RE: two beautiful pictures [TANKS]

[Bill Hamilton <seeker-at-phoenyx.net>]

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004, John Guy wrote:

> Spot on Erick
>
> The Hesh roand momentarily flattens onto the armour like a cowpat,
> before detonating and sending a shockwave through the armour, shattering
> the inside
> Of the armour and sending red hot fragments of armour plate whizzing
> round the fighting compartment (I think the fragments were refered to as
> "spalding").

"Spalling".  This actually is a very old concept.  The traditional image 
of the pirate witha  pegleg, eyepatch and hook is based in reality.  When 
a cannonball hit the oak planking of a ship, it often would not actually 
penetrate.  However, the inner surface of the boards would spall, sending 
shards of wood flying in all directions.  This, naturally, would injure 
anyone nearby.  These injuries usually either meant amputation or a slow, 
agonizing death, because there was no way to remove all the small slivers 
of wood.


-Bill "Useless trivia is me" Hamilton