Can anyone help me identify this gun sight?

[JonnyBowler]

Hello

I found this excellent and informative forum after extensive searching for photographs of the Bofors 40mm L60 AA gun.

I'm hoping that one of you artillery experts here can help me ascertain whether or not the gun sight in the picture below would have been used on one of the many variants of the Bofors L60:



I'm aware that there were different types of sights used on the Bofors throughout WW2, but have yet to see a photograph that clearly shows the type of sight shown above.

I've found dozens of WW2 and museum photos of Bofors guns on the Internet and also in Terry Gander's book 'The 40mm Bofors Gun'. The majority of photos show the 'Stiffkey' sight, which is quite different. I've also seen a US-built L60 with a similar circular sight, but the outer rim looks much thicker, with a single mounting rod on the bottom (no Y-shaped metalwork).

Many thanks for any advice you can offer!

Jon

[Gunner]

Hi Jonny:

At first glance it looks like the AA sight for an MG34 or 42. I'm not an expert on German MGs so don't get too attached to my thinkin'!

If you can post more details on the markings/stampings and the size (put a ruler in the photo) we might be of more assistance.

Good luck with your research.

Mike

[JonnyBowler]

Hi Mike

Sorry, I should have stated the size!

I don't yet own the item... I'm considering buying it from a militaria dealer as a 'momento' of my grandfather's WW2 service in the Royal Artillery on Bofors guns - hence the reason I need to be sure it's from a Bofors.

The dealer sent me the following shot of the sight on a wooden bench, which should give you a better idea of its size:



Apparently the circle diameter is 19cm (7.5") and it stands 28cm (11"), so I'd guess it's the right kind of size for an artillery piece?

Below are some of the photos I've found (some from this forum!) that show Bofors L60s with similar sights - but, to my eyes, the proportions look different or the details are too obscure to be certain:










Maybe it's from a naval Bofors?

Thanks

Jon

PS - I don't suppose you're a relation of T.D. 'Tommy' Calnan, the WW2 PRU Spitfire pilot?

[Godwin Hampton]

Jonny,

I don't know which gun the sight is off, but I am 99.999% certain it is NOT a Bofors L60 sight. The British Forward Area Sights are different in design, and attach to the sight arm using two clamping wingnuts. For this reason they had a plate welded on beneath the circular rim, with two slots at the bottom edge which fitted over the wing nut studs.

The sight in your picture has a stem thet is inserted in a hole and presumably locked by a pin in the groove at the lower end, after having been located correctly by the cross-pin furthur up.

Hope this helps.

[JonnyBowler]

Hi Godwin

Please accept my sincere apologies for taking so long to respond to your post (I've just started my own business, so I've not had much time for anything else over the last few weeks!)

You have confirmed my suspicions that the sight is not from a Bofors L60.

Not that it makes much difference now, but apparently the sight apparently has two serial or part number markings on it 'A/2186' and 'LMSD62'. I mention this, out of curiosity, in case someone here can shed some light on what kind of gun the sight might have come from... Perhaps some other British WW2 artillery gun? (maybe the heavy 3.75 inch AA gun?)

Many thanks for sharing your wisdom!

Jon