40mm Bofors Question

[Godwin Hampton]

May I add something, Mats,

As it is now, the first round to be fed by the loader pushing two clips down hard into the autoloader will have the cartridge rim fall squarely into the two rammer levers. When the gun is fired, the rammer is released and flies forward. The levers move in grooves which open outwards at the end of travel, making the levers release the round to continue on its way into the chamber.

The rammer has to be rather powerful to flick the rounds into the chamber, especially at high angles of elevation.

As it is in the photo, rounds cannot be loaded ( or unloaded ) as they will not clear the rammer levers. First the Hand Operating Lever on the outside of the gun has to be moved right back all the way, over-cocking the rammer. The grooves also open out towards the rear, opening out the levers and allowing the gun to be loaded/unloaded.

This was convenient if for example an armoured car had to be engaged. The AA round on the tray would be removed, and replaced with an AP round without disturbing the rest of the ammunition in the autoloader. The round on the tray could also be removed and the rammer released during periods of inactivity, to render the gun safe and to 'ease springs'. By moving the Hand Operating Lever to the rear to re-cock the rammer, and pressing down on the rounds again the gun would be loaded.