A friend of mine was assigned to a Davy Crockett team when he was stationed in West Germany in the early '60s. He asked the Lt. how close the enemy could come until they (the unit) would be too close to the Blast Radius. The Lt. said "If we have to use this, I wouldn't worry about the Blast Radius. Besides, that's why we have Purple Hearts to give to your family".
As for Radioactive Russian Boar, DPU rounds from an Abrams would be good enough to "Fight Fire with Fire", I would think.
That's almost better than the glowing tobacco plants.
It always used to make me laugh back when the various defence departments were all cagey about whether there was or was not such a thing as a "suitcase nuke".
Because there was lots of publicity for the "fire extinguisher" ones.
Depleted uranium .44 or .45 Caliber bullets. The .44 Mag, .45 LC, .45 ACP, and 45/70 all roll 'em where they stand. Or charge, as the case may be.
You would have to handload the bullets and I would recommend the usual precautions for handling radioactives. Preferably in conjunction with a pressurized breathing system similar to the ones the car painters use. Depleted U does nasty things to your internals.
Wonder why they call "depleted" uranium, "depleted"...could it be because the essential radiation is "depleted"? Why, yes that is it. It doesn't glow in the dark, won't make you glow in the dark, won't ball up with ten pounds of it to make critical mass for nuclear fission.
It is simply a bit heavier than lead to add some oomph to the essential m*v2 equation.
Of course if you make it a practice of grinding it up and inhaling the dust it will make you sick...sort of the same as lead.
Actually, depleted U is heavy on the ballistic end, making a good mass carrier for penetrators; it is only mildly radioactive, making it relatively safe to handle; and it is a highly poisonous heavy metal on the medical effects end.
It is in the same range as selenium, arsenic, or thallium. You do not want to ingest any, in any way.
Or so my pathologist friend whom I rely on for such things tells me.
My father was medical officer for a tank battalion in Germany 1959-1961. I remember him talking about the Atomic Cannon. He said they'd take it out for maneuvers occasionaly and drive it down the autobann. The tractors were supposed to travel in one lane but would sometimes drive with the front in one lane and the rear in the other and block traffic, just to piss off the locals.
I was in a General Support Artillery Battalion (8" M110A2 SP) in the late 80's in the FRG .... I can tell you that EVERY 8" Battalion had a "Special Weapons Section", attached to Bn HQ ..... every M110a2 was a potential "Atomic Annie"..... range wasn't that great: we referred to to "Special Weapons" as the Nuclear Handgrenade section..... if we fired it, we were pretty much SOL.....
Depleted uranium also undergoes adiabatic shearing under intense pressure, making it "self-sharpening" as it penetrates instead of mushrooming like tungsten, making it a better penetrator. It's also pyrophoric, with vaporised uranium combusting after penetration. That's a lethal combo that ought to be effective even against mutant radioactive Russian boar.
There's always the Davy Crockett tactical recoilless nuclear cannon as a backup.
ReplyDeleteRemember, "two is one and one is none".
;-)
A friend of mine was assigned to a Davy Crockett team when he was stationed in West Germany in the early '60s. He asked the Lt. how close the enemy could come until they (the unit) would be too close to the Blast Radius. The Lt. said "If we have to use this, I wouldn't worry about the Blast Radius. Besides, that's why we have Purple Hearts to give to your family".
ReplyDeleteAs for Radioactive Russian Boar, DPU rounds from an Abrams would be good enough to "Fight Fire with Fire", I would think.
That's almost better than the glowing tobacco plants.
ReplyDeleteIt always used to make me laugh back when the various defence departments were all cagey about whether there was or was not such a thing as a "suitcase nuke".
Because there was lots of publicity for the "fire extinguisher" ones.
MMmm, I had a nice model of the atomic cannon when I was a kid. I think it finally fell prey to a BB gun.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the one at Ft Riley several times. It's perched on top of a bluff across from the Ft. Riley exit on I-70.
ReplyDeleteIt's about 2-3 miles from I-70 and clearly visible. It looks BIG!
They have one (M-65) at the Arty museum at Ft. Sill. Saw it last year.
ReplyDeleteI can highly recommend the museum, btw.
Depleted uranium .44 or .45 Caliber bullets. The .44 Mag, .45 LC, .45 ACP, and 45/70 all roll 'em where they stand. Or charge, as the case may be.
ReplyDeleteYou would have to handload the bullets and I would recommend the usual precautions for handling radioactives. Preferably in conjunction with a pressurized breathing system similar to the ones the car painters use. Depleted U does nasty things to your internals.
Stranger
What ever you use make sure it's properly boar sighted.
ReplyDeleteGerry
"I picked the wrong week to quit drinking!"
ReplyDeleteWonder why they call "depleted" uranium, "depleted"...could it be because the essential radiation is "depleted"? Why, yes that is it. It doesn't glow in the dark, won't make you glow in the dark, won't ball up with ten pounds of it to make critical mass for nuclear fission.
ReplyDeleteIt is simply a bit heavier than lead to add some oomph to the essential m*v2 equation.
Of course if you make it a practice of grinding it up and inhaling the dust it will make you sick...sort of the same as lead.
But...pant, pant, pant...it's URANIUM!
Gerry wins the internets.
ReplyDeleteActually, depleted U is heavy on the ballistic end, making a good mass carrier for penetrators; it is only mildly radioactive, making it relatively safe to handle; and it is a highly poisonous heavy metal on the medical effects end.
ReplyDeleteIt is in the same range as selenium, arsenic, or thallium. You do not want to ingest any, in any way.
Or so my pathologist friend whom I rely on for such things tells me.
Stranger
.....as long as the radioactive boar is downwind.
ReplyDeleteRabbit - I grew up at Ft. Sill and fondly remember the Cannon Walk and "Atomic Annie", the M65.
ReplyDeleteMy father was medical officer for a tank battalion in Germany 1959-1961. I remember him talking about the Atomic Cannon. He said they'd take it out for maneuvers occasionaly and drive it down the autobann. The tractors were supposed to travel in one lane but would sometimes drive with the front in one lane and the rear in the other and block traffic, just to piss off the locals.
ReplyDelete"What gun for radioactive Russian boar?"
ReplyDeleteMosin-Nagant. Is good enough in Great Patriotic War, is good enough for big, glowing pig.
I was in a General Support Artillery Battalion (8" M110A2 SP) in the late 80's in the FRG .... I can tell you that EVERY 8" Battalion had a "Special Weapons Section", attached to Bn HQ ..... every M110a2 was a potential "Atomic Annie"..... range wasn't that great: we referred to to "Special Weapons" as the Nuclear Handgrenade section..... if we fired it, we were pretty much SOL.....
ReplyDeleteWhen I asked "Which Gun For Radioactive Russian Boar?" I wasn't talking about creating them, Tam....
ReplyDeleteDamn, I had the model waaaaaay back. Produced by Renwal, I believe (the model, not the real life gun). Time to check eBay...
ReplyDeletetw: eatigaze. Sounds like a neologism an EEO flunky would coin to describe intense and unwelcome eye contact.
Nineteen comments in and nobody has said: "12-boar".
ReplyDeleteI guess you have to be British...
MJ
I saw a deer struck by a 105mm HEAT round on the Fort Dix tank range. Judging by the red mist, we had enough gun.
ReplyDeleteDepleted uranium also undergoes adiabatic shearing under intense pressure, making it "self-sharpening" as it penetrates instead of mushrooming like tungsten, making it a better penetrator. It's also pyrophoric, with vaporised uranium combusting after penetration. That's a lethal combo that ought to be effective even against mutant radioactive Russian boar.
ReplyDelete