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Los Alamos

Los Alamos Natio~~I Laborat
LosAIamo~.New Mexico 87S4

memorandum

 ~: Studie~ & Analysis ~ranch(WF 13)
      Attn: Maj Larson
F~OM  LtCol M~V. Ziehmn

I Mar 1991

haA~LflTOprr~1p~~L F66S/(5O5)66S-191~

:vMeO~ MCL nO

SuOJLCT  THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DEPLETED URANIUM PENETRATORS

    There is a relatively ~;nall   amount of lethality data for
uranium penetrators    either the tank fired long version or the
~AU-~ round fired from th~ A-1O ~~lose air support aircraft.
The recent war has   likely multiplied the number of dU rounds
fired at targets by orders of ma~nitude.   It is believed that
dU penetrators ~~~~0~~~~~ eff~ctive against Iraqi! arnior; how
ev~r, assessnients     such will have to De maae.

     There has been and continues to be a concern regarding
the impact of dU on the environment. Therefore~ if no one makes
a case for the effectiveness of dU on the battlefield, dU rounds
may beco~e politically unacceptable and thus, be deleted from
the arsenal

      If dU penetrators prov~d their worth during our recent
combat activities, then we should dSsure their future existence
(until  something better is developed) through Service/DoD pro-
ponency.  If proponency is not garnered, it is possible that we
stand to  ~ose a valuable combat capability

     I belie~e w~ should keep this sensitive issue at mind
when after action reports are written.

Respectful ly~

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