Dum

[Uncle Pug]

What do you know about depleted uranium munitions?

 

[WreckWriter]

DU is primarily used to make armor piercing projectiles as I understand it.

WW

 

[Northeastwrecks]

In the Army, DUM are fired as sabot rounds from the main gun in an M1 tank (don't know about M60A3, but those are largely out of service except in the Reserves).

The round is a long cone shaped device with a plate, or sabot, on the rear. The relatively large diameter of the sabot allows the use of more propellant, which increases the velocity of the round.

The sabot drops away shortly after the round leaves the muzzle (you find them all around at the conclusion of any live fire exercise involving M1's). The round maintains a high velocity because it is very streamlined.

WW is correct. DUM's are used to pierce armor. Note that they do not contain explosives (those are called HEAT rounds). Instead, the mechanical energy imparted at impact causes the damage, particularly since the round and the hull of the target tank convert to high energy shrapnel and molten metal.

This has a profound impact upon the crew of the target vehicle.

 

[Scubaroo]

The A-10 Warthog aircraft used to use depleted uranium rounds in the 30mm Gatling gun it carried, primarily as an anti-tank gun. I believed they stopped using DU rounds because of health concerns - something like 290 tons of the stuff was fired in the 91 Gulf War, and it was used by NATO in the Balkans as well. It's been mentioned as a possible contributing factor to Gulf War syndrome. Lots of stuff on the net about it - highly controversial.

Any reason you're asking that you can share?!?

 

[Inspector#2]

The uranium is extremely hard and aids in armor penetration. Its also used on many 20mm and greater non-explosive projectiles.

It also has a profound impact upon anybody coming in contact with the item impacted. DU leaves residual radioactive material that looks like a grey powder and is very bad on lung and other tissues. Never play with burned out tanks in the desert!

Dave

 

[canuckdiver]

hmmm, sounds like uncle pug is thinking of a better material for belt wieghts?????

:wacko:

 

[raxafarian]

I believe the CIWS on navy ships uses them also.

 

[scuberd]

Inspector#2 once bubbled...
Never play with burned out tanks in the desert!

Dave

what else am I supposed to do during my surface interval at the red sea??? =-)

 

[Cherry]

CWIS systems can use DU rounds although they are 20 or 30 mm. I do know that DUM have been implicated in Gulf War Syndrome. CWIS systems are great fun to watch fire

Cherry

 

[raxafarian]

I think they are 20mm rounds with a 15mm sabot of either depleted uranium OR tungsten.