40 mm Bofors at the Firepower Museum

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Buteman, Jun 17, 2011.

  1. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Here are various photos of the above anti-aircraft weapon.

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  2. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    And the Self Propelled Version.

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  3. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Watched 16 Light Air Defence firing these at Manorbier Wales, Canberra towing a drogue.



    I can look across the water here at Southampton and see this;


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  4. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

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    I was sent this by the family of someone who served in my Dad's Battery. Believe it to be at Clacton.
     
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  5. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    Firepower Museum? With a name like that I'm drooling already :lol:

    Where is that? :)
     
  6. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    It's at Woolwich in London.

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  7. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    (Clacton) High powered crew above? Looks like Battery Sergeant, Battery commander firing with a Lieutenant loading!


    Bofors barrel tools.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    Rob excellent

    thank you
     
  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Robert,

    It looks like you had an enjoyable time.

    Excellent photographs from great angles.

    The exhibits look to be tiptop condition.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  10. brit plumber

    brit plumber Member

    That period photo is nice, I notice a spare barrel in the bottom of the pic, I bet its not like changing a bren barrel! I also see a spent case in front of the gun in mid air.
     
  11. Rob Dickers

    Rob Dickers 10th MEDIUM REGT RA

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  12. tmac

    tmac Senior Member

    Excellent pictures, Rob - thanks for sharing them. I used to be at the Firepower Museum quite a bit while doing my 7th Loyals / 92nd LAA research, and it's an amazing place. I think it's been greatly expanded since I was last there a few years ago, and it really is worth a visit. The SP Bofors, especially, is a fantastic restoration.
     
  13. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Excellent pictures, Rob - thanks for sharing them. I used to be at the Firepower Museum quite a bit while doing my 7th Loyals / 92nd LAA research, and it's an amazing place. I think it's been greatly expanded since I was last there a few years ago, and it really is worth a visit. The SP Bofors, especially, is a fantastic restoration.

    Hi Tom,

    You'll know because of our shared interest in the Bofors, that I really did not look at much else whilst I was there.;)

    Regards - Rob
     
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  14. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Rob
    Are you sure that you only looked at the Bofors and 5.5! or is it just a case of leaving more so you can return at a latter date.
     
  15. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Oldman,

    I was being very serious when I was said I was only interested in the Bofors on this visit. I just wanted to get up close and personal with the kit used by my Dad's Regt and this was the first time I've ever seen it for real.

    I was invited by someone from Dartford Round table to join a group visiting various places (including the Olympic site in Stratford) and we were on a fairly fixed timescale with only about a half hour to see the exhibits.

    We saw a film, were given a talk by 2 Gunners who had been to Afghanistan, had lunch, and then a brief look at the exhibits. They were also putting the finishing touches to part of the exhibition hall, so not all was on view.

    I live not that far from Woolwich, so can go there anytime to see the rest, which I will do sometime. Well worth it.

    Cheers - Rob

    PS - I did look at the Auster used by the AOP Squadrons, an M7 Priest which were used in the Run in Shoots at Normandy and a 25 Pounder used at Mirbat.
     
  16. fredleander

    fredleander Senior Member

    Here are various photos of the above anti-aircraft weapon.

    Beeeaaauuutiful pictures. Thank you for sharing!
     
  17. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

  18. tmac

    tmac Senior Member

    Rob,

    I'm glad you enjoyed your visit - it sounded a great day out. I doubt if there are better examples of the towed and SP Bofors anywhere else than at Firepower and the way they are exhibited - so you can get up close, as you said - is brilliant.

    I know that many years ago, when the RA collection was at the Rotunda in Woolwich, the museum did not have an SP Bofors and dearly wanted to obtain one. They are now extremely rare. The Firepower people must have worked hard to find the one they have and restore it to such excellence. I'll bet it cost a small fortune.

    However, if I come up on the Lottery tomorrow, I'll start looking round for one myself!

    Best wishes,

    Tom
     
  19. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

  20. bofors

    bofors Senior Member

    Great photos Rob
    Wish I could go there!

    regards

    Robert
     

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