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Did They Have Exploding Cannonballs In The Revolutionary War

Contrary to Hollywood films and popular lore, these cannonballs did not explode on contact. Percussion fuses were not used on spherical projectiles. These shells and spherical case shot were designed to explode only when a flame reached the interior charge.

Technically “cannon balls” never explode. Shells do. Semantics aside, though, the answer is that yes, exploding shells did exist during the American Revolution. However, they were not fired from field or siege guns – what are most properly called cannons.

Cannons used exploding cannon balls, effective against troops and horses, as they threw out deadly shrapnel. They also fired solid shot. In a number of cases soldiers made the mistake of underestimating the force contained in solid shot bouncing across a field.

However, by definition, a cannon ball is solid metal all the way through, no explosive chemicals inside. However, there is something called a “kinetic explosion”, which is sort of like how snow balls burst when they hit something.

When did cannonballs explode?

In the 15th century exploding shot was developed by filling hollow cast-iron balls with gunpowder and fitting a fuze that had to be lit just before firing.

How did cannonballs work in the Revolutionary War?

The bullets were stacked around the rod and a length of cord was continually lashed around pulling the bundle into a shape that was both manageable and could fit the caliber of gun from which it would be shot.

How did exploding cannonballs work?

It was a hollow shell filled with scraps of metal called shrapnel. Once fired at an approaching formation, the shell could explode in mid-air, spreading the shrapnel across a large radius. As the enemy got closer, gunners would switch to canister or grapeshot.

What types of cannons were used in the Revolutionary War?

Cannon, mortars and howitzers made up the three types of artillery used at Yorktown by the Americans, French and British. Cannon included both field guns, which were lightweight, mobile pieces and heavy siege guns which had limited mobility.

When did cannonballs become explosive?

In the 15th century exploding shot was developed by filling hollow cast-iron balls with gunpowder and fitting a fuze that had to be lit just before firing.

Did pirate cannon balls explode?

Did pirate cannon balls explode? No. They were simply large, heavy, deadly pieces of metal.

What causes cannonballs to explode?

Black powder provided the destructive force for cannonballs and artillery shells. The combination of sulfur, potassium nitrate and finely ground charcoal requires a high temperature – 572 degrees Fahrenheit – and friction to ignite.

Did they use cannon balls in the Civil War?

Fact #5: Like previous wars, Civil War artillery could fire multiple types of ammunition. Cannonballs were solid, round objects that would ricochet off the ground and often used to target fortifications and enemy artillery. Case shot was an anti-personnel projectile, meaning it was used against soldiers.

What makes a cannonball explode on impact?

Black powder provided the destructive force for cannonballs and artillery shells. The combination of sulfur, potassium nitrate and finely ground charcoal requires a high temperature – 572 degrees Fahrenheit – and friction to ignite.

Did cannonballs explode in the Revolutionary War?

The distance or range varied tremendously by the size of the ball and the amount of powder used to propel it. This proved to be very dangerous work for gun crews as cannon did explode, showering the crew with deadly metal shards.

What made cannonballs explode?

Black powder provided the destructive force for cannonballs and artillery shells. The combination of sulfur, potassium nitrate and finely ground charcoal requires a high temperature – 572 degrees Fahrenheit – and friction to ignite.

When did artillery shells become explosive?

The artillery shell was in use by the 15th century, at first as a simple container for metal or stone shot, which was dispersed by the bursting of the container after leaving the gun. Explosive shells came into use in the 16th century or perhaps even earlier.

More Answers On Did They Have Exploding Cannonballs In The Revolutionary War

Did cannon balls explode during the Revolutionary War? – Quora

Answer (1 of 3): Technically “cannon balls” never explode. Shells do. Semantics aside, though, the answer is that yes, exploding shells did exist during the American Revolution. However, they were not fired from field or siege guns – what are most properly called cannons. Shells were fired either…

Wondering Out Loud: Did cannonballs explode? | Stories | Notre Dame …

Did cannonballs explode? In movies showing battles from the Civil War and earlier conflicts, cannon-fired projectiles inevitably send up dirt and smoke and flailing stuntmen upon impact. It makes a nice visual and is probably easier to stage than an iron ball bouncing murderously through a division.

Get To Know The Brutal Artillery Of The Revolutionary War

Typical Revolutionary War mortars featured explosive shells ranging from four to 13 inches in diameter which were loaded directly into the barrel. Unlike cannon, however, these mortars were…

did cannonballs explode in the revolutionary war

Revolutionary War Apr 4, 2020 Ian Harvey, Guest Author Sam White was a dyed-in-the-wool Civil War fanatic. Did they have exploding cannonballs in the Revolutionary War? Blasted at

Cannon Projectiles of the American Revolution – Revolutionary War Journal

Joseph Martin writes of soldiers eagerly chasing after spent British cannon balls that rolled harmlessly among them. Lugging the ball to the artillery officer, the ball was immediately added to the American munitions to return the favor; meanwhile the soldier was rewarded with a ration of rum for each ball he retrieved. Shell

How Do Cannon Balls Explode? – Reference.com

While often seen in movies, the exploding variety was less common than solid round shot made of stone or cast iron, due to difficulty in timing the explosion and impact, according to Notre Dame Magazine. Solid shot cannonballs did damage due to their weight and momentum without an explosion. They were useful against fortified walls of castles.

Did cannonballs explode in the civil war? Explained by FAQ Blog

Did cannon balls explode during Revolutionary War? This proved to be very dangerous work for gun crews as cannon did explode, showering the crew with deadly metal shards. … Cannon ball or shot was a sphere cast in iron. Mass times velocity gave it its most destructive punch; therefore it was less effective at a greater range.

Did Canon Balls in the Civil War explode? – Quora

cannonballs did not explode but on impact with whoever or whatever it could or at least ruin the target as long as it a direct hit or nearby it could cause shrapnel and lots of dust that’s why cannons were mostly only used to destroy emplacements the other sides cannons that house over there or the trench the enemy is hiding in you use the musket …

Civil War Cannonball Exploded & Killed 140 Years After it Was Fired

Journals from that period indicate that as many as one in five of the fired pieces were duds and did not explode on contact. Union troops from the North and Southern Confederate troops lobbed an estimated 1.5 million artillery shells and cannonballs at each other from 1861 to 1865

Do cannonballs explode in flaming fashion as … – The Straight Dope

You’ve undoubtedly seen cannonballs at Civil War monuments and such. They look solid. They are solid. That was the idea. Blasted at a ship, fort, or rank of advancing troops, the shot (a generic term for nonexplosive ammo) wouldn’t explode but would definitely make an impression.

did cannonballs explode in the revolutionary war

did cannonballs explode in the revolutionary war. May 25, 2022 by …

Cannon in the American Revolution – Revolutionary War Journal

Revolutionary war period cannon used by all armies was the standard smooth-bore muzzle-loading weapon that had not changed its design in the previous two hundred years. It would go on to remain very much the same for another hundred years. Cast in iron or bronze, a cannon was loaded with prepared cartridge of paper or cloth containing gunpowder …

Did cannon balls explode? Explained by FAQ Blog

Most cannonballs did not explode. However, the ones that did were known as “carcass shot” and were basically hollow and filled with gunpowder. Did Revolutionary War cannon balls explode? Contrary to Hollywood films and popular lore, these cannonballs did not explode on contact. … These shells and spherical case shot were designed to …

Revolutionary Cannons | American Revolution Tour of N.C.

The vent was used to fire the cannon, as you’ll see. Cannons were named by the weight—and therefore size—of iron cannonball they shot. The cannons used before and during the Revolution in N.C. were three-, six-, or nine-pounders. Also used were 1.5-pound “swivel guns,” tiny cannons on stands with metal spikes in the bottom.

When did cannonballs or artillery shells become explosive?

Mortars and howitzers fired hollow, powder-filled balls high into the air at low speed; they fell inside a town or fortification, then exploded. The mortar bomb was possible because the mortar is a low-velocity weapon, and pitched the bomb over a short distance with a small propellant charge.

What technology did the North have in civil war? – PostVines

Mar 21, 2022Did cannon balls explode in the Civil War? Both exploding shells and non-exploding cannonballs were used in the Civil War. Watson said this is not the first time Civil War-era ordnance have been found in the area. Was Civil War artillery explosive? It was a hollow shell filled with scraps of metal called shrapnel.

did cannonballs explode in the revolutionary war

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did cannonballs explode in the revolutionary war

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Top 5 Explosions of the Revolutionary War

During the war’s eight years, there were a few REALLY BIG explosions, the kind that shook the earth, created mushroom clouds, and were heard for miles around. Here are five, well, more than five, actually, because we’ve lumped some similar incidents together. 1. HMS Augusta, Delaware River, October 23, 1777.

Weapons of the American Revolution – Artillery

And some French officers of artillery assure, that they have caused such a piece to fire every day 150 shots in a siege. A 16 and a 12 pounder fire a little more, because they are easier served. There have even been some occasions, where 200 shots have been fired from these pieces, in the space of nine hours, and 138 in the space of five.

Is old cannonball a curiosity or dangerous explosive?

The bomb squad can be reached by calling 577-7434. But be advised that calling the bomb squad means losing the cannonball. Keith Purdy, a local artillery expert, said most old cannonballs don’t …

Do cannonballs explode? – Straight Dope Message Board

Specifically, those from the Civil War. I’m copyediting a Civil War-era western, and the author has a cannonball hitting the ground and exploding, sending shrapnel flying. Normally I defer to the author’s expertise, but I’ve never heard of an exploding cannonball – I thought they were just big solid-metal bowling-ball-type things that did their damage by crashing into things. I haven …

List of cannon projectiles – Wikipedia

Essential parts of a cannon: 1. the projectile or cannonball (shot) 2. gunpowder 3. touch hole (or vent) in which the fuse or other ignition device is inserted. Round shot or solid shot or a cannonball or simply ball. A solid spherical projectile made, in early times, from dressed stone but, by the 17th century, from iron.

What size were small cannon balls early in the war?

Jan 27, 2015. #4. ole said: Sounds like a six pounder shot. 3.6 inches in diameter, 6.1 lbs. Lots of those around in the tulles. Phased out in the major battles. That would be it then.

Help with identifying cannon balls – U.S. Militaria Forum

They measure 4.2 inches in diameter and weigh 9 lbs. 4.6 oz.. British artillery was used during the battle which took place January 18-23 1813 at the Battlefield. We are trying to pinpoint just what these things are. The local cannon guys say they are not cannonballs but something used in industry, this area had heavy industry at one time.

The Cannon Balls of One Piece : OnePiece – reddit.com

The only reason for the balls exploding is to cause greater damage. In case a cannon misses a target, the explosion can cause area damage and be less useless. But if it does hit the target, it causes a lot more damage in a single shot and thus is more efficient. I guess the Marine’s technology is way different than in our world, although the …

Cannonballs Unearthed at the Allegheny Arsenal | History Center Blog

The Duquesne Greys drilled at Allegheny Arsenal in 1870 between rows of surplus cannons and stacks of cannonballs left over from the Civil War. Ordnance officers long had known that canister and grapeshot were the most effective rounds. When fired at close range, the small balls in these cases scattered like a giant shotgun blast and devastated …

OT- Civil War exploding cannonball? – Practical Machinist

Civil War cannonballs. Civil War cannonballs were well enough made that the Black Powder content is still fully effective in 2010, some 150 years later. Black Powder reacts not only to flame, but impact, shock or compression, and of course sparks ( metal on metal ( steel or iron). Most “exploding” fused Balls were “flame fused types, although …

Weapons From the Revolutionary War – The History Junkie

Fusil: Rifles carried by British officers. They were lighter and more accurate than muskets. Bayonets: The Bayonet was fitted to the musket and aided the soldiers in close combat. The bayonet was a crucial weapon in the Revolutionary War. Due to the inaccuracy of the musket, the bayonet charge was used frequently.

Revolutionary Cannons | American Revolution Tour of N.C.

The vent was used to fire the cannon, as you’ll see. Cannons were named by the weight—and therefore size—of iron cannonball they shot. The cannons used before and during the Revolution in N.C. were three-, six-, or nine-pounders. Also used were 1.5-pound “swivel guns,” tiny cannons on stands with metal spikes in the bottom.

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