for any better details ! - Bill ]