What is the DEAL with depleted uranium?

[TCO]

Originally posted by gsmoove23
GP, run rings however you like, you're attacking me instead of actually argueing anything. I started this thread so people could say what their opinions on DU are, not their opinions on my intelligence.

Since I've started this thread I have sifted through a number of links, read a good deal about the matter and I haven't found anything to deny that large amounts of DU munitions being discharged in an area, through anti-tank shell, large caliber machine guns and such can be detrimental to the environment both toxically and radioactively. I know that the DU radiation can be absorbed by soft tissue but can be repelled by paper or even the layer of dead skin sells on your skin.

The soft tissue thing is more of a problem because when these weapons hit targets much of the DU is vaporized and dispersed throughout the immediate environment where it can enter the food chain or just go straight into human mouths and lungs. The fact is that nobody has adequate information on what the possible long-term effects of this exposure is.

So please, if you can run rings do so.

If you become educated, I have less of a problem with it. I agree that you are learning a little bit more. My criticism was from when you said "I don't know much about this, but I can tell it is bad." If you want to make your argument even better, consider adding:

1. Numbers (exposure levels).

2. Comparison to other toxicities on the battlefield. Maybe just like smoke?

3. Comparison of combat efficacy. If I'm a soldier with a very slight chance of dying from a bit of DU on the battlefield but a great chance of dying if I don't kill that other tank, I'm not too worried about chemical crap. Just help me kill that tank so he doesn't kill me.

[TCO]

Originally posted by paiktis22
Basically depleted uranium is

a dangerous for the human health material that is used in missiles to make them hard enough to penetrate tanks.

And of course it causes terratogenesis.

How are your cigarettes tasting?

[Bereta_Eder]

They cause cancer too
But at least they do not hurt the "family" (=genes)

[Az]

Why do the use DU in the Phalanx system? It's not like it's hard to penetrate a missile, right?

[Sarxis]

I wish I could find a good source for the definition of spawl.

You know, instead of the movie The Jackal.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Azazel
Why do the use DU in the Phalanx system? It's not like it's hard to penetrate a missile, right?

The missile is moving very fast, so they sray a lot of bullets, at high speed and heavy weight, hoping that a few will have th effect. It's not so much to "hurt the missile" as to stop it impacting the ship. Phalanx is a last line of defense. Not an interceptor.

[Az]

so, where's the advantage of DU in this situation?

[Skanky Burns]

Heavy weight. Its easier to shoot out more if they are smaller.

[Tuberski]

Originally posted by GP


The missile is moving very fast, so they sray a lot of bullets, at high speed and heavy weight, hoping that a few will have th effect. It's not so much to "hurt the missile" as to stop it impacting the ship. Phalanx is a last line of defense. Not an interceptor.

Specifically, it is used to puncture the airframe of the missile in the hopes that, at the speed the missile is going, it either a) is tore apart or b) loses control.

It is a last line of defense, I can't tell you ranges of the weapon, but let's just say, it's close.

ACK!

[CyberGnu]

Heavy weight. Its easier to shoot out more if they are smaller.

That's part of it. The other part is the structural integrity of the material. A dense but soft material, like lead, splatters (or mushrooms) on contact. A hard material like DU penetrates, while shedding material from the sides.

Unfortunately, heavy and hard materials are pretty rare... Tungsten, which is usually brought up in these conversations, is quite a bit more soft than DU.

[CyberGnu]

I'm not entirely sure, but I think spawling is when the metal vaporizes from the heat of the impact, to create a superheated plasma. When vehicle armor is penetrated the metal plasma is disgorged into the vehicle, killing most of the occupants. Imagine if you will cutting a small hole through the armor, pushing a sawn-off shotgun through the hole and pulling the trigger.

AFAIK, this also causes the only lingering health concern. The fine dust of DU that is left in the vehicle after a spwling hit can easily be disturbed and inhaled. As GP already pointed out, if you inhale DU it might be bad for you.

[CyberGnu]

I can't shake the nagging suspicion that if the army instead of DU used, say, Osmium, no one would care... Even though Osmium is toxic enough to kill you just from contact...

[Kuciwalker]

Again, DU is NOT radioactive! It is not the right isotope!

[CyberGnu]

Skywalker, it is radioactive, just not very much. About 40% less radioactive than naturally occuring uranium, IIRC.

[Kuciwalker]

Any radiation would be due to contamination by other isotopes. I see what you mean, though. However, I'd bet you are exposed to more radiation in a day at the beach.