Inartillery, agrapeshot is a type ofammunition that consists of a collection of smaller-caliberround shots packed tightly in acanvas bag[1] and separated from thegunpowder charge 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 andcanister at 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 atin orbrass container, possibly guided by a woodensabot. The latershrapnel shell contained 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 useschain links, nails, shards of glass, rocks or other similar objects as the projectiles. Although langrage can be cheaply made, itsballistics are inferior to that of metal spheres.[6]
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