Bofors 152 mm gun
Encyclopedia
The Bofors 152 mm gun is a naval gun
. It was initially used aboard light cruiser
s and cruiser
s including the Swedish
Tre Kronor class
and the Dutch
De Zeven Provincien class
, after World War II
. It is still used on the Peruvian Navy
cruiser
BAP Almirante Grau
and is currently the largest naval gun still in active service.
The 152 mm gun was first designed in 1939 by Bofors
for the Koninklijke Marine
cruiser
Kijkduin, eventually named De Zeven Provinciën
. After the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands
in 1940 these artillery pieces were confiscated by the Swedish Government and placed on the Swedish cruiser HMS Tre Kronor
.
Naval artillery
Naval artillery, or naval riflery, is artillery mounted on a warship for use in naval warfare. Naval artillery has historically been used to engage either other ships, or targets on land; in the latter role it is currently termed naval gunfire fire support...
. It was initially used aboard light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s and cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s including the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Tre Kronor class
Tre Kronor class cruiser
The Tre Kronor class cruisers were built for the Swedish Navy during World War II.In 1940 the Swedish government decided that two cruisers were to be built. A political debate broke out about the cruisers and work did not start until 1943. The ships were built in Götaverken in Gothenburg...
and the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
De Zeven Provincien class
De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser
The De Zeven Provinciën-class is a class of light cruisers. They were built by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij and Wilton-Fijenoord for the Royal Netherlands Navy...
, after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It is still used on the Peruvian Navy
Peruvian Navy
The Peruvian Navy is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with surveillance, patrol and defense on lakes, rivers and the Pacific Ocean up to 200 nautical miles from the Peruvian littoral...
cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
BAP Almirante Grau
BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81)
BAP Almirante Grau ' is a De Zeven Provinciën-class cruiser in service with the Peruvian Navy. Completed for the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1953 as HNLMS De Ruyter , it was acquired by Peru in 1973. Since then, it has served as the fleet flagship of the Peruvian Navy...
and is currently the largest naval gun still in active service.
The 152 mm gun was first designed in 1939 by Bofors
Bofors
The name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
for the Koninklijke Marine
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
Kijkduin, eventually named De Zeven Provinciën
HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën (C802)
The HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën was a De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser with eight 152 mm cannons in double turrets, 8 × 57 mm and 8 × 40 mm machine guns. The rear turret was replaced in 1962 with a RIM-2 Terrier SAM system. She was 185.7 m long, had a beam of 17.25 m and a...
. After the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands
Battle of the Netherlands
The Battle of the Netherlands was part of Case Yellow , the German invasion of the Low Countries and France during World War II. The battle lasted from 10 May 1940 until 14 May 1940 when the main Dutch forces surrendered...
in 1940 these artillery pieces were confiscated by the Swedish Government and placed on the Swedish cruiser HMS Tre Kronor
HMS Tre Kronor
HMS Tre Kronor was a cruiser of the Royal Swedish Navy built during the Second World War.At the start of the war most of the ships of the Royal Swedish Navy were quite old and the navy was in need of new ships. In 1940 the government decided that three cruisers were to be built. A political debate...
.
External links
- Tony DiGiulian, Netherlands 15 cm/53 (5.9") Sweden 15.2 cm/53 (6") Model 1942