Bofors 25 mm M/32

Bofors 25 mm M/32
Bofors 25 mm automatic cannon M/32 on a Swedish submarine.
Type Anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin Sweden
Service history
Used by Sweden
Wars World War II
Production history
Designer Bofors
Designed 1932
Manufacturer Bofors
Produced 1932–1945
Variants M/38 25 x 187 mm R[1]
Specifications
Weight Single: 570 kg (1,260 lb)
Twin: 1,100 kg (2,400 lb)
Barrel length 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) L/64[2]
Shell Fixed QF 25 x 205 mm R
Shell weight .25 kg (8.8 oz)
Caliber 25 mm (0.98 in)[1]
Action Long-recoil
Recoil Hydro-spring
Carriage Single or twin fixed pedestal mounts[2]
Elevation -5° to 90°
Traverse 360°
Rate of fire 120 rpm
Muzzle velocity 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s)
Effective firing range 3.5 km (11,000 ft) AA ceiling
Maximum firing range 5.6 km (18,000 ft) Horizontal range[3]
Feed system 6-round clips

The Bofors 25 mm M/32 was a Swedish designed and built light anti-aircraft gun that was used aboard ships of the Swedish Navy during the Second World War.

History

The development of Bofors first automatic weapons began in 1925 when the Navy requested the development of a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun. In 1928 the Navy requested a new 40 mm AA gun and a 25 mm AA gun which was produced in parallel and known as the M/32.[2]

Design

A twin M/32 mount aboard HSwMS Gävle

The M/32 was designed with a barrel 64 calibers in length, fired a 25 x 205 mm R cartridge, at 160-180 rpm and with a muzzle velocity of 850 m/s. Later a shorter version firing a 25 x 187 mm R cartridge was produced in limited numbers. The M/32 looked similar to its larger 40 mm sibling and used the same long-recoil operating system and hydro-spring recoil mechanism. Its feed mechanism consisted of 6-round clips which were held in a vertical frame above the gun breech. Two clips were mounted side by side so that continuous fire could be maintained without the need to pause and change magazines. The clips were in two halves, which split and fell away as the cartridges entered the frames.[2]

The gun was available in fixed single mount, fixed twin mount or on a mobile four-wheeled carriage with twin collapsible outriggers. In addition to fixed pedestal mounts, a retractable gun mount was designed for submarine use. Although available in land mounts it was primarily a naval weapon. At first the 40 mm gun was considered to be too heavy, so preference was given to single and twin mounts of the M/32 aboard ships of the Swedish navy.[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 "21-29 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "BOFORS AUTOMATIC CANNON". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  3. ↑ "Swedish guns". www.navypedia.org. Retrieved 2017-09-20.

Bibliography

  • Gander, T 1990, The 40mm Bofors Gun, 2nd edn, Patrick Stephens, Wellingborough, Eng.
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