40mm/70 Bofors

The 40mm/70 guns were developed from the 40mm/60 Model 1936 Bofors. The first new variant, the Model 1948, was meant to replace earlier twin mountings with a single mounting with double the rate of fire. This development spawned numerous mountings over the years, still being in production for new ships in 2022 and likely later. All the Bofors 40mm/70 guns use gravity feed magazines of which the design directly descended from the Model 1936. Unlike the Model 1936 however, all of the 40mm/70 are air cooled guns.

The various mountings are described below.

The italian armaments firm of Breda has produced their own mountings for the Bofors 40mm/70 gun since 1969. These can be found on the 40mm/70 Breda page.

Gun mountings:

40/L70 (1.57") Model 1948

History

The original Model 1948 (Officially, 40 mm Luftvärnsautomatkanon M/48) was a land gun which was later modified for naval use.

Used on

• unknown

SAK-40/L70-315

History

The SAK-40/L70 was a modification of the Model 1948 gun mounting for use in naval applications. The SAK-40/L70-315 model specifically was meant for use on light patrol craft.

SAK-40/L70-350

History

The SAK-40/L70 was a modification of the Model 1948 gun mounting for use in naval applications.

SAK-40/L70-520

History

The SAK-40/L70 was a modification of the Model 1948 gun mounting for use in naval applications.

40/L70 Model 1958

Used on

• German warships since the 1960s

40/L70-SAK-600 (Sea Trinity)

History

The 40/70-SAK-600 (Trinity) was an upgraded design in the 1980's, based on the above mountings to increase rate of fire and improve reliability. Germany awarded Bofors a contract to upgrade their existing gun mountings to the SAK-600 standard in 1986. Many of these weapons were still in use post-2006.

Used on

• German Schnellboots and mine warfare craft

40/L70 Mark 3

History

The Mark 3 mounting was developed as an normally unmanned mounting that can be integrated with either digital or analog fire control systems. There is however still an on-mount operator console that can be used to aim the gun while still having the mounting stabilised by internal gyros. In case of total power supply failure it is still possible to lay and fire the gun manually. The mounting was fitted with an radar on the gun barrel to correct the FCS solution. The Mark 3 mounting has no deck penetration other then the reinforced deck and electrical connections.

Used on

Unknown or never used

40/L70 Mark 4

History

The Mark 4 mounting is an improved version of the Mark 3 mentioned above. On it, the hydraulic drives of the earlier design have been replaced by electric motors, reducing flammability of hte mounting while improving reliability. The Mark 4 mounting has no deck penetration other then the reinforced deck and electrical connections.

Used on

• RN Type 31 frigate

See also

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNSweden_4cm-70_m1948.php