Depleted Uranium is a relatively recent development in military weapons and technology. Depleted Uranium is one of the heaviest elements on earth giving it tremendous power when coupled with ammunition. Depleted Uranium rounds are usually of a higher caliber such as the 120mm rounds fired out of the Abrams Tank, although 30mm rounds are also made for engaging light armored vehicles. DU is even being used in sniper ammunition for long range applications. Depleted Uranium technology allows ammunition to be shot much further than conventional munitions, and delivers a much more devastating payload. Tanks equipped with depleted uranium shells can easily compromise conventional armor from 3-5 K/m out. Due to its extreme density, depleted uranium is being used in Tank armor, as well as some other military vehicle’s armor including aircraft.
The side effects of Depleted Uranium are being studied, but some research has shown signs of depleted uranium contributing to cancer rates in Iraq. After a DU shell is fired from a tank the radioactivity can spread for up to 190 miles in the wind. and has been found in water sources in Iraq.
7 Responses
[...] ground. The aircraft itself was actually designed completely around the machine gun. Firing 30 mm depleted uranium rounds, it takes only 6 direct hits from the Avenger that fires 3,900 rounds per minute. Unfortunately for [...]
Posted on April 18th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
[...] the M1-Abrams tank. The M1-A2 MBT is the greatest tank in existence. Also be sure to read about the depleted uranium shells seen in slow motion in the [...]
Posted on April 19th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
DU is not very radioactive, its more that its toxic as heavy metal, also DU pyrotechnic ability to burn helps in penetration.
Posted on May 24th, 2007 at 12:08 am
[...] armor. Typically the penetrator rods are constructed of extremely high-density metals such as depleted uranium or tungsten. The purpose of a sabot with rounds such as these is to increase the velocity of the [...]
Posted on August 20th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
[...] armor. Typically the penetrator rods are constructed of extremely high-density metals such as depleted uranium or tungsten. The purpose of a sabot with rounds such as these is to increase the velocity of the [...]
Posted on August 20th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
as Ben said, “DU is not very radioactive” - correct.
That’s why it’s called “depleted”, ‘cos the more radioactive part (U235) has been REMOVED, and so it ends up LESS radioactive.
Funny how greenies just can’t understand the true relationship between half-life and radioactive intensity, they always get it wrong way round. Short half-life = lots of activity per second, that means it’s highly radioactive. But a long half-life means more time is taken for same activity to take place, i.e. slower break-down, which just means LESS radioactive intensity.
Heavy-metal toxicity from DU could definitely be a problem, but we fired a lot of lead in earlier wars without side-effects being too obvious, except when stupid ducks kept chewing on lead shot ! ! !
Posted on October 1st, 2008 at 11:55 am
the M1 Abrams tank has depleted uranium armor. is it the only tank with it?
Posted on May 20th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
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