I see people have answered the basic question, with “sort of, but no.”
I will expand on it for you.
The reason a DU .50 caliber projectile cannot penetrate a modern tank is because DU….. well, it isn’t magic.
The US had DU armour penetrating projectiles because uranium is a very dense, heavy element, and is somewhat tough and hard. The density and weight are, however, only part of the solution; the other is velocity. Energy is calculated as mass-times-velocity-squared. If you make a .50 caliber bullet out of DU, it will weigh approximately 1.68 times what a standard bullet would weigh, but you will lose velocity from the firearm, as you only have so much room in the case for powder (and chamber pressure limits).
For comparison, a 30mm PGU 14/B used in the GAU-8 is 15 ounces/425 grams/6560 grains, and has a muzzle velocity of 3324 fps, or 1010m/s.
A .50 BMG, used in an M2/HB, weighs 1.6 ounces/45 grams/706 grains, and has a muzzle velocity of 2910 fps, or 890 m/s.
30mm Energy: 160969 ft-lbs/218244 joules
.50 Cal Energy: 13277 ft-lbs/18001 joules
Also, for reference: The GAU-8 can no longer be expected to penetrate rear, side, or top armour of modern tanks.
I see people have answered the basic question, with “sort of, but no.”
I will expand on it for you.
The reason a DU .50 caliber projectile cannot penetrate a modern tank is because DU….. well, it isn’t magic.
The US had DU armour penetrating projectiles because uranium is a very dense, heavy element, and is somewhat tough and hard. The density and weight are, however, only part of the solution; the other is velocity. Energy is calculated as mass-times-velocity-squared. If you make a .50 caliber bullet out of DU, it will weigh approximately 1.68 times what a standard bullet would weigh, but you...
I see people have answered the basic question, with “sort of, but no.”
I will expand on it for you.
The reason a DU .50 caliber projectile cannot penetrate a modern tank is because DU….. well, it isn’t magic.
The US had DU armour penetrating projectiles because uranium is a very dense, heavy element, and is somewhat tough and hard. The density and weight are, however, only part of the solution; the other is velocity. Energy is calculated as mass-times-velocity-squared. If you make a .50 caliber bullet out of DU, it will weigh approximately 1.68 times what a standard bullet would weigh, but you will lose velocity from the firearm, as you only have so much room in the case for powder (and chamber pressure limits).
For comparison, a 30mm PGU 14/B used in the GAU-8 is 15 ounces/425 grams/6560 grains, and has a muzzle velocity of 3324 fps, or 1010m/s.
A .50 BMG, used in an M2/HB, weighs 1.6 ounces/45 grams/706 grains, and has a muzzle velocity of 2910 fps, or 890 m/s.
30mm Energy: 160969 ft-lbs/218244 joules
.50 Cal Energy: 13277 ft-lbs/18001 joules
Also, for reference: The GAU-8 can no longer be expected to penetrate rear, side, or top armour of modern tanks.
1,328 Views
89,666 Views
7,898 Views
1,130,878 Views
9,708 Views
1,328 Views
89,666 Views
7,898 Views
1,130,878 Views
9,708 Views
819 Views
2,105 Views
916 Views
20,747 Views
2,307 Views
72,028 Views
10,284 Views
10,709 Views
19,483 Views
1,481 Views