40mm Bofors on oz ebay

[Godwin Hampton]

It seems to be a 40mm AA No. 12, better known as the Bristol Bofors. After the War the Bristol Aeroplane Company was awarded a contract to modify a number of wartime Bofors guns. These entered service with the British Army in the late forties or early fifties.

The modifications consisted of the installation of electric motors, batteries and control gear to enable the gun to be traversed and elevated by simply moving a "joystick". A reflector sight was fitted, and now the gun had only one layer. It could only be traversed/elevated on power and no provision was made for manual control.

A rack was fitted for 'ready at hand' ammunition, and the loader was provided with a guard rail to steady himself during sudden movements of the mounting.

A small petrol-engined generator ( J.A.P engine ) could be fitted on the back of the loading platform to charge the on-board Ni-Fe batteries.

This example seems to be very complete and restorable, though the traversing motor is missing ( should be bolted on to the flange beneath the control gear on the right hand side of the mounting).

The shells are probably unused and unfilled, still fitted with the plug to keep the interior clean. The markings would be applied after filling, to denote what type of explosive it then contained.

I hope someone saves it.