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40mm Bofors Cannon (Mk I, II, & IV) |
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| SPECIFICATIONS Date of Design: 1941 Date Placed into Service: 1942 Bore: 40mm/56 Calibre Overall Weight: 1,150 lbs Overall length: 98.4 inches Bore Length: 88.6 inches Number of Grooves: 16 Length of Rifling:; 75.85 inches Weight of complete round: 4.75 lbs Wt. of projectile: HE - 1.985 lbs, AP - 1.960 lbs Projectile Length: 17.62 inches Max. Range: 10 degrees-6,844 yards, 20 degrees-9,295 yards, 30 degrees-10,691 yards, 40 degrees-11,208 yards. Muzzle Velocity: 2,890 feet per second Ceiling: 22,299 feet Armor Penetration of AP round: 0 yards-2.7", 2,000 yards-1.2", 4,000 yards-0.60", 6000 yards-0.45". Rate of Fire: 160 rounds/min per barrel Ammunition Types: Armor Piercing w/tracer, Anti-Aircraft HE Magazine: Clip fed, 4 rounds although some guns can use a 48-round clip. Barrel Life: 9,500 rounds |
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Bofors 40mm gun originated as a German Krupp design in 1918. The WW 2 40mm was
manufactured by the Bofors Company in Sweden which, quite literally hand
built and fitted each weapon. Mass production techniques were not
used by Bofors. When the United States bought the rights to manufacture
the 40mm, we did employ mass production techniques which allowed us to produce
the 40mm by the thousands. The British produced the Mark 1 single barrel
and the Mark II double barrel. The United States produced single, double
and quad mounts of the 40mm and supplied them to all our allies. The 40mm was the Navy's standard intermediate range anti-aircraft weapon throughout WW 2, the Mk IV quad mount being extremely effective. The 40mm was used post-war until fast-moving jet aircraft became commonplace. |
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 One
of the few WW2 color photographs of a 40mm crew in action.
National Archives #80-GK-13219 |
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 Twin-40mm
Gun crew on the USS Hornet (CV12) prepares to fire. Note the
four-round ammunition clips in the "ready rack" behind the
sailor on the left.
National Archives #80-G-269278 |
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 Crew
on the USS Hornet (CV12) firing their quad-40mm gun. The loaded
"ready racks" are clearly visible. The gun crews are feeding
the guns so quickly their hands are slightly blurred.
National Archives #80-G-269277 |
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 Asleep
between the mounts.
National Archives #04-0414 |
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 A
40mm crew on alert.
National Archives #80-G-419907 |
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National Archives #28-1375. |
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