Often called the "beehive" round (so named for the very distinctive whistling buzz made by thousands of steel flechettes flying downrange at supersonic speeds) and intended for use against troops in the open.
A ballistic shell packed with these flechettes was fired and set off by a mechanical time fuse, scattering flechettes in an expanding cone. It could be used via artillery shells, tank rounds and helicopter missiles.
It saw use in every major conflict, originating from WW1 pilots, and during the Vietnam War, B-52s would sometimes pack their load with some of these babies.
The incoming bombers flew too high to be audible on the ground, and the descent of the flechettes was also silent. Enemy troops had no warning, except for the gentle rustling of overhead vegetation at the very last split-second. Suddenly, screams of agony and the onset of abject terror as the enemy was literally cut to pieces, many living just long enough to see their comrades shredded like cheese through a grater.
Interviews with survivors indicated this was among the most feared weapons.
So, if you ever need something to abort souls at wholesale, this is it. #slaycommies #stayzero #zerofoxtrot