SCUBA Diving into CANNISTER SHOT

Canister or case shot has been used since the advent of gun-powder charged artillery, - particularly in the 18th &19th centuries. A closed metal cylinder is filled with lead or other metal balls and maybe packed with a filler or buffer material of sawdust or clay/sand to prevent the balls damaging themselves when fired. The case used to be made of tin or iron and was often dipped in a laquer of beeswax and turpentine to prevent corrosion. When fired, the case shattered and its shards and the contents spread in a conical shape just like a large shotgun blast.

             Artillery 12 pounder shot-cannister from the American Civil War (1861-65)

A cloth cartridge bag holding the powder charge might be attached to the rear of the case - and a wooden sabot was used to guide the case in the bore. - At times a lethal 'double cannister' charge was loaded with a single powder charge - for use at short range against massed or charging troops. A skilled artillerists 'skipped canister' technique, as used at 'Gettysburg' , was to aim at the ground in front of advancing troops and ricochet the now flattened pattern on a wider killing front.

When SCUBA diving out of Polkeris Bay (Nr Falmouth, UK) on the wreck of SS VOLNAY in September 1975, we brought-up a lot of these cylindrical clumps of lead ball. - One mate found a large brass case complete with rod propellant that made a great flash and cloud of smoke on the beach later.

                        BRITISH SHOT CASE 15 Pounder MARK V - 1914

   Weights: Case incl Driving Band 3lb 11oz. 290 Mixed metal balls 8lb 9oz. clay & sand 1lb.

The Volnay was carrying a mixed cargo of foodstuffs and anti-personnel shells when sunk by a mine from the German submarine UC64. - I melted-down all my recovered lead ball to make dive belt weights using a homemade timber mould and an old saucepan. - Volnay built in 1910 was an armed merchant steamer of 4,610 tons on route from Montreal to Plymouth when sunk in 1917. - The wreck in some 70 foot of water was mostly flattened and dangerously rusted steel plate (after 58 years on a silt bottom) when we went down on her.

The dive-boat owner Charlie took some of us out mackerel fishing - and believe me - fresh fried rich crispy mackeral fillets eaten with scallops that have been carried to the surface stuffed inside your wetsuite,- are a feast fit for any number of kings that you can find, after a great day cold water diving and fishing!

Today - the American M1A2 / M1A3 Abrams Tank - as well as toting three machine-guns, uses a 120mm smoothbore gun that can fire depleted uranium anti-armour rounds - and the M1028 anti-personnel  canister cartridge containing 1098 x 9.5mm tungsten balls.

Marty K.

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