This is a useful examination of a fairly ubiquitous weapon system of the Second World War, and added a great deal to my knowledge of this key naval gun.

History of War

Very readable.

Go 2 War 2

Once again Pen & Sword have released another fantastic reference book, entitled 'The Bofors Gun' by Terry Gander. Bound in hardback format, and at 252 pages, this is a defining body of work covering the history and development of this iconic weapon.

I was rather happy to receive this book to review. It's a subject that has interested me since I was a child. Back then I had played on a World War Two era twin mount Bofors gun at a local, and sadly now lost, aircraft museum in South Devon. The Bofors gun is a well known weapon system that's made its way all over the globe. It has appeared in just about every conflict in one guise or another, not many other designs can boast that.

The author has researched this book very well, from the earliest beginnings of the Bofors Company in the 17th Century, through to the modern day. The book is illustrated with plenty of drawings and photographs depicting the different variations and developments. Some great pictures show the actual weapon in operation during conflicts as well as testing on ranges. Also within the pages are some diagrams and pictures of the ammunition used. This is always nice for me as a collector, as this detail is normally overlooked.

The Bofors gun is one of those books that as soon as I finished reading it I started again. The book is filled to the gunwales with every bit of information you could possibly want to know about each variant of the weapon system. The book covers the rate
of fire, ammunition type, supply, sighting, and more. I have learnt an incredible amount on top of what I thought I knew already, which was not as much as it turned out. This was a weapon design that appeared at the right time, and transformed the fortunes of a then small company, to that of a major player in the armaments business.

If you have any interest in the history of the Bofors gun then this is a must have book. Although the book is crammed with lots
of technical data, it’s a very easy and fascinating read. The book is well laid out and covers everything from the humble beginnings, up to and including the sales and the all important license agreements for customers to manufacture their own guns and ammunition. The author highlights the single, twin, and quad Naval AA mounts used in World War Two and beyond. Also discussed are some of the less than successful experimental designs like the United States DIVADS M247 Sergeant York project in the 1980's. The book culminates with the next generation Bofors 40/70 and Fast Forty and eventually up to the modern day.

Stand Easy Blog

A superbly detailed account of this most famous weapon.

Military Machines International

The author has provided a comprehensive study of the 40mm Bofors and its applications. As a reliable and relatively low cost weapon, it will probably continue in use for years to come. The excellent selection of photographs, including full colour, very effectively enhances the text and the ammunition has also been covered. The latter is important in a weapon of this type because it provides optimised shells for specific targets, including shells designed to penetrate modern armour. The importance of specialist ammunition is often overlooked and the continuing development has maintained the currency of the Bofors.

reviews.firetrench.com

The best reference to be found on this famous weapon. Well illustrated throughout, it's great to see this sought after title available again, and in a hugely updated form.

Military Modelling Magazine