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To: hmaly who wrote (55531)	9/16/2001 1:29:16 PM
From: Elmer	Respond to of 275872

As I understand it, when the depleted uranium is compressed, it instantly gets so hot, it burns a hole in the armor. Exactly. The very high mass in a very small volume with high kinetic energy generates enormous heat, melting armor. EP

To: hmaly who wrote (55531)	9/16/2001 2:49:22 PM
From: tcmay	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 275872

"Elmer Re..hmaly, what we use is depleted uranium shells. The high mass to volume ratio is of great advantage in penetrating armor. There is no nuclear reaction and I believe no neutron emission.<<<<<<<< "As I understand it, when the depleted uranium is compressed, it instantly gets so hot, it burns a hole in the armor. The heat supposedly is hotter than the amount you get from a plasma gas bullet. I will see if I can find some info on the internet." No, the depleted uranium is merely a very dense material, allowing the DU projectiles to punch through armor. Once past the armor, the projectile material is fragmented and tends to burn very hotly. The "spallation" material bounces around inside a tank, burning everything and superheating the air. Calling these "nuclear-tipped shells," where this thread began, is obviously misleading. The DU is no more a "nuclear" material than a tungsten- or steel-tipped shell is. (Yeah, they all are made of atoms...so?) True nuclear-tipped shells do exist. They were deployed in Europe and elsewhere to deal with massed armor at strategic passes. Some were tested in the 50s, but modern versions are tested by independent simulation of g-forces and by underground tests of the warheads, and by simulation in general. --Tim May