12 lb US bormann shell

[jusmct]

Hi
I'm new to the forum and would like to find out how a 12lb US Bormann shell was assembled. From what I understand:
1- there were balls packed in a matrix inside the shell
2- a tin of powder inserted ????
3- an underfuse inserted
4- the Bormann fuse inserted. Does that sound correct. Thanks
Joe T

 

[Darrell]

That's pretty much it. I can tell you the number of balls will vary a little also.

 

[jusmct]

Bormann

Does anyone have a pic or an example of the powder tin ?
Joe T

 

[PCGeorge]

By the time of the American civil war, the use of an internal "powdercan" had been found to be unnecessary for Field Artillery calibers of cannonballs (6-, 12-, and 24-pounder). That is also true for most types of Rifled cannon Case-Shot projectiles. Take a close look at photos of sawed-in-half Case-Shot projectiles and you'll see that only two types used a powdercan ...they are Parrott (all calibers) and 4.5" Dyer Case-Shot.

Jusmct asked:
> I'm new to the forum and would like to find out how a 12lb US Bormann shell was assembled.

Your guess is pretty close.
1- The empty cavity in the "Case" (body) was filled full of lead balls or slugs.
2- The matrix material (such as pitch, sulfur, or asphalt) was heated in a large pot until it became molten/liquid.
3- The molten matrix material was then poured down the projectile's fuzehole until the cavity was entirely filled.
4- The molten matrix was allowed to cool until it completely solidified.
5- A LARGE (5/8-to-7/8") auger drillbit was then used to create a cavity for the bursting-charge powder, by simply drilling down through the solidified matrix and lead balls. (See footnote #1.)
6- The prescribed amount (weight) of powder was then inserted. (See footnote #2.)
7- Screw in the Bormann fuze's brass or iron support-plug (also called an underplug).
8- The Bormann fuze itself was generally NOT inserted into the shell at the shell-manufacturing factory. It was inserted when the shells were issued to the ammo-supply wagons "in the field."

Footnote #1:
Diggers and collectors often encounter proof that the Case-Shot's powder cavity was made by simply drilling a hole down through the balls & matrix. You'll find some lead case-shot balls which got "nicked" by the big auger drillbit ...it cut a wide "gutter-shaped" channel into the edge of the lead ball.

Footnote #2:
The prescribed amount of powder for the bursting-charge in a 12-pounder Case-Shot was one ounce. (For 12-pounder Common-Shells, it was 6 ounces of powder ...but was changed to 7 ounces late in the war.)

Regards,
Pete [P.C. George]

 

[Darrell]

Is this the gutter shape case shot you are talking about in foot note #1?

 

[PCGeorge]

Yes... that is definitely a lead case-shot ball whose originally-spherical body got very deeply "gutter-grooved" by the auger drillbit as it bored out a bursting-charge cavity. Most of the time, the "gutter-shaped" groove is less extensive ...though of course, the extent is purely a matter of chance. I've seen some lead case-shot balls that the auger drillbit barely nicked, and others with about half of the ball cut away, and a few "radical" ones like what's shown in your photo.

By the way, thank you for providing that very Educational photo. It shows this forum's other readers exactly what I meant when I spoke of a "gutter-shaped" groove made by the auger drillbit. I didn't have a photo of one, or I'd have included it in my post. Thanks again.

Just to make my point clear:
None of the lead case-shot balls were "gutter-grooved" when they were put into the Case-Shot shell during manufacture. They are the result of drill-boring a bursting-charge cavity into the mass of matrix-&-balls inside the case-shot shell.

Regards,
Pete [P.C. George]