MythBusters · Video summary

Could A Cannonball Actually Sink A Pirate Ship? | MythBusters

In this episode of MythBusters, Adam and Jamie investigate whether splinters from cannonball impacts cause more fatalities than the cannonballs themselves, ultimately concluding that the shrapnel is not as lethal, leading to the myth being busted.

MythBusters · May 10, 2026 · 27-min episode · 5-min read

Could A Cannonball Actually Sink A Pirate Ship? | MythBusters

Key takeaways

The myth that splinters from cannonball impacts are more lethal than the cannonballs themselves was ultimately busted.
Tests conducted on authentic pirate ship wood revealed that White Oak produced the most dangerous splinters, but they still weren't as deadly as direct hits from cannonballs.
The Blowhard 3000, an air cannon built for the tests, achieved a maximum speed of 340 mph, which is significantly lower than the 900 ft/s velocity of real cannons.
Four 150 lb pigs were used as human analogs in the tests, and all four were killed by a single cannonball shot, indicating a high lethality from direct hits.
The tests showed that while there were many splinters, they lacked the force to cause lethal injuries, suggesting that cannonballs were more deadly in a crowded ship scenario.
Research the historical context of pirate ship battles to better understand the conditions under which these myths could occur.

Chapters

0:00🏴‍☠️ Introduction to the Myth
0:03🏗️ Building the Pirate Ship Model
0:06🧨 Conclusion of the Myth
0:08🚀 Firing Range Setup
0:10🪓 Testing Splinter Damage
0:12🔍 Understanding 'Avast'
0:24💥 First Cannonball Test
0:30💣 Final Firing with Real Cannon
0:32🪵 Initial Testing with Wood
0:36🩸 Observing Splinter Impact
0:39🛠️ Constructing the Pirate Ship
0:43📺 Commercial Break
0:44⚰️ Results of the Pig Test
0:44📏 Consulting the Shipwright
0:44⚔️ Using a Real Cannon
0:45💨 Scaling Up the Air Cannon
0:46🎯 Final Pressure Test
0:48🐖 Testing with Pigs

The digest

High Level Overview

This investigation examines the longstanding maritime myth that during pirate battles, more casualties resulted from deadly wooden splinters caused by cannonballs striking a ship’s hull than from the cannonballs themselves. Using realistic ship materials, scaled and full-scale air cannons, and ultimately a real functional cannon firing authentic six-pound cannonballs at pig carcasses (human analogs), the study seeks to determine whether splinter injuries were indeed more lethal than direct cannonball hits. This analysis is valuable for history enthusiasts, naval weaponry experts, and professionals interested in ballistics and safety in naval combat scenarios.