case shot

Non-explosive artillery projectile consisting of a sheet-metal canister filled with lead or cast-iron balls. On being fired from a gun the canister is split by the force of the propellant explosion and the balls and canister fragments are ejected from the gun muzzle in the manner of a shotgun charge.

Devastating at close range against troops, it had fallen into disuse in the mid-19th century but was revived by the British in World War I for the 6-pounder guns used in early tanks. It was used primarily as an anti-personnel weapon for clearing trenches as the tank passed along them.