Bofors 40mm Anti-Aircraft Gun

First developed in the 1930s by Sweden's AB Bofors company, the 40mm (1.57 inch) Anti-Aircraft Gun has an effective range of 4000 yards and is rated for a maximum fire rate of 80-100 rounds per minute.  Each shell weighs approx. 2 pounds, and are manually fed into the gun in clips of four rounds.

MAPS has two Bofors on loan to our collection.  A pedestal mounted version, as would be used on a naval vessel, and a wheeled version that could be towed into action.

Bofors 40mm AA Gun • photo © Gary Haught

The Bofors is operated by a two man firing crew; the crewman on the right operates the rotating mechanism of the gun, while the crewman on the left operates the elevating mechanism and fires the gun using pedals.   There were usually two sets of loaders to keep the four round clips coming fast enough.

Wheeled Bofors 40mm AA Gun • photo © Gary Haught

Often claimed to be the best anti-aircraft gun that has been produced, a quick web search reveals that World War II-era Bofors are not only still in active use, but Bofors is actively offering upgrades to the systems.

Interesting fact: The AB Bofors company worked in conjunction with Germany's Krupp Armament Works following World War I.  Since Germany was prohibited by the Versailles Treaty from producing arms, they had AB Bofors (and other firms) build these weapons for them.  Any similarities between the Bofors and the famous German 37mm FLAK (Flugabwehrkanone) can be explained because they were designed by the same people.