40 mm Bofors AA guns used by the Germans

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Suddenly I realized that I have so far not read one single word of Bofors 40 mm AA guns used by the axis powers.

In 1938 Germany through "Anschluss" laid hands of a number of Austrian Bofors guns made by Böhler. The Germans found these odd in their inventory and sold them to Sweden.

In 1939 Germany captured many Bofors guns in Poland and sold a number of these to Sweden.

Sweden also bought Bofors guns from Hungary (Mavag).

But what happened with the Bofors guns German forces took in Belgium, Denmark, France, Netherlands and Norway? Were they distributed to Germanys allies?

Looking through a 700 page history of German FLAK (Koch, 1965) there is not one single 40 mm AA gun - only 37 mm German standard types.

The Japanese captured large quantities of 40 mm Bofors guns a o in Singapore and Netherlands East Indies. How were these used?

Stellan

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

I was told by a Japanese source (Taki) that the Imperial Japanese Army did not use the captured Bofors themselves.

Instead these guns were issued to auxiliary forces created by the Japanese, i e Indian National Army (INA) and in Indonesia Tentara Soekarela Pembela Tanah Air (PETA).

But I still wonder why the German Army & Luftwaffe did not use the Bofors. The German Navy had to when they took over captured ships and craft.

Anyhow the Germans laid hands on:

1. Guns in service
2. Factories producing Bofors guns

The Germans pressed a lot of Beutewaffens into service. All types of guns in all kinds of calibres and made in a lot of different countries.

But not the Bofors gun. Why?

Picture: Abandoned Bofors guns Dunkirk 1940.

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

Slowly I am learning more about the Bofors guns. So I have now found that the German Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine in fact used a few Bofors guns.

In 1938 the Germans got their first 40 mm Bofors AA guns following Anschluss of Austria. The Austrian gun factory Böhler at that time had license to make 132 guns.

At that time Böhler had produced 24 guns and another 26 were near beeing completed. All parts for the remaining 82 guns were extant in the factory.

The Germans considered the Bofors gun to be a superior weapon but the 40 mm calibre was odd for them. So the extant guns were sold to Sweden (together with two Bns of 150 mm howitzers).

But what to do with the 82 remaining guns not yet assembled? After thinking a while the Germans did on 1st May 1939 decide to add the 40 mm Bofors gun into their inventory as:

4 cm FlAK 28 (Bofors)

From where they got 28 is unknown. 38 should be more logical.

During the secret build up before "Barbarossa" Germany in Oct-Nov 1940 provided Finland with 92 guns ex-Austrian and ex-Dutch war booty.

By summer 1940 the Germans had laid hand on several factories producing Bofors guns.

1. Austria (Böhler) Sep 1938
2. Poland (Starakowice) Sep 1939
3. Denmark (Söartilleriet) Apr 1940
4. Norway (Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk) Apr 1940
5. Belgium (Fabrique Nationale) May 1940
6. Netherlands (Artillerie Inrichtingen Hembrug) May 1940

The production was however laid down.

The German Navy had captured several ships and craft equipped with Bofors guns and wanted more. Therefore the Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk in Norway took up production as Waffenfabrik Kongsberg. 800 guns were ordered from Kongsberg in Dec 1942. By July 1944 the German Navy had 578 Bofors guns in service.

The extant Beutewaffen Army guns from the factories mentioned above were pressed into the Coast Artillery - some 247 guns.

However also the Luftwaffe became interested in the Bofors guns and bought these from MAVAG in Hungary. By 1st Oct 1942 the German Airforce AA had 240 Bofors guns in service. MAVAG produced some 1.300 Bofors guns during WW 2.

Picture: Polish 40 mm Bofors gun captured by the Germans Sept 1939.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Stellan,

Just today a "Fotoalbum Flak 240 Fotos viel Technik + Fallschirmjäger" (Item number: 6138526854) with loads of pictures of Bofors guns in German service was auctioned on eBay. If you're quick you should be able to save the pictures.

HTH,
Hanno

[Rob Fast]

Great shots. Merry Christmas