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

andritsos · 06-06-11, 05:23 AM

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?

kraznyi_oktjabr · 06-06-11, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andritsos

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

) 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.

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.

the_tyrant · 06-06-11, 07:00 AM

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

Oberon · 06-06-11, 07:14 AM

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.

Stealhead · 06-06-11, 12:14 PM

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.

CCIP · 06-06-11, 12:50 PM

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.

Jimbuna · 06-06-11, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead

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.

^ Good post

Kazuaki Shimazaki II · 06-09-11, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead

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.

To be fair, if they had been open about it, it is quite likely the American people will not have allowed its use, regardless of its military effectiveness. Civilians often have a poor grasp of strategic issues.

Rockstar · 06-06-11, 07:04 AM

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!”

krashkart · 06-06-11, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstar

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!”

Drat! Now I'll have to reformulate my recipe for Super Crunchy Honey Toasted Formica Flakes to keep up with the competition.

<jingle>
Super Crunchy Honey Toas-ted Formi-ca Flakes!
They're so good you'll mas-ticate.

"Super Crunchy Honey Toasted Formica Flakes - a blast of melamine goodness in every bite!"

</jingle>

Pretty sad. I know.

06-06-11, 05:23 AM	#1
andritsos Gunner Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 92 Downloads: 71 Uploads: 0	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?

06-06-11, 12:14 PM	#5
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	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. Last edited by Stealhead; 06-06-11 at 12:28 PM.

06-06-11, 12:50 PM	#6
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	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. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

06-06-11, 07:00 AM	#3
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	I believe its used on ground attack aircraft aircraft the DU works better against tanks

06-06-11, 07:14 AM	#4
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	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.

06-06-11, 07:04 AM	#9
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	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!”