Case-shot

Case-shot

Caseshot was a projectile used in ordnance for fighting at close quarters. It consists of a thin metal case containing a large number of bullets or other small projectiles, such as musketballs, stones, or old pieces of iron. Case-shot was formerly called canister, though the term now used occurs as early as 1625. The case (shell) was fired from the gun and the bullets left the shell case immediately they were fired and travelled individually, much like a large shotgun.

Case shot was only effective up to approximately 300 yards ["Treatise on Ammunition" 10th Edition 1915. War Office, UK. Page 226-227] , due to the poor aerodynamic characteristics of the individual bullets. By the 20th Century, case shot was replaced by shrapnel shells. Because the shrapnel bullets remained in their streamlined case for most of their journey and were hence aerodynamically efficient (they had less air resistance), they could be effective up to approximately 6000 yards. In emergencies (e.g. if they were being overrun by an enemy) gunners could set the time delay of shrapnel shells to 0 seconds to cause the shell to release the bullets immediately it left the gun, and hence achieve the same effect as case shot.

Image gallery

ee also

* Canister shot
* Grapeshot
* Shrapnel shell

Notes and References

*1911


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Case shot — (Mil.) A collection of small projectiles, inclosed in a case or canister. [1913 Webster] Note: In the United States a case shot is a thin spherical or oblong cast iron shell containing musket balls and a bursting charge, with a time fuse; called… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • case-shot — caseˈ shot noun Canister shot, an artillery projectile for use at close quarters • • • Main Entry: ↑case …   Useful english dictionary

  • case shot — n. a quantity of small projectiles enclosed in a single case, as a shrapnel shell, for firing from a gun …   English World dictionary

  • case shot — noun a metallic cylinder packed with shot and used as ammunition in a firearm • Syn: ↑canister, ↑canister shot • Hypernyms: ↑ammunition, ↑ammo • Part Meronyms: ↑shot, ↑pellet * …   Useful english dictionary

  • case shot — kartečė statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Didesni negu 5 mm medžioklinių šautuvų šratai. atitikmenys: angl. canister; case shot rus. картечь …   Artilerijos terminų žodynas

  • case shot — kartečė statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Sviedinys, kuris sprogdavo lėkdamas iš vamzdžio; iš žiočių jau išlėkdavo sviedinyje buvę kulkos, šratai, skeveldros. Jas pakeitė ↑šrapnelis. atitikmenys: angl. canister; case shot rus. картечь ryšiai:… …   Artilerijos terminų žodynas

  • case shot — a collection of small projectiles in a case, to be fired from a cannon. Also called canister, canister shot. [1665 75] * * * …   Universalium

  • case shot — /ˈkeɪs ʃɒt/ (say kays shot) noun a collection of small projectiles in a case, to be fired from a cannon …  

  • case-shot — noun any mixture of stones and old iron, put into a wooden case and fired from a cannon as an anti personnel weapon Syn: canister …   Wiktionary

  • case-shot — noun historical bullets or pieces of metal in an iron case, fired from a cannon …   English new terms dictionary

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