Chains Attached Canon balls

[Gare]

Has anyone ever found canon balls with chains attached to them ?I understand that in the Civil war Some canons were fired with two canon balls inside attached by several feet of chains connecting the two ?

 

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[billb]

Gare
Very interesting post

 

[Gare]

I have heard that some tried this but not much success . i was wondering if anyone else had any info on this

 

[Marineprospector]

Has anyone ever found canon balls with chains attached to them ?I understand that in the Civil war Some canons were fired with two canon balls inside attached by several feet of chains connecting the two ?

They were used to tear down enemy ship masts and to take down wagons and other items that they did not want to blow to pieces so they could get the cargo ! They were also used to take out horses and mules that were pulling wagons of supplies or charging cavalry !

 

[Urien of Rheged]

They were used to tear down enemy ship masts and to take down wagons and other items that they did not want to blow to pieces so they could get the cargo ! They were also used to take out horses and mules that were pulling wagons of supplies or charging cavalry !

Absolutely horrific having these fired at you.
they where used also during the English civil war circa 1641-50. And where especially dreaded by lines of advancing infantrymen for obvious reasons. Doesnt bare thinking about what one of these would do being blasted through a crowd

 

[Gare]

Anyone have any pictures ?

 

[ARC]

They are called "chain shot".... but one must not forget about the equally fierce "bar shot".

For those who would like pictures and more info....

Chain shot - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TDogger]

More info. It was also used in naval battles. The goal was to take the masts out so the ship could not escape.

One moment, please...

weaponsfromhistory.com

 

[Gare]

ARC and Tdogger thank you for replying. I had read some where some were connected by 6 to 8 feet of chain
I just wonder if anyone ever found any of these ?

 

[devldog]

These double barreled cannon were tried, but failed miserably. The problem was having both barrels fire at exactly the same time, resulting in horrendous effects. There was said to be one or two instances where these guns were tried and one barrel fired just before the other resulting in the shells or balls firing backwards and to the rear beheading some members of the guns crew. One of these guns is or at least was in Atens, Ga. on display.