Bofors 37 mm
|
Polish wz.36 anti-tank gun. |
The
Bofors 37 mm was an
anti-tank gun used by some European armies during
WW2. It was initially designed by
Swedish manufacturer
Bofors, and licensed copies were produced by
Denmark,
Finland, the
Netherlands and
Poland. Despite common belief,
German 37 mm
PaK 35/36 and
U.S. 37 mm
M3 were not copies of the Bofors.
|
Polish wz.36 anti-tank gun during combat training. |
*Sweden - as
37 mm infanterikanon m/34 (model 1934),
37 mm pansarvärnskanon m/38 (model 1938 as AT gun),
37 mm Kanon m/38 stridsvagn (model 1938 as tank gun, was fitted to
Landsverk Strv m/38,
Strv m/39,
Strv m/40 light tanks and to the
Strv m/41, a Swedish version of the Czech
TNH light tank).
*
Britain - as
Ordnance QF 37 mm Mk I. 250 pieces were ordered, of which 80 were delivered before the war began. The gun was used to equip the
British forces in
North Africa where it made up for the lack of the
2-pounder anti-tank guns after the Fall of France. It was often carried
portee on the back of a vehicle.
*Denmark - a locally produced version with a slightly more powerful cartridge was manufactured by the Danish state arsenal
Hærens Vaabenarsenal, as
37 mm Fodfolkskanon m1937. Captured guns were later used by Germans as
3,7 cm Pak 157(d). In 1945 Danish units returning to their homeland brought with them a few Swedish model 1938 guns.
*Finland - as
37 PstK/36. 114 pieces were bought from Bofors in 1938-39 (some of them were returned to Sweden in 1940), several dozens of Polish-made guns were received from Germans in 1940 and 355 were produced by local manufacters
Tampella and
VTT (
Valtion Tykkitehdas = State Artillery Factory) in 1939-41. When the
Winter War began in November 1939, the Finnish Army had 98 guns of the type. During the war, the gun was successfully used against
Soviet tanks such as
T-26,
T-28,
T-35,
BT. However in the
Continuation War it was found to be ineffective against
T-34 and
KV and was relegated to an infantry support role. The gun remained in the Finnish Army inventory listings until 1986.
*The Netherlands - locally produced version.
*Poland - as
wz.36. 300 guns were bought in Sweden and hundreds more were produced by
SMPzA (
Stowarzyszenie Mechaników Polski z Ameryki) in
Pruszków, some of them exported. When the World War II began, the Polish Army had 1200 pieces. Many of them were captured by Germans and used by
Wehrmacht as
3,7 cm Pak 36(p). Several dozens fell into
Soviet hands, however there is no proof these guns were ever used by the
Red Army. A tank variant, designated
wz.37, was mounted in
7TP (single-turret version),
9TP (prototypes) and
10TP tanks. 111 of them were produced before the war.
*
Romania.
*
Spain.
*
Turkey.
*
Yugoslavia.
|
Polish wz.36 anti-tank gun |
*Barrel length: 45 cal
*Elevation: -10 to +25 degrees
*Traverse: 25 degrees
*Weight unloaded: 370 kg (816 lb)
*Thickness of gunshield: 4 to 5 mm
*Ammunition:
AP with tracer,
HE, WP
incendiary*Muzzle velocity (AP): 2625-2723 ft/s / 800-830 m/s
*Maximum range (AP): 6500 meters
*Projectile weight (AP): 0.70 kg
*Effective range (AP): 4376 yd / 4000 m
*Rate of Fire: 12 shots per minute
*Penetration (AP shell, 30 degrees):
**300 yards: 40 mm
**457 yards: 33 mm
**600 yards: 30 mm
**900 yards: 20 mm
**1200 yards: 15 mm
*
Anti-tank gun*
List of artillery*
Bofors AT guns*
The Finnish Weapons Series: Bofors 37 mm AT Gun*
Finnish Army 1918 - 1945: AT Guns*
Armament of Polish armoured vehicles 1918-39: 37 mm wz.36, wz.37
