Evening star., 1942-01-18
bofors Anti.Aircraft
Guns Reported Near
Mass Production
o. P. N. Says Auto Plants
Will Assume Heaviest
Manufacturing Role
By THOMAS C. HARDMAN.

BY THOMAS &. HARDMAN.
An American version of a 40-mm.
Swedish anti-aircraft gun used eff
fectively by the British in the
evacuation of Dunkeroue will begin
rolling off production lines in mass
quantities in the near future, the
Office of Production Management
announced yesterday in general
summary Of the anti-aircraft gun
output of this Nations industries.
Declaring that Americas fighting
forces will get the 10000 anti-air-
craft guns requested by President
Roosevelt during this year, the o.
P. M revealed that the automobile
industry. in process of conversion
to war production, already has as
sumed the heaviest assignment In
the manufacture Of these weapons.
Highly regarded by military ord
nance experts is the 40-mm. Bofors
gun of Swedish origin, which first
went into manufacture in this
country less than year ago. The
Army already has received num-
Der of these weapons, the o. P. M.
said, and quantity production is
about to Begin
Used against low-fying aircraft,
the Bofors fires a high explosive
proiectile weighing slightly more
than two pounds, which blasts any
part of a plane it strikes, the sum-
mary said. If the projectile misses
1t explodes automatically in the air.
adding to the coverage of the fire
and preventing it from falling to
earth and menacing friendly troops.
Tracer Bullets Fired.
Tracer bullets are fired so the
path of the projectiles can be OBJ
served and instant corrections made,
it was said. A feature of the Bofors
is the funnel mouth at the END of
the barrel which prevents the flash
from binding the crew, especially
during night firing.
The development of the Bofors
followed by about one year the gen.
eral expansion of anti-aircraft pro-
duction in this country. The o. P.
NJ pointed out that intricate and
expensive to manufacture, anti
aircraft artillery was produced in
only limited quantities prior
to June. 1910, when funds for a
modest expansion of production first
were made available
Our present models are the re-
suit of continuous studies by the
ordnance departments of our serv-
ices and the experience gained from
the use of anti-aircraft weapons
during the early stages of the pres
ent war abroad"
The largest Army anti-aircraft
weapon, the 80 nm. gun, was de-
scribed in the summary as out
CHASING in accuracy and range Ger
many's corresponding weapon of 88
nm A picture of the go nm. gun,
now in quantity production, ap-
pears on the defense series two
cent stamp.
Projectile Weighs Fl Pounds.
This gun has replaced the 3-inch
size as the standard anti-aircraft
gun for the Coast Artillery. giving
batteries greater range and more
punch. Its rate of fire is slightly
lower than that of the 3-inch gun,
but the projectile of the 80 nm. is
much heavier, weighing about 81
pounds. 1t is used against high
flying bombers.
The same system of centralized
direction used by 3-inch gun bat
teries is employed by batteries of
the new guns, the summary said.
Data needed to direct the action of
the batteries may come from radio
locators, listening posts or other
sources.
In the case of batteries protecting
civilian areas, the far-flung system
of AFRAID warning naturally will
be used to advantage.
The 3-inch gun. developed by the
Army Ordnance Department within
limits of appropriations before the
emergency period. still is standard
equipment for many Coast Artillery
units. 1t fires a projectile weighing
more than II pounds and is used
against planes flying at middle
attitudes.
Gun Used on Dive Bombers.
Another anti aircraft weapon
adapted from foreign model is the
new 20 nm. gun produced for the
Navy for use against dive bombers,
the o. P. M. said. This gun is
counterpart of the Swiss Oerlikon.
Projectiles capable of tearing
hole a foot square in attacking
planes are fired from Oerlikons at
high rate and at a range greater
than that of machine guns. I'm
proved production methods have
made it possible for the Oerlikons
to be turned out in increasingly
large quantities.
Another automatic weapon devel-
oped primarily for use against low
flying aircraft is the 81 nm. gun.
AS in the case of the Bofors, 1t fires
tracer-type self-destroying ammuni-
ton. The 81 nm. weapon is one OF
the Armys principal dual-purpose
guns. 1t is used also in the tank
destroyer battalion, mounted on the
"jeep" and can be employed against
tanks or aircraft.