A query after reading Mikes great thread Light anti aircraft artillery NOTES: Ammunition includes 48 rounds per 40mm gun anti tank ammunition. Thoughts on the use of anti tank rounds would be appreciated. thank you
Thank you I wondered if this was used in NWE for any purpose It seemed a lot of weight to carry if not used
You have to scroll a long way down but eventually: Some roles. The major role for the Bofors gun was to protect mobile columns, ammunition and supply dumps and other vulnerable points from low level air attack. In forward areas only the Bofors could be used, the heavier guns not being sufficiently mobile. In rear areas batteries of Bofors guns, together with searchlight units, formed part of AA brigades, with the heavy guns providing high level cover and the Bofors providing low level cover. Bofors guns were not in great demand for their primary role since there were few enemy aircraft in forward areas. They were often used in secondary roles including: - Thickening up artillery barrages by pouring fire into targets within their range. The shells might be small but there were enough of them to make an enemy take shelter. - Engaging enemy soft skin vehicles. The 40mm shell was not very effective against tanks but was effective against other vehicles using either high explosive or armour piercing ammunition. - Suppressing fire. A stream of 40 mm shells fired along a hedge or other source of cover reduced the ability of an enemy to engage advancing troops. - Marking the centre lines for advancing troops. It was easy to lose direction in the heat of battle but a steady line of tracer shells marked the way. - Designating targets. A stream of tracer shells could accurately mark a target for armour and artillery to engage. I think it would be wise to carry AP ammunition snce it was available. Indeed it would be negligent not to. You never know when it will come in handy. Somewhere there will be returns showing how much was expended. Mike
Field artillery also carried AP rounds. Eight AP rounds in two boxes plus a box of charges were carried in the crew compartment of the Field Artillery tractor. Mike. PS, How do you do that Lesley. I had only posted one minute before you 'liked' it.
Interestingly all of the ammunition is listed as crated on the 3ton supply trucks. The choice of what is with the gun will be determined by the tactical situation. That Atk ammunition could be left on the truck for the duration, however if required would prove vital. Whether the gun's rounds are accounted for in the ToE or assumed to be at the vehicle/gun published compliment is moot. The same happens with AFVs, the ammunition listed as with HQ echelon would soon dissappear if the vehicles were not carrying their published compliment.
Probably more useful than the AA rounds, and in greater demand, to the LAA troop/section of the well-known 'Jock Columns' of desert fame. At that time, in that theatre, the Bofors was seen as a dual-role weapon; both ATk and LAA in equal measure. On the otherhand, probably not in great demand by a battery providing low level AA cover well to the rear.
The 92 LAA veterans I knew were sceptical about the effectiveness of their 40mm AT rounds against German armour, although it was never used in a such a role as far as I can tell. However, a few years ago I met a military chap who reckoned the rounds would have done some damage if fired in quick succession at one spot - which the Bofors could certainly do.
Yes my Father was in the 92nd LAA from Dec 44 till war end but only ever mentioned the ground shoot not noting the type of rounds used though
There is a good example of this in the link below, which is a documentary about Operation Veritable in 1945 (see around 11.15). The AA guns were used as "pepperpots" according to the commentator, with the aim of "spraying the German positions and adding to the discomfort". Battle for The Rhineland PART 1 Documentary – Operation Veritable – The First 3 Days - YouTube
The effectivess of the Bofors against the German (or Italian) panzers circa late '44 and '45 was a wholly different proposition to 3 or 4 years earlier. I imagine you may have heard a different story if talking to older LAA hands serving in the desert in late '40 and through '41.
The Germans in 1941 referred to the Bofors as 'Pakflak', i.e. a dual purpose gun. Make of that what you will. All the best Andreas
Safe to say after a time in NWE they were used on ground shoots showing ground shoots here even the Americans aimed them horizontally 40mm Bofors
