Bofors

Bofors 120mm naval gun

The Bofors AB was a Swedish arms manufacturer . Today the company is divided into different production divisions and owned by different parent companies . The name is still used as an abbreviation of the official company names. The company became known for rapid-fire cannons .

history

The name Bofors has been synonymous with the steel industry in Sweden for over 350 years . The company goes back to the hammer mill "Boofors" founded in Karlskoga in 1649 . The direct predecessor of today's companies was founded in 1873.

Its most famous owner was probably Alfred Nobel , who owned the company from 1894 until his death in 1896. He also played a key role in the development from iron processing to gun manufacturer .

In 1999, acquired Saab with the former parent company Celsius AB and Bofors . In 2000, the heavy weapons division (cannons and ammunition) was sold to United Defense Industries (UDI). The missile division of Bofors remained with Saab.
Bofors today consists of two parts:

BAE Systems Bofors (majority at BAE Systems since 2005 )
Saab Dynamics

The reputation of the company has several affairs to illegal arms sales and corruption suffered ( Bofors scandal ).

Products

40 mm Bofors flak from a German Jaguar class speedboat

Bofors is known for its small and medium caliber rapid fire cannons. These are world famous, especially as anti-aircraft guns. Among other things, Bofors was also involved in the development of the famous German 8.8 cm flak . Medium ship guns and special ammunition are also among the company's outstanding products.

Saab's remaining business division produces guided missiles and torpedoes .

Some examples of guns:

40 mm FlaK
Probably the best known weapon from Bofors. In the 1920s, developed anti-aircraft cannon , which was used in large numbers during the Second World War by almost all warring parties. The weapon was continuously developed and is still in use worldwide today.
37mm PaK was used
in several nations during World War II, including armament for light tanks such as the Polish 7TP and the US M3A3 Stuart
Bofors Mod. 1934, 7.5 cm tank cannon
57 mm cannon (for example as an on-board cannon in the Saab 18 )
57 mm naval gun Mk2 / 3 (for example on the Visby-class corvettes )
Bofors 120 mm naval gun (for example on the Polish Gryf )

Examples of missiles:

FFV AT 4 , shoulder-mounted anti-tank missile
RBS15 , anti-ship missile

Web links

Commons : Bofors - Collection of Images