Jump to content

No canister shot?


Recommended Posts

Well, I don't know about cannister use by the Germans but I have found a reference to the use of 37mm cannister by the USMC on Guadacanal on 21st August 1942. Leaving vagarities of supply and inter-service jealouses aside, there doesn't appear to be any obvious reason why Stuarts in Normandy in june through August 1944 shouldn 't have had access to cannister rounds. I am sure someone who knows about this will be along soon to put us straight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I seem to recall that Cannister rounds did not make it into CM until CMBB.

Hated being on the receiving end of that stuff. The game at that point did not allow for cover with regards to Cannister. Your men were just as likely to be cut down when in a heavy church, as out in the open.

Someone on the boards here called it a "swarm of angry bees." I'm looking forward to how it's modelled in the future.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Canister was used in the 37mm AT gun(M3A1), and both models of the tank guns(M5A1 and M6) used in the M5 tank, M3 tank, and M8 Greyhound.

From the American Arsenal pg 266:

Canister, M2, as the designation implies is little more than a can filled with approximately 122 lead balls which are imbedded in a resin matrix. The canister is used primarily as tank armament against personnel. The shock of discharge ruptures the case and the canister leaves the gun with a muzzle velocity of 2500 ft per second. The case bursts within 100 ft after discharge...[further explanation about the powder used.]

No mention about dates used but I'm almost positive it was used since the U.S. entered conflict in 41. I'm not positive but I could have sworn I saw the canister round in CMBO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BF never added canister to CMSF and I'd bet it's low on the list for CMN, mostly because all those pellets need to be tracked with ballistics. It'll put out 122 simultaneous physics objects per shot, which is probably more than the number of rounds in the air at any one time in many CMN fire fights. A platoon firing these is going to be pretty heavy and i don't think this area is super optimized, the GAU-8 on the A-10 in CMSF could slow some weaker PCs if I remember correctly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BF never added canister to CMSF and I'd bet it's low on the list for CMN, mostly because all those pellets need to be tracked with ballistics. It'll put out 122 simultaneous physics objects per shot, which is probably more than the number of rounds in the air at any one time in many CMN fire fights. A platoon firing these is going to be pretty heavy and i don't think this area is super optimized, the GAU-8 on the A-10 in CMSF could slow some weaker PCs if I remember correctly.

Well, I don't think they have to model 122 projectiles, it's more like an exploding shell but with a directional spray pattern. It would have to be abstracted like they do for artillery explosions. They don't track every piece of shrapnel, do they?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah - it was definitely in CMBO and CMAK but I haven't seen any reference to whether it was used in Normandy. Apparently something had to be fitted to the gun muzzle before they could use it, which is where the 'C' variant of the 215/9 came in.

The 'C' refers entirely to the 251 chassis-variant the gun was installed in. 9s only come in C and D variants. Cs in Normandy are very unlikely. The short 75 was at this point at the very far end of the line as far as production priorities go. It was a case of: "what do we do with all these virtually-useless guns now we up-gunned our Panzer/SPG fleet? Let's biff em into HTs and scout-cars then call it a day eh? Who cares if they'll be grossly overweight? Moar gunz."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just came across this, its the only thing I could find in 20 min search. Anyone willing to research the mentioned tank battalion further? Got to get off, busy at home.

http://www.historykb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/world-war-ii/417/US-37mm-Ammo

Upon further searching I found this. If these two bits of info are to be trusted, it means 1) Most if not all tanks in that division had 70% canister shot onboard 2) They are documented as being deployed and engaged during CM:BN time period. I'm sure if this division carried so much canister then others had to be using it in some quantity also.

http://www.trailblazersww2.org/units_attached_tanks.htm

735th Tank Battalion

Activated on 10 January 1943 at Fort Lewis, Washington, under Lt. Col. Ralph Alexander, commanding. Committed on 15 July 1944 in Normandy near Sallen. After breakout, fought at Angers, Chartres, and Reims. Crossed the Moselle in early September and became embroiled in fighting around Metz. Joined fruitless assault on Fort Driant in October 1944. In November, supported 5th Infantry Division's drive into Metz and reduction of forts still holding out. Relieved elements of 778th Tank Battalion in Saarlautern east of Saar River On 17 December. Deployed northward to join fighting in Ardennes beginning 21 December. Remained in Luxembourg until February 1945, during which month the battalion conducted limited offensive operations against Siegfried Line with the 87th Infantry Division. Reached Rhine near Koblenz 13 March and crossed 25 March on rafts as part of the 87th Infantry Division assault. Dashed across Germany, reaching Saale River on 13 April. Crossed the Weisse Elster near Brockav on 16 April and went onto defensive.

I need canister ...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...