hey all, just wanted to let you guys know, that for all U.S. members here, there is a new Mythbusters show out that they demonstrate the concept of grapeshotting - sticking in cutlery, knives, chain, wine bottles, small cannon balls, and peg legs!

anybody who has any doubts or complaints about the cannon grapeshot rule should definately go see the show! website is www.discovery.com/mythbusters for those interested

---please remove if you think its considered off topic...

I would never doubt the grapeshot rule. It is based on military history and it was lethal against massed infantry at close range. If you have seen the most recent film of the Alamo they actually fire bags of nails etc at the Mexicans when they get close. Jolly unpleasant :|

Well in sea warfare they would use grape shots and target the ships sails, this would slow down a ship greatly or stop it dead if it had no ores to move it along.

The grape shot was used a fair bit, since there isn't any real point in shooting a cannon ball at someone who is right in your face, only reason it wasn't used more was because of it's short range

yeah of course, i just brought up this thread so people could go see the true potential of a grapeshot =D
when they fire the chain, it basically cuts the human analog in half!

Well in sea warfare they would use grape shots and target the ships sails, this would slow down a ship greatly or stop it dead if it had no ores to move it along.

The grape shot was used a fair bit, since there isn't any real point in shooting a cannon ball at someone who is right in your face, only reason it wasn't used more was because of it's short range

Actually, grape shot was used to clear the crew from the enemy ship's deck to make boarding and taking the ship easier. They had other types of shot for destroying masts and sails such as bar shot and chain shot.

Naval history intrigues me!