Tank Ammunition
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Manticore
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Challenger II Tank Ammunition
L27A1 CHARM 3
CHARM3 uses depleted uranium
The Tank is Dead, Long Live the Tank
pof
L27A1 CHARM 3
CHARM3 uses depleted uranium
The Tank is Dead, Long Live the Tank
pof
Manticore
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Tungsten Alloy Penetrators
Pakistan Ordnance Factories
125 MM APFSDS/T
It is a kinetic Energy Fin Stabilised Round and can be fired from 125 MM smooth bore tank guns: T-80 UD (Ukraine). Al Khalid (Pakistan), PT-91 (Poland), T-84 (China) or equivalent.
TECHNICAL DATA
Complete Round
Length 1084.5 mm
Weight 21.47 Kg
Projectile
Projectile Tungsten alloy core with discarding sabot and fin stabilisation
Length 555 mm
Weight 7.370 Kg
Main Cartridge Case
Case Semi combustible Cartridge Case with steel base & cover
Length 406.5 mm
Propellant 16/19 single base Granular 16/19
Weight of propellant 6 kg (approx)
Primer Electric/Percussion Primer Number 2
Secondary Cartridge Case
Case Semi Combustible with projectile
Length 678 mm
Propellant Granular 16/19 2.550 kg (approx) and Tubular 19/1-25 0.8 kg
Performance
Muzzle velocity 1730 metres/sec
Services pressure at 21oC 4845 Kg Cm2
Accuracy at 1000 metres:
SD (Horizontal) 0.3 mil
SD (Vertical) 0.3 mil
Penetration at 2,000M 460mm, against RHA target at Zero Obliquity, conforming to DEF-STAN 95-13/2
Packing
Main Charge Structure & Secondary Charge Structure are packed separately in fibre glass seal humidity proof containers then finally filled fibre glass seal humidity proof containers are packed in a steel box.
Size of Box 82 x 50 x 26 cms
Gross weight 53 kgs
Colour & marking Service brown with yellow/white stenciling
http://www.pof.gov.pk/TAT_125mmapfsds.aspx
Pakistan Ordnance Factories
125 MM APFSDS/T
It is a kinetic Energy Fin Stabilised Round and can be fired from 125 MM smooth bore tank guns: T-80 UD (Ukraine). Al Khalid (Pakistan), PT-91 (Poland), T-84 (China) or equivalent.
TECHNICAL DATA
Complete Round
Length 1084.5 mm
Weight 21.47 Kg
Projectile
Projectile Tungsten alloy core with discarding sabot and fin stabilisation
Length 555 mm
Weight 7.370 Kg
Main Cartridge Case
Case Semi combustible Cartridge Case with steel base & cover
Length 406.5 mm
Propellant 16/19 single base Granular 16/19
Weight of propellant 6 kg (approx)
Primer Electric/Percussion Primer Number 2
Secondary Cartridge Case
Case Semi Combustible with projectile
Length 678 mm
Propellant Granular 16/19 2.550 kg (approx) and Tubular 19/1-25 0.8 kg
Performance
Muzzle velocity 1730 metres/sec
Services pressure at 21oC 4845 Kg Cm2
Accuracy at 1000 metres:
SD (Horizontal) 0.3 mil
SD (Vertical) 0.3 mil
Penetration at 2,000M 460mm, against RHA target at Zero Obliquity, conforming to DEF-STAN 95-13/2
Packing
Main Charge Structure & Secondary Charge Structure are packed separately in fibre glass seal humidity proof containers then finally filled fibre glass seal humidity proof containers are packed in a steel box.
Size of Box 82 x 50 x 26 cms
Gross weight 53 kgs
Colour & marking Service brown with yellow/white stenciling
http://www.pof.gov.pk/TAT_125mmapfsds.aspx
Manticore
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125 MM H.E.FS TK
This is a general purpose round with High Explosive and can be fired 125 mm smooth bore tank guns T-80 UD (Ukraine). Alkhalid (Pakistan). PT-91 (Poland), T-85 (China) or equivalent.
Pakistan Ordnance Factories
This is a general purpose round with High Explosive and can be fired 125 mm smooth bore tank guns T-80 UD (Ukraine). Alkhalid (Pakistan). PT-91 (Poland), T-85 (China) or equivalent.
Pakistan Ordnance Factories
Manticore
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Manticore
RETIRED MOD
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America AFV nemesis - Revealed Chinese New penetrators
U.S. Asian and Pacific Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard labor Adams (Richard Lawless) said that Afghanistan and Iraq is suspected, "Made in China penetrators" can easily destroy the U.S. military "Hummer" tanks and other heavy armored vehicles, leading to major U.S. military casualties.
China's new high-strength armor-piercing ability why? Let us uncover its working principle and secrets.
Armor-piercing projectile is to rely on strength, weight and speed of armor-piercing shells, all of them long with an extremely sturdy and hard skull, are tanks, aircraft, warships, armored vehicles nemesis. Deal with concrete fortifications, more than enough. Modern penetrator warhead very sharp, slender missile body, made of steel alloy, tungsten alloy or depleted uranium alloy steel, high strength.
Easily breakdown armor piercing reason is because:
First, it is particularly strong elastic body by steel or tungsten, uranium alloys are made ​​of elastomer front are solid, as well as cracking tank, not afraid to hit the target in an instant crush or break.
Second, it's high speed, through the energy, able to penetrate the thick armor and streamlined shape, and comes with extended fuse, and then in the drilling target internal explosion.
Third, it's shooting accuracy, coupled with the body are streamlined, to reduce air resistance in flight, suddenly a direct hit tanks or aircraft activities such goals.
To improve the long-rod APFSDS performance, but also developed a high-density uranium alloys (U.S. depleted uranium penetrators) and tungsten alloy (China 99 penetrators) making armor-piercing bomb core, armor-piercing ability stronger, especially in uranium armor-piercing bomb core drilling in hard armor warheads, can instantly generate high temperature above 1000 ℃, the local armor melted, issue boiled blazing light. Tungsten alloy cost only half of all countries attach importance to the development of the missile types.
Can easily destroy the U.S. military "Hummer" tanks and other heavy armored vehicles made ​​in China new armor-piercing bombs, shape similar to Bangalore in a metal tube filled with explosives, in the mouth at one end there is a launch special metal plate tilting. When the metal tube gunpowder was detonated, the transmitter on the mouth of the metal disk to the target flying at high speed and to change shape during flight, it becomes like a bullet spikes, with high temperatures close to the melting point of penetration of various types armor, causing the car personnel casualties. Not only the U.S. military's "Hummer" chariot can not resist such a bomb, and even "Abrams" main battle tank will sometimes be penetrated.
ÃÀ×°¼×Õ½³µ¿ËÐÇ¡ª¡ª½ÒÃÜÖйúд©¼×µ¯ - zhangfengµÄÈÕÖ¾ - ÍøÒײ©¿Í
U.S. Asian and Pacific Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard labor Adams (Richard Lawless) said that Afghanistan and Iraq is suspected, "Made in China penetrators" can easily destroy the U.S. military "Hummer" tanks and other heavy armored vehicles, leading to major U.S. military casualties.
China's new high-strength armor-piercing ability why? Let us uncover its working principle and secrets.
Armor-piercing projectile is to rely on strength, weight and speed of armor-piercing shells, all of them long with an extremely sturdy and hard skull, are tanks, aircraft, warships, armored vehicles nemesis. Deal with concrete fortifications, more than enough. Modern penetrator warhead very sharp, slender missile body, made of steel alloy, tungsten alloy or depleted uranium alloy steel, high strength.
Easily breakdown armor piercing reason is because:
First, it is particularly strong elastic body by steel or tungsten, uranium alloys are made ​​of elastomer front are solid, as well as cracking tank, not afraid to hit the target in an instant crush or break.
Second, it's high speed, through the energy, able to penetrate the thick armor and streamlined shape, and comes with extended fuse, and then in the drilling target internal explosion.
Third, it's shooting accuracy, coupled with the body are streamlined, to reduce air resistance in flight, suddenly a direct hit tanks or aircraft activities such goals.
To improve the long-rod APFSDS performance, but also developed a high-density uranium alloys (U.S. depleted uranium penetrators) and tungsten alloy (China 99 penetrators) making armor-piercing bomb core, armor-piercing ability stronger, especially in uranium armor-piercing bomb core drilling in hard armor warheads, can instantly generate high temperature above 1000 ℃, the local armor melted, issue boiled blazing light. Tungsten alloy cost only half of all countries attach importance to the development of the missile types.
Can easily destroy the U.S. military "Hummer" tanks and other heavy armored vehicles made ​​in China new armor-piercing bombs, shape similar to Bangalore in a metal tube filled with explosives, in the mouth at one end there is a launch special metal plate tilting. When the metal tube gunpowder was detonated, the transmitter on the mouth of the metal disk to the target flying at high speed and to change shape during flight, it becomes like a bullet spikes, with high temperatures close to the melting point of penetration of various types armor, causing the car personnel casualties. Not only the U.S. military's "Hummer" chariot can not resist such a bomb, and even "Abrams" main battle tank will sometimes be penetrated.
ÃÀ×°¼×Õ½³µ¿ËÐÇ¡ª¡ª½ÒÃÜÖйúд©¼×µ¯ - zhangfengµÄÈÕÖ¾ - ÍøÒײ©¿Í
Manticore
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Domestic use of depleted uranium penetrators structure tank gun section shows!
http://bbs.tiexue.net/post2_4285936_1.html
http://bbs.tiexue.net/post2_4285936_1.html
Manticore
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What Makes
Our 120mm Tank Ammo
The Best on the Battlefield?
by Master Sergeant Wakeland K. Kuamoo
Since the mid-1980s, U.S. tankers have been firing 120mm ammunition from the
M1A1 and more recently the M1A2 tanks. Many armor soldiers, Cavalry
troopers, and Marines will tell you that their success on Tank Tables VIII (individual crew qualification), XII (platoon qualification), and numerous other livefire exercises is directly linked to high quality main gun ammunition. Still others will tell you that their very lives and
survivability during the Gulf War depended on how well the ammunition
performed.
But what makes our 120mm tank ammunition the best?”
Last year, several master gunners from Ft. Knox had an opportunity to learn
first-hand how our 120mm tank ammunition is produced. At each site, we learned about the company’s overall mission and toured the facility. At the end of each tour, we briefed the management, production, and support personnel.
We explained tank gunnery training in our units and the success achieved by our tankers in Operation Desert Storm. Our intent was to tell these folks how we
use their products. Our visits took us to several different locations because so many firms manufacture the components for the Army’s tank rounds (See chart, next page).
As you can imagine, there is a lot of work required to produce a main gun
round. During our visits we saw much of this work. We viewed component production at the facility and how the pieces were put together. We observed a metal forge that transformed a steel ingot into a case base assembly (the “aft cap”
. We saw primers assembled, to include the
nearly invisible bridge wire and benite explosives, and the making of our combustible cartridge cases and the actual explosive propellants that went into
these cases. It was fascinating to watch the M829A2 Depleted Uranium penetrators prepared for assembly. People, not machines on the production lines, put together the new composite sabot pedals that will be used during the assembly of the M829A2 projectile. A technician
showed us the M744 fuze’s electronic components which is part of the M830A1
MPAT round. Ever see an M865 Sabot or M831A1 Heat Target Practice Training round assembled? Let me tell you that it is a remarkable process.
At the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant we observed the load, assemble, and
packout process (LAP). Here the subcomponents are united to produce the complete round you see in the field. They assemble both training and service rounds at the Iowa plant. Once assembled, they are loaded into metal shipping containers. A sample of the rounds from
each lot is shipped to a live-fire proving ground for testing, either at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, or Yuma, Arizona. Our prime contractors also have range test facilities; Alliant Techsystems has a range in Socorro, New Mexico, and Primex has a range test facility in Camden, Arkansas. The professional personnel that work at these sites ensure the bullets we use are safe and meet all strict Army and Marine Corps requirements. These people are yet another key element in ensuring we have top quality ammunition. It was a great experience to be able to view this work, which most other armor soldiers and Marines may never have the opportunity to see. Throughout all of our visits, no matter where we went, several factors were very evident.
First, the management people at each site showed a genuine concern for their workers and were actively involved in the entire production process. Secondly, all along the assembly lines,
we could see various testing stations. Somewhere during its assembly on the production line, rigorous testing of the round by humans and specialized machines and instruments occurs. Devices similar to X-ray machines look for nearly invisible cracks in our aft caps.
Each round of 120mm ammunition is physically put through a chamber gage
test. This test simulates the loading of a round into a main gun breach. If a component fails a critical test, an entire assembly line may be shut down until the fault is analyzed and fully corrected. Time was never the major factor in these delays. This vast improvement in ammunition production ensures that only top quality ammunition goes to the field. The emphasis was always on the quality of the product. At the conclusion of every visit, we felt
a greater sense of confidence in our ammunition. Certainly, much of this confidence came from being able to actually see the amount of effort and dedication put forth during the production cycles. This confidence not only gave us personal satisfaction but, for the master
gunners who are instructors, doctrinewriters, and developers, we can see this
confidence in their jobs here at Ft. Knox. The new information which we gained
on our visits will be transferred to students as well as the doctrine and equipment development programs here.
Another important contributor needs to be mentioned here because it is also a
part of ensuring that we are getting and using top quality ammunition. The
120mm team from the Industrial Operations Command (IOC), Rock Island, Illinois, is responsible for ensuring that fielded ammunition works properly. This
team, working with civilians in your local ammunition agencies, continuously
monitors how well the ammunition is working. Report any problems that you may encounter with your ammunition in the field to your local quality assurance
personnel who will forward the information to the 120mm team. Two other
agencies that also make major contributions to ensure we get and use quality
120mm ammunition are the Office of the Program Manager for Tank Main Armament Systems (OPM-TMAS) and the Armament, Research, Development, and
Evaluation Command (ARDEC). Through previous experience with these
groups, I can assure you that their response towards investigating possible
problems will be very swift. These agencies strongly support the needs of the
soldier.
Back to the original question, “What
Makes Our 120mm Tank Ammunition
The Best?” The answer is quite simple.
Sophisticated technology is certainly a
big part of production excellence and
our technology in the field of tank ammunition is second to none. But we also
believe that the most important factors
are the people who manage, produce, assemble, test, and monitor our tank ammunition.
The next time you break out a 120mm
round, stop and take a close look at it.
The next time you score a first round hit
on Tank Table VIII, take a second to
think about that round. Real people produced it, real people that care about us,
the soldiers and Marines
whose lives may one day
again depend upon their
products.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/docs/3kuamoo.pdf
Our 120mm Tank Ammo
The Best on the Battlefield?
by Master Sergeant Wakeland K. Kuamoo
Since the mid-1980s, U.S. tankers have been firing 120mm ammunition from the
M1A1 and more recently the M1A2 tanks. Many armor soldiers, Cavalry
troopers, and Marines will tell you that their success on Tank Tables VIII (individual crew qualification), XII (platoon qualification), and numerous other livefire exercises is directly linked to high quality main gun ammunition. Still others will tell you that their very lives and
survivability during the Gulf War depended on how well the ammunition
performed.
But what makes our 120mm tank ammunition the best?”
Last year, several master gunners from Ft. Knox had an opportunity to learn
first-hand how our 120mm tank ammunition is produced. At each site, we learned about the company’s overall mission and toured the facility. At the end of each tour, we briefed the management, production, and support personnel.
We explained tank gunnery training in our units and the success achieved by our tankers in Operation Desert Storm. Our intent was to tell these folks how we
use their products. Our visits took us to several different locations because so many firms manufacture the components for the Army’s tank rounds (See chart, next page).
As you can imagine, there is a lot of work required to produce a main gun
round. During our visits we saw much of this work. We viewed component production at the facility and how the pieces were put together. We observed a metal forge that transformed a steel ingot into a case base assembly (the “aft cap”
. We saw primers assembled, to include thenearly invisible bridge wire and benite explosives, and the making of our combustible cartridge cases and the actual explosive propellants that went into
these cases. It was fascinating to watch the M829A2 Depleted Uranium penetrators prepared for assembly. People, not machines on the production lines, put together the new composite sabot pedals that will be used during the assembly of the M829A2 projectile. A technician
showed us the M744 fuze’s electronic components which is part of the M830A1
MPAT round. Ever see an M865 Sabot or M831A1 Heat Target Practice Training round assembled? Let me tell you that it is a remarkable process.
At the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant we observed the load, assemble, and
packout process (LAP). Here the subcomponents are united to produce the complete round you see in the field. They assemble both training and service rounds at the Iowa plant. Once assembled, they are loaded into metal shipping containers. A sample of the rounds from
each lot is shipped to a live-fire proving ground for testing, either at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, or Yuma, Arizona. Our prime contractors also have range test facilities; Alliant Techsystems has a range in Socorro, New Mexico, and Primex has a range test facility in Camden, Arkansas. The professional personnel that work at these sites ensure the bullets we use are safe and meet all strict Army and Marine Corps requirements. These people are yet another key element in ensuring we have top quality ammunition. It was a great experience to be able to view this work, which most other armor soldiers and Marines may never have the opportunity to see. Throughout all of our visits, no matter where we went, several factors were very evident.
First, the management people at each site showed a genuine concern for their workers and were actively involved in the entire production process. Secondly, all along the assembly lines,
we could see various testing stations. Somewhere during its assembly on the production line, rigorous testing of the round by humans and specialized machines and instruments occurs. Devices similar to X-ray machines look for nearly invisible cracks in our aft caps.
Each round of 120mm ammunition is physically put through a chamber gage
test. This test simulates the loading of a round into a main gun breach. If a component fails a critical test, an entire assembly line may be shut down until the fault is analyzed and fully corrected. Time was never the major factor in these delays. This vast improvement in ammunition production ensures that only top quality ammunition goes to the field. The emphasis was always on the quality of the product. At the conclusion of every visit, we felt
a greater sense of confidence in our ammunition. Certainly, much of this confidence came from being able to actually see the amount of effort and dedication put forth during the production cycles. This confidence not only gave us personal satisfaction but, for the master
gunners who are instructors, doctrinewriters, and developers, we can see this
confidence in their jobs here at Ft. Knox. The new information which we gained
on our visits will be transferred to students as well as the doctrine and equipment development programs here.
Another important contributor needs to be mentioned here because it is also a
part of ensuring that we are getting and using top quality ammunition. The
120mm team from the Industrial Operations Command (IOC), Rock Island, Illinois, is responsible for ensuring that fielded ammunition works properly. This
team, working with civilians in your local ammunition agencies, continuously
monitors how well the ammunition is working. Report any problems that you may encounter with your ammunition in the field to your local quality assurance
personnel who will forward the information to the 120mm team. Two other
agencies that also make major contributions to ensure we get and use quality
120mm ammunition are the Office of the Program Manager for Tank Main Armament Systems (OPM-TMAS) and the Armament, Research, Development, and
Evaluation Command (ARDEC). Through previous experience with these
groups, I can assure you that their response towards investigating possible
problems will be very swift. These agencies strongly support the needs of the
soldier.
Back to the original question, “What
Makes Our 120mm Tank Ammunition
The Best?” The answer is quite simple.
Sophisticated technology is certainly a
big part of production excellence and
our technology in the field of tank ammunition is second to none. But we also
believe that the most important factors
are the people who manage, produce, assemble, test, and monitor our tank ammunition.
The next time you break out a 120mm
round, stop and take a close look at it.
The next time you score a first round hit
on Tank Table VIII, take a second to
think about that round. Real people produced it, real people that care about us,
the soldiers and Marines
whose lives may one day
again depend upon their
products.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/docs/3kuamoo.pdf
Manticore
RETIRED MOD
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2009
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- 10,115
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DU Ammunition Use in Iraq
The US military used depleted uranium ammunition on the battlefield for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991. The US Air Force A-10 Warthog attack aircraft, the US Army M1A1 Abrams tanks, and the British Army Challenger fired DU rounds with deadly results. DU rounds fired by the US tanks pierced armor of the Soviet made T-72 Iraqi tanks as far as 3 km away [56]. British Challenger tanks were able to destroy Iraqi tanks as far as 5 km away. Unlike the smooth-bore barrel of the US M1A1 Abrams tanks, the British Challenger tanks have a riffled barrel, which causes the sabot to spin, giving the projectile additional stability. Out of 3,700 Iraqi tanks destroyed, more than 1,400 were hit by DU rounds (see Fig. 8). The military depended on DU as a preferred weapons of war, and used it to destroy everything from tanks to light-armored vehicles to bunkers.
Of the 2,058 US tanks used in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm, 654 had depleted uranium heavy armor. During combat, conventional Iraqi rounds hit from a distance as close as 400 m, but did not penetrate the steel that covers the DU armor. However, depleted uranium penetrators were capable of piercing DU armor, as demonstrated by several friendly fire incidents involving Abrams M1A1 tanks.
The amount of DU munitions released in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm are summarized in Table 6 from [75]. In addition, 9,720 DU aircraft rounds and 660 DU tank rounds (14,170 lb. or 6,430 kg of DU) burned as a result of monstrous fire in the ammunition storage area and motor pool of the US Army base at Doha, Kuwait [54], [72].
Slightly higher estimates for expended DU ammunition are found [33]: 940,000 DU aircraft rounds and 14,000 DU tank rounds were expended during the war. Out of the total DU tank rounds, 7,000 were fired during training before the war into sand dunes in Saudi Arabia, 4,000 were fired during combat; and 3,000 were lost due to fires or accidents. Therefore, a total of 670,000 - 750,000 lb. (305 - 340 metric tons) of DU was released, for a total activity of 324 - 361 Ci and a-activity of 119 - 132 Ci.
Effects of DU Penetrator Impact
When a depleted uranium penetrator impacts armor, 18 - 70% of the penetrator rod will burn and oxidize into dust usually of dull black color [18], [72], though it may also appear blackish-gold or blackish-green [35]. Of the two uranium oxides formed, UO2 is not soluble in water and UO3 is water soluble, forming uranyl (UO2)2+ ions [52], [72], [85]. The DU oxide aerosol formed during the impact has 50 - 96% of respirable size particles (with diameter less than 10 µm), and 17 - 48% of those particles are soluble in water. Particles generated from impact of a hard target are virtually all respirable [18]. While the heavier non-respirable particles settle down rapidly, the respirable DU aerosol remains airborne for hours [72].
The solubility of the uranium particles determines the rate at which the uranium moves from the site of internalization (lungs for inhalation, gastrointestinal tract for ingestion, or the injury site for wound contamination) into the blood stream. About 70% of the soluble uranium in the blood stream is excreted in urine within 24 hours without being deposited in any organ and the remainder primarily depositing in the kidneys and bones. The kidney is the organ most sensitive to depleted uranium toxicity [72], [85], [86]. When DU particles of respirable size are inhaled, roughly 25% of the particles become trapped in the lungs, where the insoluble particles can remain for years. Approximately 25% of the inhaled DU is exhaled and the remaining 50% is subsequently swallowed [13].
DU Ammunition Use in Yugoslavia
30 mm DU rounds were fired from A-10 Warthog aircraft during the war in Bosnia and Hercegovina in 1995 [88] and during the "Operation Balkan Storm" in Yugoslavia in 1999 [91]. Out of almost 400 NATO aircraft reportedly hit [96] and more than 100 shot down by the Yugoslav air defense [97], 9 planes were identified as A-10 Warthogs. 30 mm DU rounds were found in the remains of the shot down A-10 Warthog plane (see the remains). Penetrators from spent 30 mm aircraft rounds have been also found on the ground in Yugoslavia and positively identified as depleted uranium penetrators by their weight, density, and by spectrometry of the emitted radiation. As the Department of Defense (DoD) continues to reject all inquiries, no information about the number of expended DU rounds is available at the present time.
Reports from Yugoslavia indicate that the area of so-called Djavolnje Stene (Devils Walls) in the vicinity of town Vranje, wild and absolutely without ground approach, was heavily and repeatedly hit during the entire 1999 NATO intervention [98]. Since no civilian or military targets were located in this area, it appears that the US Air Force seized the opportunity and used this wildlife preserve as a proving ground for DU ammunition without being pestered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The only remaining air-to-ground firing range in the United States licensed for DU ammunition use (19 training missions per year) is the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, with the temporary permit due to expire at the end of 1999 [57].
Tomahawk cruise missiles with the new WDU-36 warhead were used for the first time in 1995 in Bosnia and Hercegovina a year later against Iraq. Over 1,500 Tomahawk cruise missiles have been launched in 1999 against Yugoslavia, some probably containing 3 kg (6.6 lb.) of depeleted uranium in their tips [92]. DU from the cruise missiles alone would amount up to 4,500 kg, for a total activity 1.6 Ci and a-activity 0.6 Ci.
Combat and Accidents
The US military used depleted uranium ammunition on the battlefield for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991. The US Air Force A-10 Warthog attack aircraft, the US Army M1A1 Abrams tanks, and the British Army Challenger fired DU rounds with deadly results. DU rounds fired by the US tanks pierced armor of the Soviet made T-72 Iraqi tanks as far as 3 km away [56]. British Challenger tanks were able to destroy Iraqi tanks as far as 5 km away. Unlike the smooth-bore barrel of the US M1A1 Abrams tanks, the British Challenger tanks have a riffled barrel, which causes the sabot to spin, giving the projectile additional stability. Out of 3,700 Iraqi tanks destroyed, more than 1,400 were hit by DU rounds (see Fig. 8). The military depended on DU as a preferred weapons of war, and used it to destroy everything from tanks to light-armored vehicles to bunkers.
Of the 2,058 US tanks used in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm, 654 had depleted uranium heavy armor. During combat, conventional Iraqi rounds hit from a distance as close as 400 m, but did not penetrate the steel that covers the DU armor. However, depleted uranium penetrators were capable of piercing DU armor, as demonstrated by several friendly fire incidents involving Abrams M1A1 tanks.
The amount of DU munitions released in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm are summarized in Table 6 from [75]. In addition, 9,720 DU aircraft rounds and 660 DU tank rounds (14,170 lb. or 6,430 kg of DU) burned as a result of monstrous fire in the ammunition storage area and motor pool of the US Army base at Doha, Kuwait [54], [72].
Slightly higher estimates for expended DU ammunition are found [33]: 940,000 DU aircraft rounds and 14,000 DU tank rounds were expended during the war. Out of the total DU tank rounds, 7,000 were fired during training before the war into sand dunes in Saudi Arabia, 4,000 were fired during combat; and 3,000 were lost due to fires or accidents. Therefore, a total of 670,000 - 750,000 lb. (305 - 340 metric tons) of DU was released, for a total activity of 324 - 361 Ci and a-activity of 119 - 132 Ci.
Effects of DU Penetrator Impact
When a depleted uranium penetrator impacts armor, 18 - 70% of the penetrator rod will burn and oxidize into dust usually of dull black color [18], [72], though it may also appear blackish-gold or blackish-green [35]. Of the two uranium oxides formed, UO2 is not soluble in water and UO3 is water soluble, forming uranyl (UO2)2+ ions [52], [72], [85]. The DU oxide aerosol formed during the impact has 50 - 96% of respirable size particles (with diameter less than 10 µm), and 17 - 48% of those particles are soluble in water. Particles generated from impact of a hard target are virtually all respirable [18]. While the heavier non-respirable particles settle down rapidly, the respirable DU aerosol remains airborne for hours [72].
The solubility of the uranium particles determines the rate at which the uranium moves from the site of internalization (lungs for inhalation, gastrointestinal tract for ingestion, or the injury site for wound contamination) into the blood stream. About 70% of the soluble uranium in the blood stream is excreted in urine within 24 hours without being deposited in any organ and the remainder primarily depositing in the kidneys and bones. The kidney is the organ most sensitive to depleted uranium toxicity [72], [85], [86]. When DU particles of respirable size are inhaled, roughly 25% of the particles become trapped in the lungs, where the insoluble particles can remain for years. Approximately 25% of the inhaled DU is exhaled and the remaining 50% is subsequently swallowed [13].
DU Ammunition Use in Yugoslavia
30 mm DU rounds were fired from A-10 Warthog aircraft during the war in Bosnia and Hercegovina in 1995 [88] and during the "Operation Balkan Storm" in Yugoslavia in 1999 [91]. Out of almost 400 NATO aircraft reportedly hit [96] and more than 100 shot down by the Yugoslav air defense [97], 9 planes were identified as A-10 Warthogs. 30 mm DU rounds were found in the remains of the shot down A-10 Warthog plane (see the remains). Penetrators from spent 30 mm aircraft rounds have been also found on the ground in Yugoslavia and positively identified as depleted uranium penetrators by their weight, density, and by spectrometry of the emitted radiation. As the Department of Defense (DoD) continues to reject all inquiries, no information about the number of expended DU rounds is available at the present time.
Reports from Yugoslavia indicate that the area of so-called Djavolnje Stene (Devils Walls) in the vicinity of town Vranje, wild and absolutely without ground approach, was heavily and repeatedly hit during the entire 1999 NATO intervention [98]. Since no civilian or military targets were located in this area, it appears that the US Air Force seized the opportunity and used this wildlife preserve as a proving ground for DU ammunition without being pestered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The only remaining air-to-ground firing range in the United States licensed for DU ammunition use (19 training missions per year) is the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, with the temporary permit due to expire at the end of 1999 [57].
Tomahawk cruise missiles with the new WDU-36 warhead were used for the first time in 1995 in Bosnia and Hercegovina a year later against Iraq. Over 1,500 Tomahawk cruise missiles have been launched in 1999 against Yugoslavia, some probably containing 3 kg (6.6 lb.) of depeleted uranium in their tips [92]. DU from the cruise missiles alone would amount up to 4,500 kg, for a total activity 1.6 Ci and a-activity 0.6 Ci.
Combat and Accidents
Keshav Murali
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@Manticore @Dazzler @alimobin memon @AUSTERLITZ
KE-W A3 penetrator length:
Old KE-W A2 and KE-W A3 share the same penetrator, but propellant in KE-W A3 is more efficient and propels the penetrator faster. Muzzle Energy of the penetrator alone is 11.6 MJ
The penetration of KE-W A2 was certified at 660 mm at 2 km with the L/44 barrel, upto 710 would be possible at 2 km with L/55 barrel. At point-blank ranges penetration would be upto 700 mm with the L/44 barrel and 750 with the L/55 barrel.
KE-W A3 will probably have 30 mm more penetration.
When used with the L/55 barrel, KE-W A3 should equal the performance of the DM-53
Extremely powerful round for export, really.
The Americans and Germans have such confidence in M829A3 and DM-63 to export such a round, so we can assume that both their rounds perform better against complex targets and especially in general.
KE-W A3 penetrator length:
Old KE-W A2 and KE-W A3 share the same penetrator, but propellant in KE-W A3 is more efficient and propels the penetrator faster. Muzzle Energy of the penetrator alone is 11.6 MJ
The penetration of KE-W A2 was certified at 660 mm at 2 km with the L/44 barrel, upto 710 would be possible at 2 km with L/55 barrel. At point-blank ranges penetration would be upto 700 mm with the L/44 barrel and 750 with the L/55 barrel.
KE-W A3 will probably have 30 mm more penetration.
When used with the L/55 barrel, KE-W A3 should equal the performance of the DM-53
Extremely powerful round for export, really.
The Americans and Germans have such confidence in M829A3 and DM-63 to export such a round, so we can assume that both their rounds perform better against complex targets and especially in general.
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Dazzler
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
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@Manticore @Dazzler @alimobin memon @AUSTERLITZ
KE-W A3 penetrator length:
Old KE-W A2 and KE-W A3 share the same penetrator, but propellant in KE-W A3 is more efficient and propels the penetrator faster. Muzzle Energy of the penetrator alone is 11.6 MJ
The penetration of KE-W A2 was certified at 660 mm at 2 km with the L/44 barrel, upto 710 would be possible at 2 km with L/55 barrel. At point-blank ranges penetration would be upto 700 mm with the L/44 barrel and 750 with the L/55 barrel.
KE-W A3 will probably have 30 mm more penetration.
When used with the L/55 barrel, KE-W A3 should equal the performance of the DM-53
Extremely powerful round for export, really.
The Americans and Germans have such confidence in M829A3 and DM-63 to export such a round, so we can assume that both their rounds perform better against complex targets and especially in general.
TIP for IA
abandon Arjun's rifled gun and go for smoothbore and buy a license production of this round IF yanks allow it i.e. .
It will give them an edge in tank ammunition department.
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