Historical Specifics: |
These weapons have provided outstanding service to the RAN. After 62 years' service to the RAN, the last three 40/60 Bofors guns were fired for the final time at West Head Gunnery Range at HMAS Cerberus on 19 July 2007. One gun will be retained at West Head Gunnery Range; one will be donated to the HMAS Cerberus Maritime Museum; and the other one will be returned to stores.
The Fremantle Class patrol boats were the last in the RAN fleet to have operational 40/60 guns.
Prior to WWII the RN and RAN anti-aircraft weapon of choice was the 2 Pounder or 'Pom Pom' in a variety of mounting up to eight barrels for capital ships and some cruisers. The British Army adopted the Bofors 40/60 and it proved so successful an anti-aircraft weapon in the Africa campaign, the Royal Navy began to fit it also.
With a breech capacity of eight rounds and taking four round clips, the gun could achieve a rate of fire of 120 RPM and a range of 5000 yards.
At one stage during and since World War II nearly all RAN ships carried some form of Bofors 40mm gun in their life. |