copper in the big shells

[buckhunter]

I've been watching the Military Channel and can't understand why the anti tank shells contain copper and some type of depleted unarium(sp). Is it because it can burn thru armor or what.

[Tater]

If it's the shells I'm thinking of the copper is disk with a shaped charge behind it. When the shaped charge detonates the copper disk forms a pencil-sized jet of motlen metal that burns through armor. The DU, along with the explosive gasses, burns up as it goes through the hole and, basically explodes inside and burns up anything and anyone unlucky enough to be inside.

[BILLY D.]

Hey Tater

Don't the 30MM's shoot DU also?

There was very graphic pictures of a long line of vehicles during one of our invasions that showed pics of Iraqi soldiers dead inside their vehicles that were turned to crispy critters by U.S. air attacks.

Those pics depicted the Soldiers as sitting in their seats and still holding their rifles. They were char broiled.

Best wishes, Bill

[Tater]

Yeah, the 30MM cannon on the A-10 shoots DU

[Jack]

I believe DU is also heavier than about any other material, giving the DU projectile a lot of energy when it hits.
Tater, I'm sure you can check me for accuracy on that...

[buckhunter]

Thanks

[Tater]

Depleted Uranium is one of the densest materials around which is why they use it in the 30MM on the A-10. It'll punch through just about any armor and turn a nice drive through the desert into your worst nightmare.

[Critch]

You have HEAT rounds, which are shaped charges that dump extremely hot material into the tank throught a small hole, the Brits call it brewing up, they say the tank looks like a teapot that boiled over.

DU rounds, in the form of 30mm shells or a large 38lb dart-like device will go through just about anything. They are kinetic weapons and depend on the energy exerted by thier speed to do the damage. If you have ever seen a window shot with a BB gun you can see the effect of "spalling". Tiny hole on one side, big amount of material gone on the other, this is what happens with the DU. The hole may on be an inch or so across on the outside, but on the inside, pounds and pounds of material broke loose and continued flying at 3000fps. Anyone inside generally gets vaporized.

[Critch]

You have HEAT rounds, which are shaped charges that dump extremely hot material into the tank throught a small hole, the Brits call it brewing up, they say the tank looks like a teapot that boiled over.

DU rounds, in the form of 30mm shells or a large 38lb dart-like device will go through just about anything. They are kinetic weapons and depend on the energy exerted by thier speed to do the damage. If you have ever seen a window shot with a BB gun you can see the effect of "spalling". Tiny hole on one side, big amount of material gone on the other, this is what happens with the DU. The hole may on be an inch or so across on the outside, but on the inside, pounds and pounds of material broke loose and continued flying at 3000fps. Anyone inside generally gets vaporized.

[Critch]

You have HEAT rounds, which are shaped charges that dump extremely hot material into the tank throught a small hole, the Brits call it brewing up, they say the tank looks like a teapot that boiled over.

DU rounds, in the form of 30mm shells or a large 38lb dart-like device will go through just about anything. They are kinetic weapons and depend on the energy exerted by thier speed to do the damage. If you have ever seen a window shot with a BB gun you can see the effect of "spalling". Tiny hole on one side, big amount of material gone on the other, this is what happens with the DU. The hole may on be an inch or so across on the outside, but on the inside, pounds and pounds of material broke loose and continued flying at 3000fps. Anyone inside generally gets vaporized.


IYAAYAS

[Critch]

You have HEAT rounds, which are shaped charges that dump extremely hot material into the tank throught a small hole, the Brits call it brewing up, they say the tank looks like a teapot that boiled over.

DU rounds, in the form of 30mm shells or a large 38lb dart-like device will go through just about anything. They are kinetic weapons and depend on the energy exerted by thier speed to do the damage. If you have ever seen a window shot with a BB gun you can see the effect of "spalling". Tiny hole on one side, big amount of material gone on the other, this is what happens with the DU. The hole may on be an inch or so across on the outside, but on the inside, pounds and pounds of material broke loose and continued flying at 3000fps. Anyone inside generally gets vaporized.

IYAAYAS

[Critch]

You have HEAT rounds, which are shaped charges that dump extremely hot material into the tank throught a small hole, the Brits call it brewing up, they say the tank looks like a teapot that boiled over.

DU rounds, in the form of 30mm shells or a large 38lb dart-like device will go through just about anything. They are kinetic weapons and depend on the energy exerted by thier speed to do the damage. If you have ever seen a window shot with a BB gun you can see the effect of "spalling". Tiny hole on one side, big amount of material gone on the other, this is what happens with the DU. The hole may on be an inch or so across on the outside, but on the inside, pounds and pounds of material broke loose and continued flying at 3000fps. Anyone inside generally gets vaporized.

[Hawkeye6]

My understanding is that a shaped charge warhead basically forms a penetrator (EFP) from the lining of the charge. I've been told that the jet of molten metal and gas acts just like the penetrating rod of an APDS or APFSDS round to punch through the armor. I've also been told that the "jet" burns a hole through the armor. Don't really know for sure -- but ti probably does not really matter, either, especially to the crew...

Anyway, this is technology that has been around since WWII.

The DU rounds use the DU for two purposes as I understand it. First, the mass give the penetrator a heck of a lot more kinetic energy and thus penetrating power. Second, once it penetrates, apprently it has some pretty spectacular pyrotechnic effects and basically explodes inside the target tank or AFV. This incinerates everything in the interior of hte vehicle, and kills the crew virtually instantly.