JD>Back during the Falklands conflict between the Brits and the Argentines,
JD>one of the Brits newest destroyers got center punched by an exocet. The
JD>impact and explosion set the "latest, hi-tech, *aluminum*, superstructure
JD>on fire. The fire raged with such intensity that the ship was lost. Now
JD>thermite ain't made of aluminum, but aluminum and magnesium are very close
JD>to one another on the old periodic table and have similar properties. If
JD>you can get the Al burning, your going to have a dickens of a time putting
JD>it out. Needless to say, the Admiralty rethought their ideas on destroyer
JD>construction and went back to making their cans out of "tin".
Anything will burn.  If you get it hot enough.  The point that I was
trying to make was that I don't think aluminum will ignite and continue
to burn if it was just a projectile.  That ship had a little help.
About 1000 lbs of HE type help.  But there may have also been other
things to help it along as well, such as jet fuel, oil, diesel fuel,
etc.  That very interesting, however.  I've never tryed to just set fire
to a peice of aluminum before.  I might have to try that tomorrow.  :)
        Don
 * SLMR 2.1a * I am Hillary,hear me roar,I'm more powerful than Al Gore.
--- T.A.G. 2.7c
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