From:	Justin Kim <jlkim@******.COM>
Subject:	Re: Ballistics
Date:	Thu, 30 Sep 1993 15:49:03 -0800

>Ok, several items to respond too:
>
>Justin, are you sure that AP rounds work by tossing hot molten metal? I
>know that's how HEAT rounds work: They use a funnel to focus the molten
>explosion against the armor-but AP rounds are usually made of tungsten or
>depleted uranium, which are dense, and what carries them through is the
>incredible amount of force afforded by their velocity and mass-no molten
>stuf involved. I may be wrong but your explanation of tank AP rounds
>contradicts everything I've ever read or viddied regarding them-which is
>a lot.

Pretty sure, at least for the DU rounds. The mass of the DU *is*
important, too. I'm fairly sure that one of the selling points of the DU
round is that it arrives in a semi-molten state. However, I'm *not* an
expert on AT rounds. I'm fairly sure (70-75%) of my comments, though.
Your points are very good, though-I'll have to check my data.

Your comments on the rifling of the barrel of a cannon are well
taken, but I can't imagine that the rifling would steal so much velocity
from the round that it would end up making much of a difference.

Work is about to become rather busy and is likely to remain so for
about 3 weeks (working on the weekend kind of busy), but I'll do some
reading and see if I can back up my assertions. There are also a fair
amount of ex-military men around here (though not many Army) that I might
be able to ask.

Justin

--------
Justin Kim jlkim@****.edu Defense Analyst
Science Applications International Corporation San Diego, California USA
I'm paid to have opinions. If SAIC wants them, they had better pay me for them!
"The perimeter sensors are picking up subspace ocilations. What the hell
does that mean?" -Major Kira Nerys, DS9