Bofors 37mm Anti Tank Gun

Discussion in '1940' started by bigmal, Dec 7, 2012.

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  1. bigmal

    bigmal Member

    Can any one tell me if the BEF used the Bofors 37mm Anti Tank gun?

    If so, was it towed or `portee`d`?

    I ask as I have just bought a model of this gun.

    Thanks for looking

    Malc.
     
  2. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    I do not believe that the BEF used the 37mm Bofors. The story I got was that these weapons were ordered for the Sudan Defence Force, and hence were available in Egypt in 1940 when Middle East Command found itself short of anti-tank guns. They were used there both as towed and portee weapons. Some were issued to the 9th Australian Division as well as the British 7th Armoured.

    The BEF had another odd weapon, the French M34 25mm Hotchkiss, which was used mainly by the anti-tank companies of infantry brigades. I have seen at least one photo of a BEF unit loading the Hotchkiss aboard a light truck, though I don't know if they were actually used portee fashion in 1940.
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Philson says BEF LAA Batteries were using 40mm AA Guns with Light AA Tractors and 40mm AA Gun Carriages, 12 of each in each Battery, 4 to each Troop.

    Anyone got a pic they can share?
     
  4. Gooseman

    Gooseman Senior Member

  5. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

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  6. bigmal

    bigmal Member

    TTH, thanks for the info, looks like my model will have to be done as a NA one.

    Again thanks


    Malc.
     
  7. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Good luck with it, Mal. The Finnish and Polish links on that wikipedia page have a lot of good info on the 37mm Bofors.
     
  8. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Here's a thought, too...as a variation, you could do an Australian crew rather than a British one. I know 3rd Aust Antitank used them at Tobruk, but I don't know if they stuck them on portees or not.
     
  9. bigmal

    bigmal Member

    I`ve got a nice little desert base half done that I got with my 2lber AT Gun kit but have decided to do the 2 lber as a BEF one so the Bofors will fit nicely in it`s place and I can use the same crew figures, too.

    Do you know if the Aussies painted camouflage on their guns, by any chance?

    Or added markings of any sort?

    Malc.
     
  10. TTH

    TTH Senior Member

    Here is the only image I could find of Australians with the Bofors 37:
    020787 | Australian War Memorial

    Not color, unfortunately. I am not an expert on Australian markings. If you did some research on the 3rd or 2/3rd Anti-Tank Regt in 1941 you might come up with something.
     
    bigmal likes this.
  11. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    The LRDG also mounted them on their Chevvies in early 1941.
    You should be able to "Google" some good images.
     
  12. bigmal

    bigmal Member

    Thanks again TTH good info and good photo.

    Shows no cammo on gun shield just plain Pale Stone.

    I want to avoid the LRDG route, David, as it will cost me too much money in new kits, although I still fancy going down that way.

    Now where`s that winning Lottery ticket?


    Malc
     
  13. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Malc.

    Only other option that I know of is 3RHA, they used them in North Africa in the early days.
    Good luck with what ever you decide upon!
     
    bigmal likes this.
  14. bigmal

    bigmal Member

    Thanks, David, I do believe that the 106th RHA (Lancashire Hussars) also had some.


    Malc.
     
  15. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  16. bigmal

    bigmal Member

    Cracking bit of film.

    Shows how the crew operate it. Must be uncomfortable for them, laying along the trails like that.

    Thank you.

    Malc.
     
  17. bigmal

    bigmal Member

    I`ve found some pictures of a CMP 15cwt Portee so with a bit of artistic license I will put it with one.
    Luckily I happen to have a kit I started to convert a while back so can modify that to suit.

    Thanks to all who helped with this

    Malc.
     
  18. pminotti

    pminotti Junior Member

    [​IMG]

    used by the Polish Carpathian Regiment in North Africa
     
    TTH likes this.
  19. DavidW

    DavidW Well-Known Member

    Can't wait to see the finished product.

    I built the LRDG version btw.
     
  20. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    I seem to recall some of 4 Indian Division's Brigade AT Coys still had 37mm Bofors AT guns in early 1942.

    All the best

    Andreas
     

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