40mm Bofors Question

[Godwin Hampton]

Roger,

Good luck with the new book, but they usually lead nowhere!

When loading the Bofors, the Loader pulled the large 'Hand Operating Lever' backwards as far as it goes and places it in the rear catch. This keeps it in a vertical position, with the rammer now cocked,the breechblock open (down) and the striker cocked.

4 (the loader in British gun drill) drops one charger (clip) into the autoloader and presses down heavily on the top round until the bottom one drops onto the loading tray ( he could check through the rear aperture if in doubt ). He then inserts a second charger in the autoloader and unhooks the hand operating lever and places it back in the front catch.

All he has to do then is to move the 'Foot Pedal Held' lever ( what you and I would call the Fire Control Lever) from FPH to SINGLE or AUTO as ordered, and back on 'Cease Firing'. He also had to keep up with the gun's appetite, dropping one charger every two seconds when firing on Auto.

Hope this helps clarify the picture.