A method and apparatus for filling a shell body with sub-projectiles in a predefined geometric arrangement and in a very short time without creating shifting errors is provided. Prior to filling the shell body, the sub-projectiles may be combined into layers which are as thick as the length of the sub-projectiles and which extend in planes transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shell body. The sub-projectiles take up a position in the layer which corresponds to their geometric arrangement in a hollow chamber of the shell body. During the combination, the outer periphery of the layers may be shaped so that, following insertion of the layer into the hollow chamber, the sub-projectiles may be held there and fixed against relative rotation while maintaining the previously formed geometric arrangement. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the outer periphery of the layers may assume a hexagonal shape where the axes of the cylindrical sub-projectiles are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shell body.