Bofors anti-aircraft gun on MK III mounting

Maker Aktiebolaget Bofors

Date1941

Object number00006433

NameBofors anti-aircraft gun

MediumMetal

DimensionsOverall: 1925 x 3930 mm

ClassificationsArmament

Credit LineANMM Collection Transfer from Royal Australian Navy

Terms

Sweden

DescriptionThis anti-aircraft gun was manufactured by Aktiebolaget Bofors of Sweden. It was standard equipment on all Royal Australian Navy ships from the 1940s and most recently was used on the Fremantle class patrol boats. With a firing rate of up to 160 rounds per minute the weapon was effective at countering air attacks. This gun was reconditioned at the Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory in 1946 and transferred from the Department of Defence (Navy) to the Museum in 1988. The Navy used this type of weapon during World War II and afterwards for training purposes. HistoryPrior to World War II Bofors anti-aircraft guns had rapid automatic firing capabilities but they were predominantly hand operated. They were operated by two gunlayers; one controlling its elevation while the second managing its traverse (horizontal bearing). A third and fourth operator loaded the ammunition into the gun, which fired at a rate of up to 160 rounds per minute. These guns were light and simple, favoured by many navies as an air defence weapon on large ships and as the main weaponry on smaller vessels. In the later stages of World War II frigates were loaded with additional Bofors anti-aircraft guns, on top of their usual armament of six. This was an effort to ward off kamikaze attacks by Japanese pilots. This example was refurbished for museum display in 1988 by the Gunwharf Workshop, Zetland, NSW.SignificanceThis gun represents anti-aircraft weaponry used on Australian naval vessels during and after World War II. This particular example is in very good condition and maintains many of the original features that usually do not survive on Bofors weaponry, such as the felt rims on the ammunition boxes.