verslagen1 wrote on 01/20/15 at 07:11:16:pg wrote on 01/20/15 at 04:45:07:Oldfeller--FSO wrote on 01/19/15 at 21:31:07:Yes, that is the shell, but the round is most often used is an aluminum sabot wrapped around a depleted uranium dart.
Wow, I don't know what depleted uranium does; although, I suspect it hardens the projectile.
heavier than lead, harder than steel, sharper than a porcupine quill.
Denser than lead, yes. Harder than steel, no. Sharp? Not even close... best nose shape is a 60 degree cone.
However, it's cheap, way cheaper than tungsten, and the US government has tons of the stuff left over from enriching U235 to fuel reactors to make plutonium to make bombs.
It also has the added feature of being pyrophoric... ie, when exposed to extreme heat and pressure, it ignites, which helps burn through tank armor.
So, cheap, dense, and creates it's own fireball inside an enemy tank... what's not to love?
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