Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/12/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 01:18 PM 12/14/03 -0700, Jack Herron wrote: > The armor-piercing ability of DU tipped weapons is due to the pyrophoric >properties of the uranium. On impact the kinetic energy of the bullet >ignites the uranium, which then forms a stilleto of burning uranium and >steel which burns its way through the armor. On penetration, this metallic >blowtorch fills the tank with instant fire, then typically continues out >through the less heavily plated tank bottom. Anything inflammable within >the tank instantly burns, adding to the heat and flames. Not only is the >tank "holed", but any occupants are immediately removed from the field of >battle. Jack When the Allies recovered France in World War II, the German supply of Wolframite (Tungsten ore) from Spain was cut off. Speer then directed that the Uranium collected for the German A-Bomb project (which he had ended six months earlier in Decmeber, 1943) be used for anti-tank rounds. Thus, the concept of Depleted Uranium rounds really arose from the German Ministry of Munitions in the Second World War. Give Speer some credit for this one. He called it right. Marc msmall@infionline.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bąs fir gun ghrąs fir! - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html