Chain shot facts for kids
Chain shot was a special type of cannonball used a long time ago, especially on sailing ships. It was made of two smaller cannonballs, or half-balls, connected by a chain. There was also something similar called bar shot, which had a solid bar connecting the two parts instead of a chain.
These special cannonballs were used during the age of sailing ships and black powder cannons. Their main job was to damage the masts of enemy ships. They could also cut the ropes and sails, which are called the rigging, to stop a ship from moving.
Contents
How Did Chain Shot Work?
When a chain shot was fired from a cannon, it would spin and tumble through the air. The chain connecting the two parts would stretch out completely. Imagine a long chain, sometimes up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) long, sweeping through the target!
However, because the shot tumbled, it was not very accurate. This meant it was best used at shorter distances. It was harder to hit a specific spot with chain shot compared to a regular round cannonball.
Where Was Chain Shot Used?
Chain shot was mostly used at sea against other ships. But sometimes, it was also used on land. It could be fired at groups of soldiers. For example, during the Sack of Magdeburg in 1631, defenders used chain shot against attackers.
It was also used in other battles. During the first English Civil War, it was fired at Parliamentarian soldiers. It was used against Oliver Cromwell's forces in Ireland during the siege of Clonmel in 1650. In India, it was used against the 76th Highlanders in 1803. The French also used it against the Dutch at the Battle of Waterloo. Even during the American Civil War, Union troops used it at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Why Did Chain Shot Stop Being Used?
The usefulness of chain shot faded away as technology changed. Wooden sailing ships were replaced by strong, armored steam ships. These new ships did not have masts or rigging that chain shot could easily damage.
Also, cannons themselves changed. Old cannons were smooth inside and loaded from the front. New cannons became "rifled," meaning they had grooves inside the barrel. They were also loaded from the back. Chain shot would damage the inside of these new rifled barrels. This would make the cannons less accurate and reduce how far they could shoot. The new cannons and their ammunition were designed to fight armored ships, not just wooden ones.
In modern times, a similar idea exists for shotguns. These are called "bolo shells." They are two slugs connected by a strong wire. However, these are banned in many places, including Florida.
See also
In Spanish: Bala encadenada para niños
