From:	JonSzeto@***.com JonSzeto@***.com
Subject:	exchange rates, and APDS...pronounced APP-ee-das ? : )
Date:	Mon, 22 Feb 1999 23:05:19 EST

Neil Clark <neil.clark@**********.com> wrote,

> does anyone have a good, founded idea of what the exchange rates are
> between nowaday US dollars and 205x's ¥s?

> personally, I've been estimating about 2¥ = $1.

FWIW, I've worked under the assumption that 1 nuyen has *approximately* the
same buying power in 2060 as $1 USD has in 1999. I should caveat this by
saying that this is NOT an "official" ruling, just a personal rule of thumb.
(The
"official" guidance we freelancers get from the DLOH is "use whatever
sounds
right.") As always, YMMV.

> and another thing, what *is* APDS? how is the bullet designed? it is
> some sort of case-shedding contraption? my friend thinks they would be
> comprised of depleted uranium, but I'm not so sure that's the case. I
> personally have no clue how physically an APDS is constructed, any ideas?

As others have noted, APDS consists of a hardened metal core, surrounded by
a softer jacket (for small arms this would probably be some type of plastic).
When the bullet clears the muzzle of the gun, the jacket falls away (usually
by means of air resistance) while the core travels onward. This gives the
projectile a smaller cross-section, which means (1) reduced energy loss from
air drag and (2) a more concentrated energy transfer at the point of impact.

The metal core is usually made out of either tungsten or depleted uranium
(the waste product left over after purifying raw uranium to make reactor-
grade or weapons-grade fuel, and composed 99.xxx% of U-238). Up until a few
years ago, APDS tank rounds were made of DU, but most militaries have been
switching over to tungsten, partly because tungsten costs less, and partly
because tungsten is easier to machine. (DU is also pyrophoric, which means it
gets real
hot and creates sparks when it strikes metal, but how much that special effect
adds to the round's combat effectiveness is subject to some debate.)

Now that Paul Adam is back on the list, he can probably cover whatever holes
I may have overlooked.

-- Jon