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To: CholeraJoe

Anyone care to explain how these things work?

I was never good at this stuff, but I don’t see how a missile could penetrate layers of rock and concrete and THEN explode.

It’s not like the leading edge of the missile is a diamond saw and drills down...


10 posted on 02/29/2008 5:27:06 AM PST by tj21807
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To: tj21807

The explosive charge is heavily shielded from damage (titanium alloy and carbon fiber) and propelled through the solid rock, reinforced concrete, whatever by a rocket motor. It then detonates based on either a timer (X seconds after impact) or a predetermined distance of penetration (X meters farther from the GPS satellite than point of impact.)

It doesn’t sound that complicated but it IS Rocket Science.


13 posted on 02/29/2008 5:44:23 AM PST by CholeraJoe (Save the crab louse! Ban the brazilian!)
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To: tj21807

You’re right you are not very good at this. Study shape charges for a while, then maybe you’ll understand.


19 posted on 02/29/2008 6:48:36 AM PST by Ace the Biker (I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could.)
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To: tj21807

Nothing too complex. Upon contact the shaped charge sends a highly-directional blast out in front of the main bomb. The main bomb is protected from the back blast of the shaped charge so it does not detonate. The shaped charge’s blast wave travels faster than the bomb trailing behind it, thereby creating a hole for the bomb to travel down. When the bomb gets to the end of the hole it detonates.


22 posted on 02/29/2008 7:43:25 AM PST by Justa (Politically Correct is morally wrong.)
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