South Newport News , Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
40mm/56 Quad Mount Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun
— Virginia War Museum —
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 10, 2022
1. 40 mm/56 Quad Mount Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun Marker
Inscription.
40mm/56 Quad Mount Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun. . This anti-aircraft gun was removed from the battleship U.S.S. Missouri, on which the official surrender of Imperial Japan took place on September 2, 1945, ending World War II. The original autocannon design was developed in 1936 by Bofors AB of Sweden. The United States Navy accepted a licensed 40mm/56 caliber variant produced by Chrysler in 1942. Capable of firing 120 rounds per minute of both armor piercing and high explosive shells, the weapon's maximum range of 11,000 yards was purposely limited through shell fuses to 4,500 yards to avoid friendly fire instances. Gun emplacements were often paired with Mark 51 directors, which improved the weapon's accuracy by computing range and trajectory. A radar scope was also used for nighttime targeting. Combined together, these aspects helped make the Bofors was one of the most effective medium anti-aircraft weapons of the war., (caption) , 40mm guns in quad mount firing aboard the USS West Virginia (BB-18) on July 22, 1944 (Photo: National Archives)
This anti-aircraft gun was removed from the battleship U.S.S. Missouri, on which the official surrender of Imperial Japan took place on September 2, 1945, ending World War II. The original autocannon design was developed in 1936 by Bofors AB of Sweden. The United States Navy accepted a licensed 40mm/56 caliber variant produced by Chrysler in 1942. Capable of firing 120 rounds per minute of both armor piercing and high explosive shells, the weapon's maximum range of 11,000 yards was purposely limited through shell fuses to 4,500 yards to avoid friendly fire instances. Gun emplacements were often paired with Mark 51
directors, which improved the weapon's accuracy by computing range and trajectory. A radar scope was also used for nighttime targeting. Combined together, these aspects helped make the Bofors was one of the most effective medium anti-aircraft weapons of the war.
(caption)
40mm guns in quad mount firing aboard the USS West Virginia (BB-18) on July 22, 1944 (Photo: National Archives)
W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in South Newport News. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Kawana Circle and Kanawha Circle, on the left when traveling south. Marker located on the Virginia War Museum grounds in the northeast section of Huntington Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9285 Warwick Blvd, Newport News VA 23607, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. 40 mm/56 Quad Mount Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun Marker
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, June 10, 2022
3. 40 mm/56 Quad Mount Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 215 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
