SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - Depleted Uranium? Is it really used in missiles or even in airplanes?

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Depleted Uranium? Is it really used in missiles or even in airplanes?

I just want to ask as i cant say i am interested about it. i know a proffessor that tells me that DU is as dangerous as normal U in terms of radioactvity and that is responsible for a contamination in serbia, bosnia, iraq,afghanistan and now in Lybia too( note that surely might not be the only hazard). I suppose that they use it perhaps against armour, but i can also have an idea for why using it on wings...
does anybody knows soemthing about?

Quote:

Originally Posted by andritsos (Post 1678428)

I just want to ask as i cant say i am interested about it. i know a proffessor that tells me that DU is as dangerous as normal U in terms of radioactvity and that is responsible for a contamination in serbia, bosnia, iraq,afghanistan and now in Libya (corrected :DL) too( note that surely might not be the only hazard). I suppose that they use it perhaps against armour, but i can also have an idea for why using it on wings...
does anybody knows soemthing about?

I maybe wrong but in my understanding structures made of depleted uranium are used as radiation shields in medical radiology and transportation of radioactive materials. :hmmm:

What comes to military applications you are correct in that depleted uranium is being used in armour piercing projectiles. Its also used in armour plating. Thats because of its density which gives several advantages in military applications.

I don't know why depleted uranium is used in aircraft. Never heard of that before.

I believe its used on ground attack aircraft aircraft
the DU works better against tanks

Not only does it's density make it a premier material for modern ammunition. It's now considered the 9th essential vitamin in most of todays breakfast cereals.

“Now fortified with DEPLETED URANIUM!”

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__...eal_script.jpg

IIRC, Depleted Uranium is used in the PGU-14/B munition

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/pgu-14.htm

Which is primarily used as an anti-tank weapon because of its dense properties. Cuts through most armour like a hot knife through butter.
It is, also I believe, used as part of the Chobham armour on the M1A1 and M1A2 tanks, whereas we use a Tungsten alloy, it's arguable which is more effective.
It's also used as a tamper in Fission bombs.

In terms of the dangerousness of Depleted Uranium...well, that's a contentious issue, I recall the issue of Gulf War Syndrome following the first war which was partially blamed on DU.

It is dangerous short term at least that is why not only did some US Gulf War vets and their kids have problems so did Bedouins that live in the same region who make a living of off gathering scrap metals.Every legitimate Gulf War sickness case the person either was inside or very near a destroyed vehicle or had camped in a area that was later found to have had
spent DU rounds(from A-10 GAU-8s) in the ground in the same area.

When a DU round hits a tank it send debris and dust all inside and around the tank this is what is bad for you.What they did after 1991 was tell US troops not to mess with the DU rounds or mess with things that had been hit by them or build an encampment over any area suspected to have had DU rounds land.I know this because I had buddies in the USAF that where AMMO guys and the ones that joined pre 1991 had never been warned about DU rounds and of course where pissed to learn after years of handling them that they where now hazardous.I do not think they are as harmful inert it is after they are fired that they become a risk.The DOD became much more restrictive in its use after 1991 but their carelessness has given ammo to many people.

DU is an issue because it is used it anti tank munitions there is also a sabot dart round fired by MBT guns that is made of DU.It is a public relations issue they need the DU to destroy tanks but they dont want to fully admit its risks so they choose to gray area it.

DU is a term that military public relations Officers dread to hear in fact it is most times one of those "no comment" topics.

I am a supporter of a military using the weapons that it needs to perform its mission but they should have been more open about DU from the start rather than not doing so and then an issue occurring the DOD took a lax stance pre 1991 and it cost them.

DU works so well for armor penetration because it is one of the most dense elements on earth it is made form spent Uranium fuel rods.
Never heard of it use on aircraft though and not sure why one would want it on a aircraft for structural purposes.OK it is used as trim weight in some aircraft.

No, the only use on aircraft would be as ammunition; since aircraft are always trying to save weight, it'd make no sense to use it even as armor. The A-10, however, has a 'tub' of armor around the cockpit made of the much lighter titanium and its only use for DU is, again, in AP ammo for its cannon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCIP (Post 1678625)

Steelhead was right they were used as trim weights in many aircraft incl. commercial aircraft. But most manufactures stopped in the 1980s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike (Post 1678636)

Steelhead was right they were used as trim weights in many aircraft incl. commercial aircraft. But most manufactures stopped in the 1980s.

What they use today instead of DU trim weights?

Also used in a couple of racing yachts as a keel. :yep:

Carbon fiber,maybe or Titanium?

Well, more specifically this ship:

http://www.betty-ck145.de/cruisers/s...k_vi_large.jpg

The keel was later replaced with a standard lead keel though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike (Post 1678636)

Steelhead was right they were used as trim weights in many aircraft incl. commercial aircraft. But most manufactures stopped in the 1980s.

ah, well, I should've thought of trim weights/ballast. Indeed that's a handy application for heavy stuff.

Lead isn't overly healthy either, though, but it's not really an issue if it's contained and not burning/spraying around :yep:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead (Post 1678602)

^ Good post :up:

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna (Post 1678654)

^ Good post :up:

Off topic. I know its possible to rate threads but is it possible to rate posts?