Why is depleted uranium used in shells?

Is it to cause ongoing health problems in the people they are used against? Or is it just to make them heavy?



If the former - isn't this extremely morally dubious, even in a war situation? - surley the aim should be just to win the war, not cause cancer and birth defects, and many other health problems in the population for generations to come - this doesnt win the war it just causes misery and suffering after the event.



If the latter - why not just use lead or someother heavy material?

Why is depleted uranium used in shells?
The injuries that somebody gets in a tank hit by DU ammunition tend to be instantly fatal. It is hard for a few handfuls of ash in the bottom of a burned-out tank to have long-term health problems.



There is a huge body of medical research that discusses the effects of uranium metal on human health. Not one of those studies supports the claims that the material causes cancer and birth defects.
Reply:uh...do you think the modern US military would let us handle things that would poison us like that? Hell they wont let us leave the wire without having on the IBA, throat guard, neck guard, crotch guard, side plates, helmet pads...etc etc. Plus depleted uranium is the most dense metal out there.
Reply:depleted uranium isnt radioactive anymore

hence the word "depleted"

its extremely dense and dosnt deform when it hits armor it blows clean through it lead is to maliable and nothing else is dense or solid enough to do it

every soldier in the military is exposed to it and none of them get radiation poisoning
Reply:It is not radioactive, but it IS the densest naturally occuring metal in the world, which makes it perfect for punching holes in armor. It will deform armor when it hitss it at high velocity, pushing right through it--kinda like shooting a b-b gun thru a jello mould. Lead is dense, but only half as much as depleted uranium. AND in all honesty, if a tank is hit by a uranium round, the people inside it won't be around long enough to feel any radiation sickness if the rounds even WERE "hot." But they aren't, so anyway...
Reply:Depleted uranium IS radioactive!!!!!! Everyday I give a medical threat brief to deploying soldiers and a part of this brief is about depleted uranium (DU). The radioactivity level is low, however DU munitions once fired create radioactive DU dust that is very problematic for your health. Also, DU armor is the same if it is compromised (destroyed, completely or partially). A DU armored vehicle that has been destroyed is considered by the military, Red Cross, W.H.O., UN and NATO as a highly radioactive. It is becasue it creates a fine dust that is inhaled and can cause severe radioactive poisoning. The DU armor and munitions in their normal state do NOT pose any problems other than being about twice as heavy as lead due to density. But, in an altered state they can cause major health problems, even lead to death. I tell hundreds of other soldiers every week to avoid any destroyed armored vehicle when in theater (combat zone). Also, any uranium will always be radioactive, its just that the radioactivity, and potential exposure (measured in CentiGrays) is very, very low in normal DU. Check the website below for more info. Also, a destroyed DU armored vehicles danger level, even if its not cleaned up by the 74D's, Chem Ops Specialists (love my Decon boys) will lose its dangerous radioactive dust in a matter of a week or two. Keep in mind, its not likely that soldiers or Iraqi civilians go poking around in a flaming tank. To address another part of your question, it really won't cause long term effects of cancer or birth defects. In all likelihood, if someone is exposed they will either get sick immediately and die within a few weeks or just have flu-like symptoms for a week and return to full health. Lastly, all heavy metals are radioactive ('heavy metal' is a real scientific term, not just a noun + adjective). Good question, take care and even if you don't love the war, love a soldier!



Edit: Angela stated above that DU is densest naturally occurring metal in the world. Half true, DU isn't naturally occurring, it is depleted through a manmade process. What makes it effective at destroying a vehicle and its occupants is that the heat (600C min) of the impacting round causes it to burn, it burns up so fast it creates an explosion much like some gas vapors.
Reply:Depleted uranium is dense, and not radioactive. It bores through armored vehicles with little resistance, and the velocity of the projectile creates a vacuum as the round exits the vehicle.

I've seen pictures where troops were completely sucked out of an exit hole about the size of a basketball.

Just nasty.
Reply:The density of makes it perfect for punching through Armour.
Reply:Depleted Uranium is Uranium that is no longer radioactive. It is far more dense than steel or lead so it is used in armor piercing rounds designed for anti-armor.



It is no longer radioactive so the defects you mentioned arent really an issue.



As stated before it is far more dense than any other material used for penetration.
Reply:because it is very plentiful i.e. cheap, and it is way denser than lead, there for it can penatrate armor and other things.



the health problems is a side effect and not the reason to use it.



in my opinion, we use it wat to much, and a lot of times in situations where it is not required.