Thanks to all for their replies.
The following is found in the Brooke papers dated 16 Sept, 1863.
Acting Master Charles A McEvoy, Richmond, to Brooke BP
I beg leave to submit the following report of the trial of Bormann fuzes made on the 15th inst. in compliance with your order.
The fuzes - eight in number - were made at the CS Naval Laboratory, Richmond, inserted in shell, and fired from a 12 pdr. Boat Howitzer.
Charge of powder used 1. lb.
The first four fuzes were cut at 3 seconds, two of which exploded in three seconds - one at 4 and the other at 41/2, after leaving the gun.
The remaining four were cut - 3 at 4, and the other at 5 seconds, all of which exploded in proper time.
The results may be considered very satisfactory from the fact that all the shells exploded, with the exception of 2, in proper time, and none failed to explode at some time, but in no instance prematurely. Yet I think that it would be advisable to give them further trial before making a large number of them.
From the fact that the max time they were tested at was 5 seconds, I believe that they were 5.5 second Bormanns. Did the Naval Laboratory ever discontinue making them like the arsenals? 5.5 seconds would work fine in a boat Howitzer. I don't think that they looked any different than any other CS Bormann. Wanted to know whether these trial went any further.
Thanks
Dan