40 mm Bofors AA guns made in GB and US

[Godwin Hampton]

Tony,

Is the Handbook the 1941 version published by the War Office on 13/ 8/ 41? That handbook covers all versions in British Army service, whether bought from Sweden ( or Poland or Hungary ) or produced in Great Britain.

The Bofors Course and Speed Sight was only fitted to many, or possibly most, of the Guns ordered from Bofors.

The Guns produced in Great Britain, and later in the Commonwealth Countries,used Forward Area Sights when operating at direct laying, and the Kerrison Predictor when operating at indirect laying. The Predictor would lay the gun through a "remote control" system using electric motors/oil units to turn and elevate the Gun. Only the loader would remain on board, to feed and fire the Gun. Pretty impressive for 1941, eh?

Around 1944, the predictor gave way to the Correctional, or 'Stiffkey' sight on British, Commonwealth, and even American Guns. Towards the end of the War, RADAR replaced the Predictor on some of the Guns still fitted with the Oil Units, giving them the capability to engage aircraft invisible to the layers.