The Bofors Gun

The definitive history of this enduring and versatile anti-aircraft weapon, including many photos and drawings.

The 40mm Bofors gun, first produced in the 1930s, has become one of the most famous artillery pieces of all time. It shows no sign of fading from the defense scene as, in the second decade of the twenty-first century, it performs in many roles that were not contemplated by its original designers. It has also proven to be so versatile that it is now allied to electronic and other technological marvels that were mere pipe dreams only a few years ago.

When the Bofors entered the international defense market, its primary quarry, the military aircraft, was still a slow and fragile machine that could be terminally damaged by a single hit from a 40mm projectile. Terry Gander describes this early period in the gun's development and he shows how, despite recent increases in target speed and other performance parameters, it can still inflict a one-hit kill on almost any aircraft, helicopter or guided missile. Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the story is that the fundamentals of today's Bofors guns remain virtually unchanged from the very first examples to come off the Karlskoga production line in Sweden.

In all its forms, the Bofors continues to be a sound, reliable, and lethal piece of military hardware that has given good service to gunners all over the world. Terry Gander's comprehensive account of the history of this remarkable weapon over the course of almost eighty years is fascinating reading and an invaluable work of reference for military historians and artillery specialists alike.

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