Grapeshot
Inartillery,agrapeshotis a type ofammunitionthat consists of a collection of smaller-caliberround shotspacked tightly in acanvasbag[1]and separated from thegunpowdercharge by a metalwadding,rather than being a single solidprojectile.When assembled, the shot resembled a cluster ofgrapes,hence the name. Grapeshot was used both on land and at sea. On firing, the canvas wrapping disintegrates and the contained balls scatter out from the muzzle, giving a ballistic effect similar to a giantshotgun.[2]
Grapeshot was devastatingly effective against massed infantry at short range and was also used at medium range. Solid shot was used at longer range andcanisterat shorter. When used in naval warfare, grapeshot served a dual purpose. First, it continued its role as an anti-personnel projectile. However, the effect was diminished due to a large portion of the crew being below decks and the addition of hammock netting in iron brackets intended to slow or stop smaller shot.[3]Second, the shot was cast large enough to cut rigging, destroy spars and blocks, and puncture multiple sails.[4][5]
Canister shot,also known as case shot, fired a larger number of smaller projectiles loosely packaged in atinorbrasscontainer, possibly guided by a woodensabot.The latershrapnel shellcontained similarly smaller projectiles, and used a timed bursting charge to expel those projectiles from the front of the container.[2]
Langrage is a type of improvised round that useschainlinks, nails, shards of glass, rocks or other similar objects as the projectiles. Although langrage can be cheaply made, itsballisticsare inferior to that of metal spheres.[6]
-
An example of grapeshot -
A small cannonball and holder for a grapeshot recovered from theCSSGeorgiain 2015 -
Munitions atFort McAllister,showing a grapeshot projectile
See also
[edit]- 13 Vendémiairefamous use of grapeshot
- Beehive anti-personnel round
- Chain-shot—a shot consisting of metal chains
- Salvo
- Shotgun shell,functionally identical small arms ammunition
- Swivel shot
References
[edit]- ^Old Humphrey (1799).The old sea captain.Religious Tract Society. p.227.
- ^abMiller, Francis Trevelyan (1957).The Photographic History of The Civil War.Vol. Five: Forts and Artillery. New York: Castle Books. p. 177.
- ^Davis, Charles Gerard(1984).American Sailing Ships: Their Plans and History.Courier Corporation. p.109.ISBN9780486246581.
false.
- ^Henry Burchstead Skinner (1853).The Book of Indian Battles from the Landing of the Pilgrims to King Philips War.p. 141.
- ^Martin, Tyrone G (1987). "Isaac Hull's Victory Revisited".American Neptune.
- ^Page, Courtney."Langrage".Queen Anne's Revenge Project.Retrieved10 June2019.
External links
[edit]