Mythbusters, Cannon, Pigs and the like...

Surprised no one here has posted about the Mythbusters Special #11, The Pirate Special, the episode where they shot a cannon ball through four pig carcasses.

The myth was whether splinter fragmentation caused by a cannonball's impact with the wooden hull of a pirate ship could kill more pirates than the direct impact of cannonball itself.

In order to fully confirm or bust the myth, the MythBusters used an authentic Civil War era cannon. Through preliminary testing, they proved that the Civil War cannon was significantly more powerful than the air cannon.

However, when fired at the wooden wall, none of the splinters managed to penetrate the pigs with enough force to be lethal. Therefore, the MythBusters concluded that getting hit with a cannonball was more deadly than the splinters it creates.

Once again the boys, Jamie and Adam, skimped on there research. The wooden wall they used was too thin, and probably made of pine. Ships in the days of pirates had oaken hulls 4-6 inches thick.

Wooden planks cover the outside of the hull. Probing with a small iron rod showed that the hull planking is intact on the remaining part of the vessel. These planks are 4 inches thick and up to 13 inches wide. "Trunnels" or "tree nails" (wooden pegs) and iron bolts attach the hull planks to frames. The trunnels are approximately 1.75 inches in diameter. The hull planks and trunnels are made of white oak.

Wood sheathing was often used to reduce worm damage to the planking. Shipbuilders spread tar, often mixed with animal hair, on the hull and then covered it with wood sheathing. Sheathing made from 1-inch-thick spruce boards was found attached to El Nuevo Constante's hull. Presumably, most of the lower hull once had this sheathing, though it remained in only a few places

CP

 

[cheatherly]

I gave up on that show along time ago. Just because they can't make something work, they think no one can.

 

[CU_Cannon]

I think we have to remember that Mythbusters is entertainment with the guise of being science. It is one of those shows that you love to hate. The fact that they couldn’t find a cannon makes me question their research ability.

Here is a good video from when this topic came up over at graybeard.
[url] http://www.brigniagara.org/movies/Live Fire Broadband.wmv[/url]
[url] http://www.brigniagara.org/virtualtour/fightingsail.htm[/url]